US/VA HISTORY PACING GUIDE
Adapted from Joseph Savel of Stafford County Schools
2009-2010
UNITS / DATES / SOL CRITERIA / TEXT / SOL REFLECTIONS
CLASSROOM PROCEDURES / One Week
1. Colonial America
Age of Discovery, Columbian Exchange, European Settlement of the Americas, 13 Colonies / 1.5 Weeks / VUS.2 / Ch.
2. The Revolution
French and Indian War, Causes, Social Contract Theory, Key Leaders, Battles, Turning Points, Results / 1.5 Weeks / VUS.4 / Ch. / More emphasis on French and Indian War.
3. Constitutional Period
Articles of Confederation, Founding Fathers, Constitutional Convention, Ratification, Bill of Rights / 1 Week / VUS.5 / Ch. / Hamilton’s Economic Plan
4. The National Period
Early Presidencies, Louisiana Purchase, Manifest Destiny, Industrial Revolution, War of 1812, Monroe Doctrine, Marshall Court / 1.5 Weeks / VUS.6 / Ch. / Emphasize Westward Expansion and Geography
Emphasize Bank of US
5. Civil War and Reconstruction
Slavery and Abolition, Mexican War, Compromises, Events Leading to Civil War, Dred Scott Decision, Key Leaders, Battles, Reconstruction / 1.5 Weeks / VUS.7 / Ch. / Use of Income Tax and National Currency
6. Industrialization, Immigration, & Progressive Era
Major Industries, Inventions, Ellis Island, Urbanization, Segregation and Plessy v. Ferguson, Labor Movement, Progressive Legislation and Amendments. / 1.5-2Weeks / VUS.8 / Ch. / Emphasize Progressive Amendments:16-19 and economic concepts.
7. America Enters the World Stage
Imperialism, Spanish-American War, Roosevelt Corollary, Gunboat and Dollar Diplomacy, WWI, League of Nations / 1 Week / VUS.9 / Ch. / Global Trade - Dollar Diplomacy and Open Door Policy
8. The Great Depression
1920s Economics, Causes, Stock Market Crash, Hoover, FDR and The New Deal / 2-3 Days / VUS.9 / Ch. / Emphasize economic concepts of stock market, supply and demand. Keynes
9. WWII
Rise of Totalitarianism, Key Leaders, Battles, Holocaust, Home Front, Geneva Convention / 1 Week / VUS.10 and 11 / Ch / Be sure to conclude unit with Nuremberg Trials, Geneva Convention, and Japanese Occupation.
10. The Cold War
United Nations, Marshall Plan, Containment, McCarthyism, Arms and Space Race, Korea and Vietnam, Détente, Berlin Wall, Reagan/Gorbachev / 1 Week / VUS.12 / Ch. / Capitalism, Socialism, and Communism as competing economic theories
11. Civil Rights
Segregation, Brown v. Board, Key Leaders, Passive Resistance, Black Militancy, Legislation and Amendments / 3 Days / VUS.13 / Ch. / Be sure to emphasize VA’s role in the Movement. (i.e. Oliver Hill)
12. Contemporary America
Middle-East Policy, Watergate, Technology and Information, Women in the Workplace, Reagan Revolution, End of Cold War, Globalization, War on Terrorism / 1 Day / VUS.14 / Ch. / Reaganomics, Globalization, Internet
SOL REVIEW / 1.5 Weeks / VUS.1 – VUS.14 / Emphasis on Geography, Economics, and Modern America (1877-1945)
HISTORY ENRICHMENT PROJECTS / Varied
END OF THE SEMESTER EXAM / 1 Day / VUS.1- VUS.14
SEMESTER-LONG THEMES AND SKILL-BUILDING
  • Analysis of Primary and Secondary Sources including famous documents, photographs, and political cartoons – VUS.1
  • Interpretation of Maps, Charts, and Graphs - VUS.1
  • Physical Geography and Growth of the United States – VUS.1 & VUS.6
  • Democracy, Citizenship, and Group Cooperation – VUS.4 & VUS.5
  • Formation and Evolution of Political Parties – VUS.6 – VUS.14
  • Development of US Foreign Policy – VUS.6 – VUS.14
  • Contribution of Women and Minorities – VUS.2 – VUS14
  • Role of Virginia and StaffordCounty in the Events of American History
  • Thesis and Persuasive Essay Writing – VUS.1
  • Note-taking, Reading for Comprehension, and Study Skills
  • Multiple-choice Testing Strategies