Scope And Sequence Timeframe Unit Instructional Topics 5 Week(s) Course Rationale This course provides a broad-based understanding of our past as well as prepares students for college-level academics. Course This course is a rigorous survey course of US History from discovery to the present. The course is a standard first-year college course equivalent to two semesters (History 120 and 121) and is designed to prepare the students for success on the AP exam in the spring. The course is primarily lecture, analysis of primary source documents, and discussion. Critical thinking and writing skills are emphasized. The student is expected to do daily reading outside of class. This course is offered with a dual-credit option. Please note that the durations are estimates only; they are suggestions originally based on expected AP exam distributions. Also, the durations / expected class times are designed for an alternating split-block schedule from August to May. 5 Week(s) 6 Week(s) 4 Week(s) 1 Week(s) - the United States was & is shaped by the people which make up our nation, the ideas that those people bring (including, but not limited to, social, political, economic, intellectual, religious, and technological ideas), and conflicts between those ideas. - those ideas have been both causes and effects of significant changes in the growth of our nation as well as the relationship our nation has with specific groups within and outside our borders. - the United States is a land/people of law and of liberty (of security and of freedom) searching for ways to explain, define, and ultimately expand what those terms mean. - Words have meaning and ideas have consequences. Key Resources Brinkley text book Unit I: Pre-Colonial to Early Republic (1491-1800) Unit II - National Power Defeats States' Rights (1800-1877) Unit III - America's Rise as a Global Power (1877-1945) Unit IV - Limits of a Global Power (1945-present) Unit V - Exam Preparation Course Details Unit: Unit I: Pre-Colonial to Early Republic (1491-1800) 1. Exploration 2. Colonial America 3. Revolutionary ideas & actions 4. Early Republic 5. Historical Writing 1. Jeffersonian & Jacksonian democracies - (incl) market revolution 2. Antebellum - (incl) sectionalism, reform movements, and expansion 3. Civil War & Reconstruction 1. Last West - (incl) Populism 2. Industrialization & Reactions - (incl) Immigration, Urbanization, Progressives 3. Imperialism 4. WWI and 1920s 5. Great Depression & New Deal 6. WWII 1. early Cold War 2. 1960s 3. 1970s 4. Conservative victories - Reagan to Clinton 5. 9/11 and return of Big Government 1. Course Review 2. Final Exam Duration: 5 Week(s) Page 1
Unit I focus starts with the Spanish, French, and English colonies in North America; how those colonies interacted with each other & with the Native American Indian tribes they encountered and the cultures they developed. The focus then follows the growth of the English colonies through their social, political, economic, and intellectual independence and the growth of the new nation discovering its own identity. Unit 1 will generally last 18-24 class days. - the United States was formed by various groups that despite being primarily English, formed distinctive colonial societies. - these various groups all helped to shape and develop new forms of government, religion, language and culture. - attempts to gain security (not only physical but also economic and political security) as well as liberty led to conflict; and eventually led to national independence. - conflict continued over the nature of that independence. - historians' efforts to record the past have specific goals and methods which are necessary to interpret them. Student writing must also have a goal and also have methods to reach that goal. 1. How did religion and the Enlightenment shape the social, political, and economic foundations of the colonies? 2. How did rebellion and upward mobility shape the growth of those colonies? 3. How is the Declaration of Independence radical for its time? 4. How does the American Revolution address the social, political, and economic causes that led to it? 5. How do the Founders balance concerns for liberty with security & stability in the original Constitution? Why? 6. How do the early political parties in the United States evolve to represent different perspectives on the meaning of the Constitution? Exploration This topic covers the early European explorers, their motives, and the first interactions between them and the Native Tribes they encountered. estimated time 2-3 class days The student will understand the Columbian Exchange and its implications for both Europeans and for Native American Indian tribes. The student will understand where European explorers went, their motives, and the resulting colonial settlements. Colonial America This topic covers the social, political, economic, and religious characteristics of the various English colonies in North America. estimated time 2-3 class days The student will be able to describe & analyze the various colonies, their characteristics, and the reasons they differ. Revolutionary ideas & actions This topic covers the growing conflict between England and the colonies, Causes & Effects of the French & Indian War, the new ideas that grew out of those conflicts leading to a greater conflict resulting in the Revolutionary War. This topic also covers the intellectual & social foundations leading to & coming from Independence - and the struggle to formalize those ideas on liberty & security, on rights & responsibilities. estimated time 7-10 class days The student will describe the causes, progression, and effects of the French & Indian War (Seven Years War). The student will understand the social, political, economic, and intellectual causes of the Revolutionary War and describe its progression. Page 2
