Thinking Like a Historian | Lessons

• Thinking like a historian | Lesson | September 2
  Discussion Question: Why is it important to think like a historian when studying history?

• Meet Kim, one of the creators of Khan Academy's AP US History lessons | Video | September 2
  Discussion Question: What role do historians play in shaping our understanding of the past?

• Thinking like a historian | Video | September 3
  Discussion Question: How can adopting a historian’s mindset enhance your study of history?

• How to read a document: source identification | Video | September 3
  Discussion Question: What are the key elements to consider when identifying historical sources?

• How to read a document: analyzing a historical text | Video | September 4
  Discussion Question: How can you effectively analyze a historical text to understand its context and significance?

• Avoiding common mistakes in historical essays | Video | September 4
  Discussion Question: What are some common mistakes in historical essays, and how can you avoid them?

Native American Societies Before Contact | Lessons

• Native American societies before contact | Lesson | September 5
  Discussion Question: How did Native American societies adapt to their environments before European contact?

• Native American societies before contact | Video | September 5
  Discussion Question: What were some of the diverse cultures and societies that existed in North America before European contact?

• Native American culture of the West | Article | September 6
  Discussion Question: How did the environment shape the cultures and lifestyles of Native American societies in the West?

• Native American culture of the Southwest | Article | September 6
  Discussion Question: What were the key characteristics of Native American cultures in the Southwest?

• Native American culture of the Northeast | Article | September 7
  Discussion Question: How did the Native American societies of the Northeast organize their communities and economies?

• Native American culture of the Southeast | Article | September 7
  Discussion Question: What were the main features of Native American cultures in the Southeast?

• Native American culture of the Plains | Article | September 8
  Discussion Question: How did the Plains Indians adapt to their environment, and what were their main cultural practices?

• Native American societies before European contact (Login to complete) | Exercise | September 8
  Discussion Question: How did the diverse environments of North America influence the development of various Native American cultures?

European Exploration in the Americas | Lessons

• European exploration in the Americas | Lesson | September 9
  Discussion Question: What were the main motivations for European exploration in the Americas?

• Pre-colonization European society | Article | September 9
  Discussion Question: How did the social, political, and economic conditions in Europe influence the age of exploration?

• Motivation for European conquest of the New World | Article | September 10
  Discussion Question: What were the primary motivations behind European conquests in the New World?

• Origins of European exploration in the Americas | Video | September 10
  Discussion Question: What factors contributed to the beginning of European exploration in the Americas?

• European exploration in the Americas (Login to complete) | Exercise | September 11
  Discussion Question: How did European exploration and conquest impact the indigenous populations of the Americas?

Period 1: 1491-1607 | Quiz 1

• Quiz 1 | Quiz | September 12
  Discussion Question: What were the key takeaways from the lessons on thinking like a historian, Native American societies before contact, and European exploration in the Americas?

Columbian Exchange, Spanish Exploration, and Conquest | Lessons

• Columbian Exchange, Spanish exploration, and conquest | Lesson | September 13
  Discussion Question: How did the Columbian Exchange affect both the Old World and the New World?

• Christopher Columbus | Video | September 13
  Discussion Question: What were the immediate and long-term impacts of Christopher Columbus’s voyages?

• Consequences of Columbus's voyage on the Tainos and Europe | Video | September 14
  Discussion Question: How did Columbus’s voyages impact the Tainos and European societies?

• The Columbian Exchange | Video | September 14
  Discussion Question: What were the major components and effects of the Columbian Exchange?

• The Columbian Exchange | Article | September 15
  Discussion Question: How did the Columbian Exchange transform the economies and cultures of Europe and the Americas?

• Environmental and health effects of European contact with the New World | Article | September 15
  Discussion Question: What were the environmental and health consequences of European contact with the New World?

• The Columbian Exchange, Spanish exploration, and conquest (Login to complete) | Exercise | September 16
  Discussion Question: How did the Columbian Exchange and Spanish exploration reshape the world?

Labor, Slavery, and Caste in the Spanish Colonial System | Lessons

• Labor, slavery, and caste in the Spanish colonial system | Lesson | September 17
  Discussion Question: How did the Spanish colonial system organize labor, slavery, and social hierarchy?

• Spanish colonization | Video | September 17
  Discussion Question: What were the main features of Spanish colonization in the Americas?

• The Spanish conquistadores and colonial empire | Article | September 18
  Discussion Question: How did the Spanish conquistadores establish and maintain their colonial empire?

• African societies and the beginning of the Atlantic slave trade | Article | September 18
  Discussion Question: How did African societies change with the beginning of the Atlantic slave trade?

• Labor, slavery, and caste in the Spanish colonial system (Login to complete) | Exercise | September 19
  Discussion Question: How did the systems of labor, slavery, and caste develop and evolve in the Spanish colonial context?

Period 1: 1491-1607 | Quiz 2

• Quiz 2 | Quiz | September 20
  Discussion Question: What were the key takeaways from the lessons on the Columbian Exchange, Spanish exploration, and conquest, and labor, slavery, and caste in the Spanish colonial system?

Cultural Interactions Between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans | Lessons

• Cultural interactions between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans | Lesson | September 21
  Discussion Question: How did the interactions between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans shape the colonial societies?

• Comparing European and Native American cultures | Video | September 21
  Discussion Question: How did European and Native American cultures differ, and what were the consequences of their interactions?

• Cultural interactions between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans (Login to complete) | Exercise | September 22
  Discussion Question: How did cultural exchanges between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans influence the development of the Americas?

Causation in Period 1 | Lessons

• Causation in Period 1 | Lesson | September 23
  Discussion Question: What were the major causes and effects of the transatlantic voyages from 1492 to 1607?

• Effects of transatlantic voyages, 1492-1607 | Video | September 23
  Discussion Question: How did the transatlantic voyages from 1492 to 1607 impact the world?

