United States History

Content

After years of teaching U.S. History chronologically and never getting to the "good stuff," I redesigned the course into 4 major themes that we cover over the school year:
1- Civil Rights
2- Wars
3- Business & Industry
4- 20th Century Societal Changes

This allows us to get to modern day history several times throughout the year. It has really been quite successful.

The Essential question of the course is: Can freedom and security work together in a democratic society?

Here is a list of the major topics covered in each of the major themes:

1- Civil Rights
- Native Americans & Manifest Destiny
- Colonists' fight for Independence
- The Declaration of Independence
- Slavery and Emancipation
- African Americans during Reconstruction
- The Civil Rights Movement of the 50s-60s
- Japanese-American Internment Camps
-Women's Suffrage Movement
- Civil Rights issues today

2- War

- The Civil War
- America's Emerging Role in the World
(Spanish-American War & WWI)
- WWII
- The Atomic Bomb
- The Cold War
- Korea & Vietnam Conflicts
- The Gulf War
- The War on "Terror"

3- Business & Industry

- The Basics of Capitalism
- The Labor Movement
- The Stock Market
- The Titans of American Industry
- The Growing Gap between rich & poor
- The Great Depression
- The New Deal

4- 20th Century Societal Changes

- This unit looks at everyday life
during the 20th Century.
- Turn of the Century life
- The Twenties
- Post-War Americanism
- The Counter-Culture
- The Conservative Revolution
of the 80s
- Pop Culture Today
- The Changing Face of Canton