Course Description
In American History, students will study the framework of cultural, political, and social issues that have touched and impacted American society. Focusing on reading as an historian, students will begin with the necessary skills needed for reading primary and secondary resources. They will incorporate these skills as they delve into the course material. Picking up with Reconstruction and concluding with globalization in the Twenty-First Century, students will uncover how cooperation, innovation, and spirit have shaped the United States into the country it is today.

Course Breakdown

Roaring Twenties
Causes and impact of the Great Depression
Policies of the New Deal
Causes and impact of World War II
Factors leading to the Cold War Factors leading to the Korean War and Vietnam War
Spread of Communism
Civil rights movement
Political and social trends after the 1970s
Trends in innovation and technology
Preparing for the future

Course Goals
Interpret changes to American politics and culture in the years between World War I and World War II.
Explain the political, cultural, and economic causes of the Great Depression.
Analyze the effectiveness of the First and Second New Deals presented by the Roosevelt administration in response to the Great Depression.
Summarize key people, events, and technologies of World War II. Assess the significance of the Cold War in American history, including key conflicts and outcomes.
Relate significant individuals and events of the civil rights movement to legislative and social changes they inspired.
Identify trends in American political thought from the 1960s until the present day.
Recognize the impact of technology on American politics, economics, and culture since World War II.