Period 1: 1491-1607 | Unit Test

• Period 1: 1491-1607: Unit test | Unit Test | September 30
  Discussion Question: Reflect on your learning journey in this unit. What concept did you find most intriguing, and why?

Exploring American History Through Disney World Themes | Unit

Welcome to our Interactive Learning Journey

Assignment Directions: Welcome to our interactive learning journey at Disney World, where we will explore the rich tapestry of American history through the park's themes and attractions. This assignment will help you connect your knowledge of U.S. history with real-world examples and understand the impact of cultural representation in media. It is strongly recommended that you take photos and collect relevant pamphlets to assist you in your coursework. 

Step 1: Visit Main Street, U.S.A.

• Observation of Main Street, U.S.A. | Visit | October 11
  Discussion Question: How do the architectural styles, music, and overall ambiance of Main Street, U.S.A. reflect the cultural and historical narratives of early 20th-century America? What similarities and differences do you notice compared to the historical accounts you've studied?

• Reflection on Main Street, U.S.A. | Article | October 11
  Discussion Question: Reflect on your visit to Main Street, U.S.A. How does this setting compare with the historical accounts you've studied? What elements stood out to you the most, and why?

Step 2: Identify and Discuss Key American Innovators and Historical Figures

• Identifying Key American Innovators | Activity | October 18
  Discussion Question: Who are some key American innovators and historical figures represented throughout Disney World? What are their contributions to entertainment and technology, and how are these celebrated in the park settings?

• Discussion on Walt Disney's Innovations | Article | October 18
  Discussion Question: How have Walt Disney's innovations influenced modern American entertainment and culture? Provide specific examples from the park.

Step 3: Analyze Attractions

• Analyzing the Hall of Presidents and the American Adventure Pavilion | Visit | October 25
  Discussion Question: How do attractions like the Hall of Presidents and the American Adventure pavilion at Epcot educate visitors about American history, values, and achievements? How effectively do they convey historical and cultural messages?

• Evaluation of Educational Impact | Article | October 25
  Discussion Question: Consider the role of these attractions in promoting a deeper understanding of American history. How effectively do they convey historical and cultural messages, and what improvements could be made?

Group Discussions and Note-Taking

• Group Discussion Preparation | Notes | October 31
  Discussion Question: How did your visits and observations enhance your understanding of American history through Disney World themes? Prepare notes for our group discussions to articulate your observations more effectively.

European Colonization | Lessons

• European colonization | Lesson | November 1
  Discussion Question: What were the main motivations and consequences of European colonization in the Americas?

• French and Dutch colonization | Video | November 1
  Discussion Question: How did French and Dutch colonization efforts differ from those of the Spanish and English?

• French and Dutch exploration in the New World | Article | November 2
  Discussion Question: What were the key achievements and challenges faced by the French and Dutch in the New World?

• England in the Age of Exploration | Video | November 2
  Discussion Question: What factors drove English exploration and colonization in the New World?

• Motivations for English colonization | Video | November 3
  Discussion Question: What were the primary motivations for English colonization, and how did they shape the development of the colonies?

• European colonization (Login to complete) | Exercise | November 4
  Discussion Question: How did European colonization impact the indigenous populations and the environment of the Americas?

Regions of British Colonies | Lessons

• Regions of British colonies | Lesson | November 5
  Discussion Question: What were the key differences between the various regions of British colonies in terms of economy, society, and culture?

• Early English settlements - Jamestown | Video | November 5
  Discussion Question: How did the early struggles and successes of Jamestown influence future English colonization efforts?

• Jamestown - John Smith and Pocahontas | Video | November 6
  Discussion Question: What role did John Smith and Pocahontas play in the survival and development of Jamestown?

• Jamestown - the impact of tobacco | Video | November 6
  Discussion Question: How did tobacco cultivation shape the economy and society of Jamestown and the Chesapeake region?

• Jamestown - life and labor in the Chesapeake | Video | November 7
  Discussion Question: What were the living conditions and labor systems like in the Chesapeake region during the early colonial period?

• Jamestown - Bacon's Rebellion | Video | November 7
  Discussion Question: What were the causes and consequences of Bacon's Rebellion in Jamestown?

• Puritan New England: Plymouth | Article | November 8
  Discussion Question: How did the Pilgrims' settlement in Plymouth differ from the settlement in Jamestown?

• Puritan New England: Massachusetts Bay | Article | November 8
  Discussion Question: What were the key characteristics of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and how did it influence the development of New England?

• Society and religion in the New England colonies | Video | November 9
  Discussion Question: How did religion shape the society and culture of the New England colonies?

• The Middle colonies | Video | November 9
  Discussion Question: What were the main features of the Middle colonies, and how did they differ from the New England and Southern colonies?

• The West Indies and the Southern colonies | Video | November 10
  Discussion Question: How did the West Indies and Southern colonies develop, and what were their economic and social structures?

• Regions of British colonies (Login to complete) | Exercise | November 10
  Discussion Question: How did the different regions of British colonies develop unique identities and cultures?

Transatlantic Trade | Lessons

• Transatlantic trade | Lesson | November 13
  Discussion Question: How did transatlantic trade shape the economies and societies of the British colonies?

• Transatlantic trade | Article | November 13
  Discussion Question: What were the key components and routes of the transatlantic trade, and how did they affect the colonies?

• The Navigation Acts | Article | November 14
  Discussion Question: What were the Navigation Acts, and how did they impact colonial trade and relations with Britain?

• Transatlantic trade (Login to complete) | Exercise | November 14
  Discussion Question: How did the transatlantic trade network connect the British colonies with the rest of the world?

Period 2: 1607-1754 | Quiz 1

• Quiz 1 | Quiz | November 15
  Discussion Question: What were the key takeaways from the lessons on European colonization, regions of British colonies, and transatlantic trade?

