AP U.S. History is a one semester survey of American History from the age of exploration and discovery to the present. The course is developed as a one semester course with multimedia instruction, assignments, discussion and quizzes. Emphasis is placed on critical and evaluative thinking skills, essay writing, interpretation of original documents, and historiography.
Prerequisites
90 average in related honors courses and teacher recommendation
from most recent social studies and English course taken.
Course Goals and/or Major Student Outcomes
This course has several purposes. First and foremost, students will
learn U.S. history and government. The course is also intended to
prepare students to take and successfully pass the state end-of-course
test and the College Board’s Advanced Placement U.S. History Exam.
Course Objectives Students will:
· Master a broad body of historical knowledge
· Demonstrate an understanding of historical chronology
· Use historical data to support an argument or position
· Interpret and apply data from original documents, including cartoons,
graphs, letters, etc.
· Effectively use analytical skills of evaluation, cause and effect,
and compare and contrast
· Develop essay responses that include a clear, defensible social
studies thesis statement and supporting evidence
Course Text and Readings
-Liberty, Equality, Power: A History of the American People, 5th
Edition, Murrin, J., M
-The American Spirit: Vol. 1 & 2 Since 1865, 10th edition Kennedy,
D. M., Bailey, T. A.
-After the Fact: The Art of Historical Detection, Vol. 1 & 2
, Davidson, J. W. & Lytle, M. H
Major Themes of the Course
These themes are woven throughout unit discussion, with assessments
(quizzes, essays, and tests) being structured around them: America
on the World Stage, National Identity and Citizenship, Political
Change and Continuity, Pluralism and Group Identity, Free Markets
and Economic Transformation
Course Assignments and/or Assessment
The course assignments are organized by weekly topics. Each week
contains the following assignments:
1) Readings— Required readings from Liberty, Equality, Power.
2) Writing Assignments—Discussion/essay question assigned each week
that is designed to drive class discussion about the current topic.
3) Document Based Question—Practice DBQ on the current topic
4) Identification assignment (oral and/or written grade)- bases
for Era Tests
5) Assessments—Era Tests and/or Multiple choice test for each weekly
topic, styled after the questions used on the College Board’s AP
U.S. History exam
6) One midterm exam and a required state comprehensive exam.
Weekly Topics - Click the links below, when
activated, to be taken to specific information about each goal.
You will need Adobe
Reader, Smart
Notebook Reader, and PowerPoint or a PowerPoint
reader to open many of the files.
Suggested download if you do not have Microsoft office at home -
it is FREE and just as good! OpenOffice
How
to write an ID
Goal A: Colonial America (1492-1754) -
TLW identify the causes of European exploration and colonial settlement
and assess the structure of the European colonies.
Textbook Chapters 1-4; pp 2-128
ERA TEST
Goal B: Revolutionary Era (1754-1783) - TLW
examine the causes for revolution, the course of the war, and evaluate
the results.
Textbook Chapters 4-6; pp 129-218
ERA TEST
Goal 1: The New Nation (1783-1816) - The learner will identify,
investigate, and assess the formation and effectiveness of the institutions
of the emerging republic.
Chapters 6-7; pp. 192-248
ERA TEST
Goal 2: Expanison and Reform (1801-1850) - TLW assess the compting
forces of expansionism, nationalism, and sectionalsim.
Textbook - Chapters 11-13; pp. 332-406;
Goal 3: Crisis, Civil War, and Reconstruction (1848-1877) - TLW
analyze the issues that led to the Cvil War, the effects of the
war, and the impact of Reconstruction on the nation.
Textbook - Chapters 14-16; pp. 410-507; Chapter 17; pp. 510-535
ERA TEST
Goal 4: The Great West, the New South, and the Rise of the Debtor
(1862-1896) - TLW evalute the great westward movement, the emergence
of the New South, and the impact of the agricultural revolution
on the nation.
Textbook - Chapter 18; pp 538-563
Goal 5: Becoming and Industrial Society (1877-1900) - TLW describe
innovations in technology and business practices and assess their
impact on economic, political, and social life in America.
Textbook Chapters 19-20; pp. 566-621
ERA TEST
Goal 6: The emergence of the United States in World Affairs (1890-1914)
- TLW analyze causes and effects of the United States emergence
as an imperial power and world influence.
Textbook Chapter 22; pp. 656-681
ERA TEST
Goal 7: The Progressive Movement (1890-1914) - TLW analyze the economic,
political, and social reforms of the Progressive Period
Textbook Chapter 21: pp. 624-653
ERA TEST
Goal 8: The Great War and Its Aftermath (1914-1930) TLW analyze
United States involvement in World War I and the war's influence
on international affairs during the 1920s
Textbook - Chapter 23; pp. 864-713
ERA TEST
Goal 9: Prosperity and Depression (1919-1939) - TLW appraise the
economic, social, and political changes of the decades of the Twenties
and Thirties.
Textbook - Chapters 24-25; pp. 716-782
ERA TEST
Goal 10: World War II and the Beginning of the Cold War (1930-1963)
- TLW analyze the United States involvement in World War II and
the war's influence on international affairs in the following decades.
Textbook - Chapters 26-27; pp. 786-854
ERA TEST
Goal 11: Recovery, Prosperity, and Turmoil (1945-1980) - TLW trace
economic, political, and social developments and assess their significance
for the lives of Americans during this time period.
Textbook Chapter 28; pp. 856-892
ERA TEST
Goal 12: The United States Since the Vietnam War (1973-Present)
- TLW identify and analyze trends in domestic and foreign affairs
of the United States during this time period.
Textbook Chaptesr 29-32; pp. 896-1016
ERA TEST
Links
Quizzes
for the 12th Edition of The American Pageant
U.S. History
for AP Students
AP
Practice Quizzes
AP
Primary Sources Research Page
More
Practice Quizzes