LutheranHigh School – Kansas City Course Syllabus
United States History
Instructor: Lee Rudzinski
Contact information:office:
I. COURSE DESCRIPTION
This one year course is designed to help the student develop an in depth understanding of the events which have shaped America from the arrival of theEuropean settlers to the present day. The course begins with a unit on the aboriginal cultures. Particular emphasis is placed on the Age of Exploration, thecolonial period, the American Revolution, the founding of the new nation, westward expansion, the pre-Civil War political struggles, Reconstruction, industrialism, world war, and the various political and social movements of the 20th and 21st centuries.
II. COURSE OVERVIEW
Students will experience a survey of American historical principles with which they will be able to respond to specific questions relating to the themes of geography, economics, government, citizenship, culture, science and technology, Constitutional heritage and global relations.
III. COURSE GOALS
1. The world by 1500
2. European colonial empires in America
3. The English Colonies in America 1620-1763
4. American Independence and a confederate union
5. United States Constitution
6. Beginnings under the Constitution ( Washington to Madison)
7. Nationalism and Economic Growth
8. Sectionalism and Reform
9. Expansion and Conflict
10. Reconstruction, industrialism, and the Gilded Age
11. Progressivism and World War
12. Prosperity, depression, the New Deal and the Great War
13. The Cold War and struggles for cultural change
14. Into the 21st century
IV. STUDENT OBJECTIVES: At the conclusion of the course, the student will be able to:
1. demonstrate critical thinking skills in application to the study of American history by evaluating the importance of people and events in their place and time.
2. to explain past achievements and failures in such a way as to suggest wise solutions to contemporary issues.
3. identify and use arguments demonstrating conflicting historical interpretations of historical issues.
4. discuss conditions and circumstances leading to the explorations and colonization of America by European nations.
5. discuss the development of civilizations among Aboriginal Americans.
6. identify elements in the evolution of English government and their influence on the development of American government.
7. outline the causes and consequences of the rivalry between England and France in the Seven Years War.
8. discuss the major goals of the mercantile system and the major acts of Parliament passed to enforce the policy of mercantilism.
9. discuss British colonial policies and colonial resistance.
10. identify the significance of the major battles in the American War for Independence.
11. evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the British and Americans in the American War for Independence.
12. identify the elements of the United States Constitution that pertain to the checks and balance system, individual rights, and civil liberties.
13. discuss the development of political parties during the nation’s early history.
14. identify important Supreme Court decisions throughout the nation’s early history and explain the significance of each.
15. explain Thomas Jefferson’s modifications of the Federalist policies and the implementation of these policies.
16. discuss the causes and consequences of the War of 1812.
17. evaluate the importance of nationalism and its reflection in the American system.
18. discuss the elements of sectionalism and its development in the United States in the 1820’s and 1830’s.
19. discuss the type of political democracy advanced during the Jacksonian era.
20. explain how exploration, trade, migration and war extended the boundaries of the United States to the Pacific Ocean.
21. discuss the major social reform movements of the mid-1800’s.
22. discuss how sectional interests dominated American politics between 1845-1860 and why compromise brought only a temporary settlement.
23. identify advantages, disadvantages, and basic strategies of the North and the South in the Civil War.
24. identify the significance several of the major battles in the Civil War.
25. compare and contrast Presidential and Congressional Reconstruction.
26. describe ways in which Black Southerners were denied their political and civil rights in the post Reconstruction era.
27. cite examples of corruption and reform in the half century following the Civil War.
28. discuss the causes and effects of the rise of American industrialism in the late 1800’s and its effects on labor, farmers, and the American lifestyle in general.
29. identify the main Progressive reformers and cite examples of their reforms.
30. identify several reasons for the development of American imperialistic philosophy.
31. discuss the major causes and effects of the Spanish-American War.
32. identify and locate the territories acquired by the United States directly or indirectly as the result of victory in the Spanish-American War.
33. discuss the important events leading to the establishment of United States trade with the Far East.
34. discuss the major aspects of United States policy in Latin America in the early 1900’s.
35. trace the history of social and political reforms from the Populist Era through the Progressive Era.
36. discuss the causes and effects of WWI.
37. discuss American involvement in WWI.
38. identify the points of compromise between Wilson’s peace program and the Allies’ desire for revenge as outlined in the Treaty of Versailles.
39. discuss how overproduction and over speculation resulted in the 1929 stock market crash and the ensuing depression.
40. discuss the politics of the 1920’s.
41. identify and describe many of the New Deal programs of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
42. discuss the causes and effects of WWII.
43. discuss American involvement in WWII.
44. describe the postwar differences between the United States and the Soviet Union that led to the Cold War.
45. cite key incidents and policies of the Cold War.
46. discuss the various elements of change in American culture in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
47. identify major incidents and policies during the presidencies of Nixon,
Ford, Carter, Reagan, G. H. W. Bush, Clinton, G.W. Bush, and Barack Obama.
V. REQUIRED MATERIALS
The American Vision,Glencoe, 2010
Blue or Black ink pens
2” or 3” binder and notebook paper
VI. METHODOLOGY
A variety of methods of instruction are used including:
1. lecture and other teacher presentation
2. class discussion of issues
3. debate
4. individual student and group oral presentations
5. small group discussion
6. videos and auditory presentations
7. student enactments
8. self-study guides
VII.EVALUATION
1. Outside Readings20 points
2. Current Events Reports20 points
3. Essays on various topics20-40 points
4. Second Semester Term Paper Project 150 points
5.quizzes15-30 points
6. tests100 points
7. individual and group oral presentationsvary with assignment
8. self-study guides100 points
9.notebook (collected at the end of each quarter)100 points
10. Semester Final Exam20% of semester grade
Final quarter grades will be determined by a percentage of total points for that quarter.
100% - 90%A
89% - 80%B
79% - 70%C
69% - 60%D
Below 60%F
Cheating Policy: If a student is found to be cheating on an assignment or test, he or she may be given a 0% on the paper or may be asked to redo the assignment or test.
VIII.EXTRA CREDIT
Students may receive extra credit in special circumstances only by arrangementwith and by the permission of the instructor. All extra credit is due at least one week before final exams and only accepted if all other work in handed in.