Interactions Between American Indians and Europeans | Lessons

• Interactions between American Indians and Europeans | Lesson | November 16
  Discussion Question: How did interactions between American Indians and Europeans shape the development of colonial societies?

• Politics and native relations in the New England colonies | Video | November 16
  Discussion Question: How did political and social relations between Native Americans and colonists evolve in New England?

• Pueblo uprising of 1680 | Article | November 17
  Discussion Question: What were the causes and consequences of the Pueblo uprising of 1680?

• Interactions between American Indians and Europeans (Login to complete) | Exercise | November 17
  Discussion Question: How did European colonization impact the lives and cultures of Native American societies?

Slavery in the British Colonies | Lessons

• Slavery in the British colonies | Lesson | November 20
  Discussion Question: How did the institution of slavery develop and evolve in the British colonies?

• Slavery in the British colonies | Video | November 20
  Discussion Question: What were the economic and social impacts of slavery in the British colonies?

• Slavery in the British colonies | Article | November 21
  Discussion Question: How did the system of slavery shape the lives of enslaved Africans and colonial society?

• Slavery in the British colonies (Login to complete) | Exercise | November 21
  Discussion Question: How did the institution of slavery contribute to the economic development of the British colonies?

Colonial Society and Culture | Lessons

• Colonial society and culture | Lesson | November 22
  Discussion Question: How did the diverse cultures and societies of the British colonies develop over time?

• The Enlightenment | Article | November 22
  Discussion Question: What were the main ideas of the Enlightenment, and how did they influence colonial society?

• The Great Awakening | Article | November 23
  Discussion Question: How did the Great Awakening affect religious and social life in the colonies?

• The consumer revolution | Article | November 23
  Discussion Question: What was the consumer revolution, and how did it impact colonial society and economy?

• Colonial society and culture (Login to complete) | Exercise | November 24
  Discussion Question: How did the cultural and social developments in the colonies contribute to the formation of a unique American identity?

Period 2: 1607-1754 | Quiz 2

• Quiz 2 | Quiz | November 27
  Discussion Question: What were the key takeaways from the lessons on interactions between American Indians and Europeans, slavery in the British colonies, and colonial society and culture?

Comparison in Period 2 | Lessons

• Comparison in Period 2 | Lesson | November 28
  Discussion Question: How did the different regions and societies within the British colonies compare and contrast with each other?

• Developing an American colonial identity | Video | November 28
  Discussion Question: How did the experiences of the colonial period contribute to the development of a distinct American identity?

Period 2: 1607-1754 | Unit Test

• Period 2: 1607-1754: Unit test | Unit Test | November 30
  Discussion Question: Reflect on your learning journey in this unit. What concept did you find most intriguing, and why?

The Seven Years' War (The French and Indian War) | Lessons

The Seven Years' War (The French and Indian War) | Lesson | December 1
Includes:

• • The Seven Years' War: background and combatants (Video)

  • The Seven Years' War: battles and legacy (Video)
    Discussion Question: What were the main causes and consequences of the Seven Years' War, and how did the battles shape its outcome?

Pontiac's uprising | Article | December 2
Includes:

• • Seven Years' War: lesson overview (Article)

  • Seven Years' War (Login to complete)  (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: What were the causes and impacts of Pontiac's uprising, and how did the Seven Years' War alter the balance of power in North America?

Taxation Without Representation | Lessons

Taxation without representation | Lesson | December 4
Includes:

• • The Townshend Acts and the committees of correspondence (Article)

  • Uproar over the Stamp Act (Article)

  • The Boston Massacre (Article)

  • The Boston Tea Party (Article)

  • The Intolerable Acts and the First Continental Congress (Article)
    Discussion Question: What were the colonists' main arguments against taxation without representation, and how did events like the Townshend Acts and the Boston Tea Party escalate tensions?

Taxation without representation: lesson overview | Article | December 7
Includes:

• • Taxation without representation (Login to complete)  (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: Summarize the main events and arguments related to taxation without representation and their impact on the growing desire for independence.

Philosophical Foundations of the American Revolution | Lessons

Philosophical foundations of the American Revolution | Lesson | December 8
Includes:

• • The Second Continental Congress (Article)

  • The Declaration of Independence (Video)
    Discussion Question: What were the key philosophical ideas that influenced the American Revolution, and how did the Second Continental Congress contribute to its development?

Philosophical foundations of the American Revolution (Login to complete) | Exercise | December 9
Discussion Question: How did Enlightenment ideas shape the goals and strategies of the American Revolution?

The American Revolution | Lessons

The American Revolution | Lesson | December 10
Includes:

• • Lexington and Concord (Article)

  • The American Revolution: lesson overview (Article)

  • The American Revolution (Login to complete)  (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: What were the major causes and outcomes of the American Revolution, and how did battles like Lexington and Concord mark its beginning?

Period 3: 1754-1800 | Quiz 1

• Quiz 1 | Quiz | December 12
  Discussion Question: What were the key takeaways from the lessons on the Seven Years' War, taxation without representation, and the philosophical foundations of the American Revolution?

The Influence of Revolutionary Ideals | Lessons

The influence of revolutionary ideals | Lesson | December 13
Includes:

• • Women in the American Revolution (Article)

  • Social consequences of revolutionary ideals (Video)

  • Latin American independence movements (Video)

  • Social consequences of revolutionary ideals (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: How did revolutionary ideals influence social and political changes in the colonies, and what roles did women play in the American Revolution?

The Articles of Confederation | Lessons

The Articles of Confederation | Lesson | December 16
Includes:

• • The Articles of Confederation (Video)

  • Shays's Rebellion (Article)

  • Challenges of the Articles of Confederation (Article)

  • Articles of Confederation (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: What were the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, and how did events like Shays's Rebellion highlight the need for a stronger central government?

