This class can coordinate with my American Literature 1 course.  This class is taught at a standard level, however, I am able to offer additional work as well as AP designation on your transcript if you would like your student to take this class at an AP level, as I have AP authorization--please contact me about this option.

This course is a rhetorical level course intended to introduce the student to the major themes and moments in United States history.  This course will involve both writing and reading.  We will be reading a full-range of primary documents from each time period and geographical area we study.  You will be learning how to read, think about, analyze, argue with, and present ideas about history and to connect events to the larger trends and themes in world history.

This class is a discussion-based, interactive format.  Each week you will be responsible for reading background material and assigned primary documents.  You will be expected to write a reading response for each of your readings.  These reading responses should be 1-2 pages on the background material for each time period in history and the important elements of the work.  You should be building a timeline of major events in US history across geographical boundaries.    In class, we will spend much time discussing our reading, putting themes in their historical context and asking questions about the author’s and our own worldviews.  I expect you to come to class prepared to participate in this discussion. You will also be assigned brief presentations.  These presentations will involve researching the biographical information for significant figures and key information for major moments we will study in class. 

This class covers a time period in United States history that deals with problems of racism and discrimination, as well as efforts made to correct those problems in the legal, economic, and societal institutions of the country.  This class will utilize primary documents from a variety of sources to give voice to those marginalized groups throughout those struggles.  

1. What is history?  How do we evaluate primary and secondary documents.  We will discuss point of view and bias, in class.

2. Limited Government

3. Absolutism

4. Enlightenment

5.  We will introduce DBQ's and work on outlines and how to write a thesis in class

6.  America before Europe

7. Exploration

8.  Presentations on various explorers due

9.  Impacts of Exploration

10. Early Colonies

11.  Presentations on your colony due

12.  John Smith “The General History of Virginia” 

13. 18th Century Colonial life

14.  Test 1

15.  Growing conflicts

16. Declaration of Independence

17. Revolution

18.  Presentations on the important players in the Revolution due

19. Aftermath

20. Constitution

21. Washington and the first presidency

22. George Washington

23. Jeffersonian period

24. War of 1812

25. Manifest Destiny

26. Emerson

27. Jacksonian democracy

28. Test 2

29. 19th century reform and Utopias

30. Thoreau's Civil Disobedience