The student will be able to analyze the Declaration of Independence. The student will be able to analyze the causes and effects of the Revolutionary War - including social, political, and economic results for various groups of people. The student will understand the strengths & weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation government that emerges from the Revolutionary War, the reasons for those strengths & weaknesses, and also understand the conflicts existing in America at that time (1783). Early Republic This topic covers the New Nation's early years of differing interpretations of the new Constitution and how those differences lead to the first political parties. It also covers the social & economic results of independence and how those results impact various groups of Americans. estimated time 3-5 class days The student will analyze the debates over, and ratification of, the Constitution. The student will trace the growth of the first political parties and analyze the groups that made up each party. The student will understand the challenges and precedents of the Washington & Adams administrations, both foreign & domestic, and the Constitutional implications for both security and for liberty. The student will explain the revolutionary character of the 1800 election. Topic: Duration: 2 Day(s) Historical Writing This topic covers understanding the professional historical writing of others and how to create historical essays as required by the standards of the AP exam. Estimated time 1-2 class days. Sequence will vary. Topic should recur in every unit, if time allows. The student will understand the elements of historical writing and what is expected on the AP exam. The student will respond to historical questions in both Free Response Question and Document-Based Question formats. Unit: Unit II - National Power Defeats States' Rights (1800-1877) Duration: 5 Week(s) Page 3
Unit II focus starts on the growth of the new country (primarily physical and economic, but also social and intellectual growth) and on how that growth exacerbates existing differences in understanding of the Constitution. The focus shifts to the conflicts those differences create, how they are resolved or lead to greater conflict culminating in the Civil War and a new definition of both citizenship and of liberty. The Unit ends with post-war efforts to rebuild and move forward, albeit with decidedly mixed results. Unit II will generally last 16-22 class days. Midterm exam to follow. -differing uses of the checks & balances of the Constitution reflect differing interpretations by people looking to balance their ideas of liberty & security, and those ideas change in response to various events. -the Market Revolution, including technological advances, has different impacts in different regions and on different groups of people. -the theme of reform or improvement is ever-present in America in a wide variety of arts, sciences, and all aspects of people's lives. -the physical expansion of our country created new conflicts and exacerbated existing ones (primarily slavery), to the point of Civil War. -the social, political, and economic aspects of Reconstruction themselves led to new conflicts which could not entirely be solved and left a latent racism that would continue to fester despite new legal protections of citizenship & liberty. 1. How successful were Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson in implementing their visions for America? 2. How did the Supreme Court impact the United States during this period? 3. How did the Market Revolution impact different regions in the United States? 4. How did technological developments bring about economic and social change in the United States during this time period? 5. How were the sections / regions in the United States different during this time period? 6. How did the themes of religion, race, liberty, and westward movement impact the United States during this time period? 7. How successful were American reform movements during this time period? 8. To what extent was the dispute over slavery the defining issue of the antebellum period? 9. What were the social, political, and economic impacts of the Civil War? 10. How were the social, economic, and constitutional conflicts associated with Reconstruction resolved? Jeffersonian & Jacksonian democracies - (incl) market revolution This topic covers the different interpretations of the Constitution (primarily by Jefferson, Jackson, and Marshall) and the implications /consequences of those interpretations. The topic includes the Market Revolution with its causes & effects estimated time 6-8 class days The student will be able to explain Jeffersonian and Jacksonian democracies. The student will understand the significance of the Supreme Court during this time period. The student will understand the causes & effects of the Market Revolution. Antebellum - (incl) sectionalism, reform movements, and expansion This topic covers the rise of sectionalism & nationalism during this time period. It includes the primarily westward expansions as well as the various reform movements of the time. estimated class time 5-7 class days. The student will understand the rise of sectionalism & nationalism in America, and their relationship to expansion (geographic, social, political, and economic expansions) during this time period. The student will understand the impact that physical expansion has on various groups of people within and outside the political borders of the United States during this time period. The student will understand the causes and effects of the various reform movements, including new religious movements, that occur during this time period. Page 4
Topic: Civil War & Reconstruction Duration: 1 Week(s) This topic covers the Civil War & Reconstruction and their impacts (social, political, and economic). estimated time 5-7 class days. The student will understand the causes of the Civil War. The student will understand the events & progression of the Civil War - not only military, but also political, economic, and social. The student will understand the effects of the Civil War - both those associated with Reconstruction of the South, and those unrelated to Reconstruction. The student will understand the events & progression of Reconstruction as well as their social, political, and economic consequences during this time period. Unit: Unit III - America's Rise as a Global Power (1877-1945) Unit III focuses on how America's continued physical & economic growth due to the Industrial Revolution leads to increased immigration & urbanization within the United States. This process leads to problems in rural and urban areas leading to efforts to resolve those problems (Populists, various Labor movements, and Progressives). The unit then covers how these reform efforts coalesce around government action to address a wide variety of problems during this time period culminating in the New Deal. The unit also covers America's emergence on the world stage as the winner of a global conflict (largely military, but also economic, social, and political) over fascism. Unit III will generally last 21-27 days -the Industrial Revolution causes large population changes due to immigration & migration which leads to conflicts and opportunities for different groups of affected people. -the United States becomes a largely urban society; more global and commercial than before which causes different challenges for different groups of people, many of whom look to national government for solutions. -America's economic growth leads to involvement in world affairs, with the United States reluctantly confronting & decisively defeating militarism & fascism. 