The Constitutional Convention and Debates Over Ratification | Lessons

The Constitutional Convention and debates over ratification | Lesson | December 19
Includes:

• • The Constitutional Convention (Video)

  • The Constitutional Convention (Article)

  • Constitutional compromises: The Electoral College (Video)

  • Constitutional compromises: The Three-Fifths Compromise (Video)

  • The Federalist Papers (Article)

  • The Bill of Rights (Article)

  • The Constitutional Convention and debates over ratification (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: What were the main debates and compromises made during the Constitutional Convention, and how did they shape the final Constitution?

The Constitution | Lessons

The Constitution | Lesson | December 23
Includes:

• • The US Constitution (Video)

  • Constitution (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: What are the key principles and structures established by the U.S. Constitution, and how has it influenced the development of American democracy?

Period 3: 1754-1800 | Quiz 2

• Quiz 2 | Quiz | December 28
  Discussion Question: What were the key takeaways from the lessons on the influence of revolutionary ideals, the Articles of Confederation, the Constitutional Convention, and the Constitution?

Shaping a New Republic | Lessons

Shaping a new republic | Lesson | December 29
Includes:

• • The presidency of George Washington (Article)

  • The presidency of John Adams (Article)

  • Shaping a new republic: lesson overview (Article)

  • Shaping a new republic (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: How did the early leaders of the United States, such as George Washington and John Adams, shape the new republic?

Developing an American Identity | Lessons

• Developing an American identity | Lesson | December 31
  Includes:

  • John Trumbull, The Declaration of Independence (Article)

  • Developing an American identity (Login to complete)  (Exercise)

  • Movement in the early republic

  • Regional attitudes about slavery, 1754-1800 |  Video · 9 minutes

  • Movement in the early republic | (Login to complete)  Exercise
    Discussion Question: How did the experiences of the colonial and revolutionary periods contribute to the development of a distinct American identity?

Continuity and Change in Period 3 | Lessons

• Continuity and change in Period 3 | Lesson | December 31
  Includes:

  • Continuity and change in American society, 1754-1800 (Video)

  • Continuity and change in Period 3 (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: What were the main continuities and changes in American society between 1754 and 1800, and how did they shape the new nation?

Period 3: 1754-1800 | Unit Test

• Unit Test | Unit Test | December 31
  Discussion Question: Reflect on your learning journey in this unit. What concept did you find most intriguing, and why?

The Rise of Political Parties and the Era of Jefferson | Lessons

The rise of political parties and the era of Jefferson | Lesson | January 1
Includes:

• • Jefferson's presidency and the turn of the nineteenth century (Article)

  • The election of 1800 (Article)

  • The War of 1812 (Article)
    Discussion Question: What were the key factors that led to the rise of political parties, and how did Jefferson's presidency shape the early 19th century?

The Louisiana Purchase and its exploration | Article | January 2
Includes:

• • The rise of political parties and the era of Jefferson (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: How did the Louisiana Purchase impact the United States, and what were the main challenges and benefits of its exploration?

Politics and Regional Interests | Lessons

Politics and regional interests | Lesson | January 3
Includes:

• • The presidency of John Quincy Adams (Article)

  • Indian Removal (Article)

  • Politics and regional interests (Article)
    Discussion Question: How did regional interests shape national politics during the presidencies of John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson?

Politics and regional interests | (Login to complete) Exercise | January 4
Discussion Question: What were the major political and social issues that divided different regions of the United States in the early 19th century?

America on the World Stage | Lessons

America on the world stage | Lesson | January 5
Includes:

• • The Monroe Doctrine (Video)

  • America on the world stage (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: What was the Monroe Doctrine, and how did it influence America's foreign policy in the early 19th century?

Period 4: 1800-1848 | Quiz 1

• Quiz 1 | Quiz | January 8
  Discussion Question: What were the key takeaways from the lessons on the rise of political parties, politics and regional interests, and America on the world stage?

Market Revolution: Industrialization | Lessons

Market Revolution: industrialization | Lesson | January 9
Includes:

• • The Market Revolution - textile mills and the cotton gin (Video)

  • The Market Revolution - communication and transportation (Video)

  • Market Revolution: industrialization (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: How did the Market Revolution transform the American economy and society in the early 19th century?

Market Revolution: Society and Culture | Lessons

Market Revolution: society and culture | Lesson | January 10
Includes:

• • The Market Revolution - impact and significance (Video)

  • Irish and German immigration (Article)

  • Women's labor (Article)

  • Market Revolution: society and culture (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: How did the Market Revolution impact different social groups and cultural norms in the United States?

Expanding Democracy | Lessons

• Expanding democracy | Lesson | January 11
  Includes:

  • Expanding democracy (Article)

  • Expanding democracy (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: What were the main changes in the political system that expanded democracy in the early 19th century?

Jackson and Federal Power | Lessons

• Jackson and federal power | Lesson | January 12
  Includes:

  • Jacksonian Democracy - background and introduction (Video)

  • Jacksonian Democracy - the "corrupt bargain" and the election of 1824 (Video)

  • Jacksonian Democracy - mudslinging and the election of 1828 (Video)
    Discussion Question: How did Andrew Jackson's presidency and the concept of Jacksonian Democracy influence federal power and political practices?

Jacksonian Democracy - spoils system, Bank War, and Trail of Tears | Video | January 15
Includes:

• • The presidency of Andrew Jackson (Article)

  • The Nullification crisis (Article)

  • Jackson and federal power (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: What were the key policies and controversies of Andrew Jackson's presidency, including the spoils system, the Bank War, and the Trail of Tears?

Period 4: 1800-1848 | Quiz 2

• Quiz 2 | Quiz | January 16
  Discussion Question: What were the key takeaways from the lessons on the Market Revolution, expanding democracy, and Jacksonian Democracy?

The Development of an American Culture | Lessons

The development of an American culture | Lesson | January 17
Includes:

• • The development of an American culture (Video)

  • Transcendentalism (Article)

  • The development of an American culture (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: How did the development of a distinct American culture in the early 19th century reflect the values and beliefs of the time?

The Second Great Awakening | Lessons

The Second Great Awakening | Lesson | January 18
Includes:

• • The Second Great Awakening - origins and major ideas (Video)

  • The Second Great Awakening - influence of the Market Revolution (Video)

  • The Second Great Awakening - reform and religious movements (Video)

  • Second Great Awakening (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: What were the main ideas and impacts of the Second Great Awakening on American society and reform movements?

An Age of Reform | Lessons

• An age of reform | Lesson | January 22
  Includes:

  • The early temperance movement - origins (Video)

  • The early temperance movement - spread and temporary decline (Video)

  • Women's rights and the Seneca Falls Convention (Article)

  • An age of reform (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: How did various reform movements in the early 19th century seek to address social and moral issues in American society?

Period 4: 1800-1848 | Quiz 3

• Quiz 3 | Quiz | January 23
  Discussion Question: What were the key takeaways from the lessons on the development of an American culture, the Second Great Awakening, and the age of reform?

African Americans in the Early Republic | Lessons

African Americans in the early republic | Lesson | January 24
Includes:

• • African Americans in the Early Republic (Article)

  • African Americans in the early republic (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: How did African Americans navigate the social and political landscape of the early republic, and what challenges and opportunities did they face?

The Society of the South in the Early Republic | Lessons

The society of the South in the early republic | Lesson | January 25
Includes:

• • The Cotton Kingdom (Article)

  • The society of the South in the early republic (Article)

  • The society of the South in the early republic (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: What were the main characteristics of Southern society in the early republic, and how did the Cotton Kingdom shape its economy and culture?

Causation in Period 4 | Lessons

Causation in Period 4 | Lesson | January 26
Includes:

• • Developing an American identity, 1800-1848 (Video)

  • Causation in Period 4 (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: What were the main causes and effects of significant events and developments in the United States between 1800 and 1848?

Period 4: 1800-1848 | Unit Test

• Unit Test | Unit Test | January 31
  Discussion Question: Reflect on your learning journey in this unit. What concept did you find most intriguing, and why?

Manifest Destiny | Lessons

Manifest Destiny | Lesson | February 1
Includes:

• • Manifest Destiny: causes and effects of westward expansion (Video)

  • Manifest Destiny (Article)

  • Manifest Destiny  (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: How did the concept of Manifest Destiny influence the westward expansion of the United States, and what were its main causes and effects?

The Mexican-American War | Lessons

The Mexican-American War | Lesson | February 2
Includes:

• • Annexing Texas (Article)

  • The Mexican-American War (Video)

  • The Mexican-American War (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: What were the key events and outcomes of the Mexican-American War, and how did it shape the territorial boundaries of the United States?

The Compromise of 1850 | Lessons

The Compromise of 1850 | Lesson | February 5
Includes:

• • Slavery and the Missouri Compromise (Video)

  • Increasing political battles over slavery in the mid-1800s (Video)

  • The Compromise of 1850 (Article)

  • The Compromise of 1850 (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: How did the Compromise of 1850 attempt to address the sectional conflicts over slavery, and what were its immediate and long-term effects?

Period 5: 1844-1877 | Quiz 1

• Quiz 1 | Quiz | February 6
  Discussion Question: Reflect on the key lessons from Manifest Destiny, the Mexican-American War, and the Compromise of 1850. How did each contribute to the growing tensions leading up to the Civil War?

Sectional Conflict: Regional Differences | Lessons

Sectional conflict: regional differences | Lesson | February 7
Includes:

• • The slave economy (Article)

  • Life for enslaved men and women (Article)

  • Early abolition (Article)

  • Uncle Tom's Cabin - influence of the Fugitive Slave Act (Video)

  • Uncle Tom's Cabin - plot and analysis (Video)

  • Uncle Tom's Cabin - reception and significance (Video)

  • Sectional conflict: Regional differences (Video)

  • Sectional conflict: regional differences (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: How did economic, social, and cultural differences between the North and South contribute to sectional conflict in the United States?

Failure of Compromise | Lessons

Failure of compromise | Lesson | February 8
Includes:

• • The Kansas-Nebraska Act and party realignment (Article)

  • Bleeding Kansas (Article)

  • Dred Scott v. Sandford (Video)

  • Failure of compromise (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: What were the major events and decisions that exemplified the failure of compromise on the issue of slavery in the 1850s?

Election of 1860 and Secession | Lessons

Election of 1860 and secession | Lesson | February 9
Includes:

• • Start of the Civil War - secession and Fort Sumter (Video)

  • Election of 1860 and secession (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: How did the election of 1860 and the subsequent secession of Southern states lead to the outbreak of the Civil War?

Period 5: 1844-1877 | Quiz 2

• Quiz 2 | Quiz | February 12
  Discussion Question: What were the key takeaways from the lessons on sectional conflict, the failure of compromise, and the election of 1860 and secession?

Military Conflict in the Civil War | Lessons

Military conflict in the Civil War | Lesson | February 13
Includes:

• • Strategy of the Civil War (Video)

  • Early phases of Civil War and Antietam (Video)

  • Significance of the battle of Antietam (Video)

  • The battle of Gettysburg (Video)

  • Later stages of the Civil War - 1863 (Video)

  • Later stages of the Civil War - the election of 1864 and Sherman's March (Video)

  • Later stages of the Civil War - Appomattox and Lincoln's assassination (Video)

  • Military conflict in the Civil War (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: How did the key battles and military strategies of the Civil War shape its outcome and impact American society?