1. How did industrialization affect various groups of people in the United States and how did those groups respond? 2. To what extent where the problems these groups experienced consequences of their own actions, actions of the government, or actions by outside groups? 3. Why did cities grow during this time period? How? What problems and opportunities did this growth present to which groups of people? How did those people respond? 4. How & why does government regulation/involvement grow during this time period? What are the costs & benefits, both intended and actual, of this growth? 5. How did the Depression and New Deal fundamentally alter the relationship between American citizens and their government? 6. How & why does the United States get involved with foreign nations during this time period? How do foreign groups contribute to US involvement? 7. How can you compare the causes, domestic impacts, and consequences of WWI and WWII? Duration: 6 Week(s) Topic: Duration: 1 Day(s) Last West - (incl) Populism This topic covers the groups that migrated West during this time period, the challenges & opportunities they faced, and their responses to those challenges & opportunities. It includes the Populist movement with its causes & effects. estimated time 1-2 class days The student will describe the various groups that migrate to the American Midwest & Far West, their motives for moving there, and the conflicts they faced. The student will explain the economic, social, technological, and political solutions that the various migrating groups sought in response to the problems they faced. The student will understand the governmental responses to those problems as well as to the proposed solutions. Page 5
Industrialization & Reactions - (incl) Immigration, Urbanization, Progressives This topic covers the Industrial Revolution, its causes & effects on various groups of people, as well as the responses by both labor & capital. It includes the significant Urbanization and Immigration that takes place during this time period and the effects (social, political, and economic) of those large movements. This topic also covers the Progressive movement and its responses to the social, political, and economic problems of the time period. estimated time 6-8 class days The student will understand the causes of the Industrial Revolution and the responses of both labor and capital including business consolidation and the labor movements. The student will understand the social, political, and economic consequences of the Industrial Revolution on various groups of people in the United States. The student will understand the causes & effects of Urbanization on various groups of people in the United States. The student will understand the causes & effects of Immigration (and internal migrations) on various groups of people during this time period. The student will understand the causes & effects (social, political, and economic) of the Progressive movement of 1890-1920 (both short term and long term) during this time period. Topic: Duration: 1 Day(s) Imperialism This topic covers American imperialism, its causes & effects (both foreign & domestic; social, political and economic), including, but not limited to, the Spanish-American War. estimated time 1-2 class days The student will understand the social, political, and economic causes (both foreign and domestic) of Imperialism during this time period. The student will understand the causes, major events, & effects of the Spanish-American War. This includes understanding the domestic impact on various groups of citizens. WWI and 1920s This topic covers the causes, progression, and effects of WWI - both foreign and domestic. It also covers the 1920s and its decade-long conflicts between modernism and tradition. estimated time 4-6 class days The student will understand the causes of WWI, how & why the United States eventually gets involved and the major events of the war itself including domestic events. The student will understand the effects (social, economic, and political) of WWI, both the war itself and the peace treaty that ends it. This includes both foreign & domestic effects. The student will understand that ongoing immigration & urbanization coupled with technological change & changing demographics led to increased cultural & political conflicts on a wide variety of issues which will define the 1920s. Great Depression & New Deal This topic covers the causes and effects of the Great Depression and the government's responses to that Depression. estimated time 2-4 class days The student will understand the causes and effects of the Great Depression. Page 6
The student will understand the New Deal, its efforts to address both the causes and the effects of the Great Depression, and the relative success or failure of those efforts. WWII This topic covers the causes of WWII, the United States' efforts to deal with those causes leading ultimately to our involvement in the war, the progression of the war, and its domestic & foreign impacts. estimated time 2-4 class days The student will understand the rise of fascism on the global stage and United States' efforts to counter the resultant aggression from those fascist states. The student will understand the causes of WWII, how the United States gets involved in the war, and how the war proceeds to its end in both Europe and in Asia. The student will understand the social, political, and economic effects of WWII, both foreign & domestic for various groups of people. Unit: Unit IV - Limits of a Global Power (1945-present) Unit IV focuses on the challenges America faces attempting to balance security and liberty, both at home and abroad in an increasingly interdependent world. As the United States confronts and largely defeats Communism abroad while defending its ideals domestically, we are also thrust into the role of global policeman among world nations that cannot agree on sharing the results of a spectacular growth in both living