Government Policies During the Civil War | Lessons

Government policies during the Civil War | Lesson | February 16
Includes:

• • The Emancipation Proclamation (Article)

  • The Emancipation Proclamation (Video)

  • The Gettysburg Address - setting and context (Video)

  • The Gettysburg Address - full text and analysis (Video)

  • Government policies during the Civil War  (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: What were the major government policies during the Civil War, such as the Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg Address, and how did they influence the war's direction and legacy?

Reconstruction | Lessons

Reconstruction | Lesson | February 19
Includes:

• • Black Codes (Article)

  • The First KKK (Article)

  • The Freedmen's Bureau (Article)

  • An overview and the 13th Amendment (Video)

  • The 14th Amendment (Video)

  • The 15th Amendment (Video)

  • The Compromise of 1877 (Article)

  • Reconstruction  (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: What were the main goals and challenges of Reconstruction, and how did amendments and policies aim to rebuild and transform the post-Civil War United States?

Failure of Reconstruction | Lessons

Failure of Reconstruction | Lesson | February 22
Includes:

• • Life after slavery for African Americans (Article)

  • Failure of Reconstruction (Video)

  • Failure of Reconstruction  (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: Why did Reconstruction ultimately fail to achieve its goals, and what were the consequences for African Americans and the nation as a whole?

Period 5: 1844-1877 | Quiz 3

• Quiz 3 | Quiz | February 23
  Discussion Question: What were the key takeaways from the lessons on military conflict, government policies during the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the failure of Reconstruction?

Comparison in Period 5 | Lessons

Comparison in Period 5 | Lesson | February 26
Includes:

• • Big takeaways from the Civil War (Video)

  • Comparing the effects of the Civil War on American national identity (Video)

  • Comparison in Period 5  (Login to complete) (Exercise)
    Discussion Question: Compare the social, political, and economic effects of the Civil War on different regions and groups in the United States. How did the war reshape American national identity?

Period 5: 1844-1877 | Unit Test

• Unit Test | Unit Test | February 28
  Discussion Question: Reflect on your learning journey in this unit. What concept did you find most intriguing, and why?

Westward Expansion: Social and Cultural Development

March 1

• The Homestead Act and the exodusters | Article

• The Gold Rush | Article

• Westward expansion: economic development | Article

• Westward expansion: economic development | (Login to complete) Exercise

• Westward expansion: social and cultural development | Video

  • Discussion Question: How did economic development during westward expansion impact the diverse groups in the western United States?

March 2

• Chinese immigrants and Mexican Americans in the age of westward expansion | Article

• The reservation system | Article

• The Dawes Act | Article

• The Indian Wars and the Battle of the Little Bighorn | Article

  • Discussion Question: What social and cultural changes occurred due to westward expansion, and how did they affect different communities?

March 3: 

• The Ghost Dance and Wounded Knee | Article

• Westward expansion: social and cultural development | (Login to complete) Exercise

• The compromise of 1877 | Article

• Life after slavery for African Americans | Article

• The new "South" | Article

• The origins of Jim Crow - introduction | Video

  • Discussion Question: What were the key characteristics of the "New South," and how did they impact African Americans and the overall social structure?

March 4: 

• Origins of Jim Crow - the Black Codes and Reconstruction | Video

• Origins of Jim Crow - the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments | Video

• Origins of Jim Crow - Compromise of 1877 and Plessy v. Ferguson | Video

• Plessy v. Ferguson | Video

• Jim Crow | Article

• The "New South" | (Login to complete) Exercise

  • Discussion Question: How did the Jim Crow laws institutionalize racial segregation in the southern United States?

March 5: 

• Introduction to the Gilded Age | Video

• The Gilded Age and the Second Industrial Revolution | Video

• Technological innovation | (Login to complete) Exercise

  • Discussion Question: How did technological innovations during the Gilded Age transform American society and economy?

March 6 

• The rise of industrial capitalism | Video

• The rise of industrial capitalism | (Login to complete) Exercise

• Labor battles in the Gilded Age | Article

• The Knights of Labor | Article

• Labor in the Gilded Age | (Login to complete) Exercise

  • Discussion Question: What were the major factors contributing to the rise of industrial capitalism in the United States?

March 9: Period 6: 1865-1898: Quiz 1

• America moves to the city | Article

• Immigration and migration in the Gilded Age | Video

• Immigration and migration in the Gilded Age | (Login to complete) Exercise

  • Discussion Question: What were the significant outcomes of technological innovations, industrial capitalism, and labor movements during the Gilded Age?

March 10

• Social Darwinism in the Gilded Age | Article

• Misunderstanding evolution: a historian's perspective on Social Darwinism | Video

• Misunderstanding evolution: a historian's perspective on Social Darwinism | Video

• Responses to immigration in the Gilded Age | (Login to complete) Exercise

  • Discussion Question: How did immigration and migration shape urban development during the Gilded Age?

March 11

• Development of the middle class | Article

• Development of the middle class | (Login to complete) Exercise

• Development of the middle class | Quiz

• Reform in the Gilded Age | Video

• Reform in the Gilded Age | (Login to complete) Exercise

  • Discussion Question: What were the factors that contributed to the development of the middle class during the Gilded Age?

March 12

• Reform in the Gilded Age | Quiz

• Laissez-faire policies in the Gilded Age | Article

• Controversies over the role of government in the Gilded Age | (Login to complete) Exercise

• Controversies over the role of government in the Gilded Age | Quiz

• Politics in the Gilded Age | Article

  • Discussion Question: What were the key reforms during the Gilded Age, and how did they address societal issues?

March 13: Politics in the Gilded Age

• The Populists | Article

• Politics in the Gilded Age | (Login to complete) Exercise

• Continuity and change in the Gilded Age | Video

• Continuity and change in the Gilded Age | (Login to complete) Exercise

  • Discussion Question: What were the major political issues and movements during the Gilded Age?

March 16: Period 6: 1865-1898 | Unit Test

• Period 6: 1865-1898: Unit Test | 12 questions

  • Discussion Question: Reflect on the major themes and events of Period 6. How did they shape the future trajectory of the United States?

Period 7: 1890-1945 | Unit

March 17: Contextualizing Period 7

• Introduction to the age of empire | Article

• Imperialism: debates | Video

• Imperialism: debates | (Login to complete) Exercise

• The Spanish-American War | Article

  • Discussion Question: How did the debates over imperialism reflect broader concerns about America's role in the world at the turn of the century?

March 18: The Spanish-American War

• Spanish-American War | (Login to complete) Exercise

• The Progressives | Video

• The Progressive Era | Article

• Muckrakers | Article

• The presidency of Theodore Roosevelt | Article

  • Discussion Question: What were the main outcomes of the Spanish-American War for the United States?

March 19: The Progressives

• The Nineteenth Amendment | Article

• The Progressives | (Login to complete) Exercise

• The presidency of Woodrow Wilson | Article

• Blockades, u-boats and sinking of the Lusitania | Video

• Zimmermann Telegram | Video

  • Discussion Question: How did the Progressive movement seek to address the social and economic issues of the early 20th century?

March 20: World War I: Military and Diplomacy

• United States enters World War I | Video

• Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points | Video

• Paris Peace Conference and Treaty of Versailles | Video

• More detail on the Treaty of Versailles and Germany | Video

• The Treaty of Versailles | Article

  • Discussion Question: How did the United States' entry into World War I shape the course of the war and its aftermath?

March 23: World War I: Military and Diplomacy (Continued)

• The League of Nations | Article

• World War I: military & diplomacy | (Login to complete) Exercise

• The United States in World War I | Article

• World War I: Homefront | Video

• World War I: Homefront | (Login to complete) Exercise

  • Discussion Question: What were the key principles of Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points, and how were they received by the international community?

March 24: Period 7: 1890-1945: Quiz 2

• 1920s consumption | Article

• American culture in the 1920s | Article

  • Discussion Question: How did World War I affect the domestic policies and social fabric of the United States?

March 25: 1920s: Innovations in Communication and Technology

• 1920s: Innovations in Communication and Technology | (Login to complete) Exercise

• 1920s urbanization and immigration | Video

• The reemergence of the KKK | Article

• Prohibition | Article

• Republican ascendancy: politics in the 1920s | Article

  • Discussion Question: How did innovations in communication and technology during the 1920s change American culture and economy?

March 26: 1920s: Cultural and Political Controversies

• The presidency of Calvin Coolidge | Article

• 1920s: Cultural and Political Controversies | (Login to complete) Exercise

• The presidency of Herbert Hoover | Article

• The Great Depression | Article

• Great Depression | (Login to complete) Exercise

  • Discussion Question: What were the major cultural and political controversies of the 1920s, and how did they reflect broader societal changes?

March 27: The Great Depression

• FDR and the Great Depression | Article

• The New Deal | Article

• The New Deal | (Login to complete) Exercise

• 1920s: Innovations in Communication and Technology | Quiz

  • Discussion Question: What were the causes and effects of the Great Depression on American society and the global economy?

March 30: Period 7: 1890-1945: Quiz 3

• Interwar foreign policy | Lesson

• Beginning of World War II | Video

  • Discussion Question: How did the cultural and political shifts of the 1920s pave the way for the New Deal policies?

March 31: Interwar Foreign Policy

1. • 1940 - Axis gains momentum in World War II | Video

   • 1941 Axis momentum accelerates in WW2 | Video

   • Pearl Harbor | Article

   • Interwar foreign policy | (Login to complete) Exercise

Discussion Question: How did the foreign policies of the interwar period influence the outbreak of World War II?

April 1: World War II: Mobilization

• FDR and World War II | Article

• Japanese internment | Article

• American women and World War II | Article

• World War II: mobilization | (Login to complete) Exercise

• 1942 Tide turning in World War II in Europe | Video

  • Discussion Question: What were the significant changes in American society due to the mobilization for World War II?

April 2: World War II: Military

• World War II in the Pacific in 1942 | Video

• 1943 Axis losing in Europe | Video

• American progress in the Pacific in 1944 | Video

• 1944 - Allies advance further in Europe | Video

• 1945 - End of World War II | Video

  • Discussion Question: How did key battles and strategies in World War II shape the eventual Allied victory?

April 3: World War II: Military (Continued)

• The Manhattan Project and the atomic bomb | Article

• World War II: military | (Login to complete) Exercise

• The United Nations | Article

• Postwar diplomacy | (Login to complete) Exercise

  • Discussion Question: What were the most critical turning points in the military campaigns of World War II?

April 6: Period 7: 1890-1945: Quiz 4

• Shaping American national identity from 1890 to 1945 | Video

  • Discussion Question: How did the outcomes of World War II influence postwar international relations and the establishment of the United Nations?

April 7: Period 7: 1890-1945: Unit Test 

Period 8: 1945-1980 | Unit

April 8 

• Origins of the Cold War | Video 

• Start of the Cold War - The Yalta Conference and containment | Article

• Start of the Cold War - The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan | Article

• Start of the Cold War - The Berlin airlift and the creation of NATO | Article

  • Discussion Question: How did the Yalta Conference set the stage for the Cold War?

April 9 

• Korean War overview | Video 

  • The Korean War | Article

  • The Cold War (1945-1980) | (Login to complete) Exercise

    1. Discussion Question: How did the Korean War influence U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War?

April 10 

• Anticommunism in the 1950s | Article

• The Red Scare | (Login to complete) Exercise

  • Discussion Question: What were the key factors that fueled the Red Scare in the 1950s?