standards and in liberty - and a growth in threats to both. The unit then finishes with a new conflict America must also confront in fundamentalist terrorism on a global scale. Unit IV will generally last 13-19 class days. - global relationships were largely shaped by two new themes: the Cold War conflicts (peaceful, military, political, social) between the United States and the Soviet Union (and their proxies), and the largely American attempt to support ideas of global liberal democracy & collective security - including using new international bodies such as the United Nations. - domestically, the United States continued to expand ideas of liberty to minority groups, continued to expand government aid to and involvement in all areas of domestic lives (social, political, economic, industrial, religious, technological), and continued to expand financially in both revenue & expenditures while also confronting new challenges to existing ideas of law & security for all citizens. - globalization imparted a push-pull effect on the United States during this time period when political, economic, social, technological, and cultural differences are exacerbated by the internet, by global media, and by international terrorism. 1. In analyzing the Cold War, how were the causes (foreign & domestic), the major events (foreign & domestic), and consequences (foreign & domestic) of the Cold War related? 2. How did the United States expand liberty to various minority groups domestically during this time period? How successful were those actions? 3. How did the Vietnam War impact the United States, socially, politically, and economically? 4. How & why did the public change its fundamental understanding of the role of government, including its financing, during this time period? 5. How does increasing globalization impact (socially, economically, and politically) various groups of Americans during this time period? 6. How & why did the United States seek to export American ideas of individual liberty, rule of law, freedom of religion and other liberal democratic values? How successful were these attempts during this time period? 7. How has the United States responded (both domestically and globally) to perceived threats to both security & liberty since the end of the Cold War? Duration: 4 Week(s) early Cold War This topic covers the start of the Cold War, its foreign & domestic progression and its foreign & domestic impacts during this pre-vietnam era. estimated time 2-4 class days Page 7
The student will understand the causes of the Cold War and the significant events in its progress during this time period. The student will understand the causes; social, economic, and political impacts domestically; and ultimate foreign effects of the Korean War. The student will understand the impacts of the Cold War; including social, economic, and political impacts domestically for various groups of people; as well as the consequences for various foreign nations during this time period. 1960s This topic covers the Kennedy, Johnson, and the first Nixon administrations during this time period; the Vietnam War; the major events of the Civil Rights movement during this time period; and their foreign & domestic consequences. estimated time 5-7 class days The student will understand the causes, foreign & domestic (social, political, & economic) impacts, and the outcomes of the Vietnam War. The student will understand the causes and impacts of the major domestic political plans / events during this time period including the various movements for greater minority Civil Rights. The student will understand the causes and impacts of the various counterculture movements which occurred during this time period. Topic: Duration: 2 Day(s) 1970s This topic covers the second Nixon administration, the Ford & Carter presidencies and the domestic & foreign events of each. estimated time 1-3 class days The student will understand the foreign & domestic events of the Nixon administrations including the causes and impacts of the Watergate scandal & Nixon resignation. The student will understand the foreign & domestic challenges and achievements of the Ford & Carter administrations, focusing on social, economic, and political issues. Topic: Duration: 2 Day(s) Conservative victories - Reagan to Clinton This topic covers the Reagan, George H.W. Bush (Bush I), and Clinton administrations and the domestic & foreign events of each. estimated time 1-3 class days The student will understand the impact of the 1980 election and the Reagan & Bush administrations, both domestically and globally. The student will understand the technological & economic causes of globalization and its rise as a significant force in America especially on the end of the Cold War, the Gulf War (causes, progress, impacts), and the rise of Internet commerce during this time period. The student will understand the domestic & foreign challenges and achievements of the Clinton administrations. Topic: Duration: 1 Day(s) 9/11 and return of Big Government This topic covers the events from the election of 2000 to the present day focusing on 9/11 & the War on Terror. estimated class time 1-2 class days The student will understand the cause and impacts (both foreign and domestic; social, political, and economic) of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks. Page 8
Unit: Unit V - Exam Preparation In Unit V, the focus will be on reviewing both themes and specific time periods as needed. The review time will include review of individual exams, class review sessions, and time for instructor & students to discuss individual areas of weakness. Unit V will generally last 5-7 class days (depending on snow days, etc.) and includes a Final Exam. - reviewing previously learned information leads to better understanding, increased retention, and better usage/productivity with that information. 1. What previously-taught material do you need to review? 2. How do you individually review most effectively for your individual learning style? Duration: 1 Week(s) Course Review In this topic, the focus is on reviewing broad themes and identifying & improving areas of weakness. The student will identify the major themes of US History, identify their own individual area(s) of weakness, and improve their understanding of those weak areas. Topic: Duration: 1 Day(s) Final Exam comprehensive assessment of course. The student will know their ability to perform on a single assessment of college-level US history survey content. Page 9