April 13 

• The GI Bill | Article

• African Americans, women, and the GI Bill | Article

• The baby boom | Article

• Discussion Question: How did the GI Bill impact the American economy and society in the post-World War II era?

April 14

• The growth of suburbia | Article

• The dark side of suburbia | Article

• Economy from 1945 to 1960 | (Login to complete) Exercise

  • Discussion Question: What were the social and economic consequences of the suburban growth in the 1950s?

April 15

• The Eisenhower era | Article

• Popular culture and mass media in the 1950s | Article

  • Discussion Question: How did popular culture and mass media shape American society in the 1950s?

April 16

• Women in the 1950s | Article

• Culture from 1945 to 1960 | (Login to complete) Exercise

• Period 8: 1945-1980: Quiz 1 | Quiz 

  • Discussion Question: How did the role of women in the 1950s reflect the broader cultural and social dynamics of the period?

April 17

• Civil Rights Movement | Article

• African American Veterans Movement | Article 

• Brown v. Board of Education | Article

  • Discussion Question: What were the key achievements of the Civil Rights Movement during the 1950s and 1960s?

April 20

• Emmett Till | Article 

• The Montgomery Bus Boycott | Article

• Massive Resistance | Article 

• Discussion Question: Which of these articles was most interesting to you and why? 

April 21

• Atomic fears and the arms race | Article

• The start of the Space Race | Article

• Bay of Pigs Invasion | Video

• Cuban Missile Crisis | Video 

• The Cuban Missile Crisis | Article

• America as a world power | (Login to complete) Exercise

  • Discussion Question: How did the Cuban Missile Crisis influence the global perception of the United States during the Cold War?

April 22

• Vietnam War | Video 

• The Vietnam War | Article

• Vietnam War | (Login to complete) Exercise

• Period 8: 1945-1980: Quiz 2 | Quiz

  • Discussion Question: What were the key factors that led to the escalation of the Vietnam War?

April 23

• John F. Kennedy as president | Article

• Lyndon Johnson as president | Article

• The Great Society | (Login to complete) Exercise

  • Discussion Question: How did the Great Society programs aim to address social and economic issues in the United States?

April 24

• The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom | Article

• The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 | Article

• SNCC and CORE | Article

• Black Power | Article

• The African American Civil Rights Movement, 1960s | (Login to complete) Exercise

  • Discussion Question: What were the most significant achievements of the African American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s?

April 27

• Second-wave feminism | Article

• Liberation movements of the 1970s | Article

• The Civil Rights Movement expands | (Login to complete) Exercise

• The student movement and the antiwar movement | Article

• The election of 1968 | Article

• Youth culture of the 1960s | (Login to complete) Exercise

  • Discussion Question: How did the Civil Rights Movement pave the way for other liberation movements in the 1970s?

April 28

• Period 8: 1945-1980: Quiz 3 | Quiz · 5 questions

• Stagflation and the oil crisis | Article

• The environment and natural resources from 1968 to 1980 | (Login to complete) Exercise

  • Discussion Question: What were the major environmental challenges faced by the United States from 1968 to 1980?

April 29

• Richard Nixon as president | Article

• Watergate | Article

• The presidency of Jimmy Carter | Article

• Society in transition | (Login to complete) Exercise

Discussion Question: How did the Watergate scandal impact American politics and public trust in government?

April 30: Society in Transition

• Continuity and change in the postwar era | Video

• Period 8: 1945-1980: Unit test | Unit Test · 13 questions

  • Discussion Question: Reflecting on Period 8, what were the most significant changes in American society, and what factors contributed to these changes?

May 1

• Ronald Reagan: Election and domestic policies | Article

• Emergence of the AIDS crisis | Article

• Reagan and conservatism | (Login to complete) Exercise

  • Discussion Question: How did Ronald Reagan's domestic policies shape the conservative movement in the United States during the 1980s?

May 4

• Ronald Reagan: Foreign policy | Article

• The Iran-Contra affair | Article

• The Gulf War | Article

• The end of the Cold War | (Login to complete) Exercise

• Period 9: 1980-present: Quiz 1 | Quiz · 5 questions

  • Discussion Question: What were the key events and policies that led to the end of the Cold War?

May 5

• Globalization | Article

• A changing economy | (Login to complete) Exercise

• The presidency of Bill Clinton | Article

  • Discussion Question: How did globalization impact the U.S. economy in the 1990s and 2000s?

May 6

• Migration and Immigration in the 1990s and 2000s | (Login to complete) Exercise

• The election of 2000 | Article

• The presidency of George W. Bush | Article

• September 11th | Article

  • Discussion Question: What were the significant challenges faced by immigrants in the United States during the 1990s and 2000s?

May 7

• The Great Recession | Article

• The presidency of Barack Obama | Article

• Challenges of the 21st century | (Login to complete) Exercise

• Period 9: 1980-present: Quiz 2 | Quiz · 5 questions

• Causation from 1980-2020 | Video · 9 minutes

  • Discussion Question: How did the Great Recession shape economic and political policies in the United States?

May 8 | Period 9: 1980-present: Unit test | Unit Test · 10 questions

Write an Article:  Discussing the New Presidency and their Election.

Topic: Has the nature of elections changed since the presidency of Reagan, support your answer. 

Formatting:

• Use a clear and concise writing style.

• Ensure proper citation of sources where necessary.

• Follow academic writing standards, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

• The article should be between 1,500 to 2,000 words in length.

Submission:

• Submit your completed article by May 30th.

• Ensure that your work is proofread and free of grammatical errors.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Depth of analysis and understanding of the changes in the electoral process.

• Clarity and coherence of arguments presented.

• Use of relevant examples and evidence to support your points.

• Overall organization and structure of the article.

• Adherence to the word limit and formatting guidelines.

Due May 30th