Download COURSE NAME: Advanced Placement United States History

COURSE NAME: Advanced Placement United States History – Grade 11 & 12
Course Description: This rigorous course is designed and taught at a level parallel to 4year undergraduate colleges and universities, employing a textbook endorsed by the
College Board. It incorporates analytical thought, research, complex concepts in history,
political science, geography, cultural sciences and economics, as well as, major
interpretive processes and foundational knowledge. Although informative knowledge is
essential, equally important is the student’s ability to employ critical thinking and
decision-making. The course will trace major themes throughout the year emphasizing
the ways in which United States history is interconnected, complex, and dynamic. These
themes include: American Diversity, American Identity, Culture, Demographic Changes,
Economic Transformations, Environment, Globalization, Politics and Citizenship,
Reform, Religion, Slavery and Its Legacies in North America, and War and Diplomacy.
Introduced during the first two components of the social studies course sequence and
identified by the College Board as essential to the comprehensive study of United States
history, focus on these themes enables students in this course to gain a richer perspective
of the socio-cultural fabric of the nation. Moreover, the themes are designed to
encourage students to think conceptually about the past and to focus on historical changes
over time.
Course Proficiencies: The following is a list of proficiencies that describe what students
are expected to know and be able to do as a result of successfully completing this course.
The proficiencies are the basis of the assessment of student achievement. The course and
the following list of expectations differs from that of a survey United States history class
in that it calls on students to use previous knowledge gained to further examine and
understand American history. This class also is more developed than a survey class in
regards to how students will be expected to explore, connect, and decipher why events
happened, the events effects on America, and how the events may have been influenced
by the past or impacted the birth of future events. The learner will demonstrate the
ability to:
1. Use the four language skills of reading, listening, speaking, and writing to acquire
and communicate historical and social studies knowledge and skills.
2. Demonstrate an increased understanding and awareness of the origin and
evolution of belief systems in the United States through analysis and
interpretation of various textual sources.
3. Effectively gather historical data using a variety of methods and media types, and
to use them to expand understanding of United States history.
4. Formulate their own conclusions regarding the impact that events, policies,
location and individual people had on the development of the United States.
5. Learn, apply, and master the skills of approaching multiple-choice question
assessments and writing document-based and free response essays to reflect
comprehensive and independent thinking related to the investigation of United
States history.
6. Evaluate – through multiple lenses, eras, and individuals - the extent to which
rights were extended or denied to various people living in the United States
throughout history.
7. Identify the key motivations and effects for the European settlement of North
America and the factors that brought out regionalization amongst the settling
countries and inhabitants.
8. Trace and interpret how Great Britain took control of major settlements in North
America and the political, economic, and philosophical issues that emerged after
1750 to drive a wedge between Britain and the colonists towards the
Revolutionary Era.
9. Recognize how the experiences of a weak central government in the Articles of
Confederation helped shape and create a new Constitution with new powers and
regulations for the central government; deeply examine the various ideological,
political, and social influences and perspectives involved with ratifying the
Constitution and continually re-examine its impact on politics and society.
10. Analyze and critique cause/effect relations of movement and change in the United
States during the 19th century from a geographic, social, environmental and
political perspective.
11. Evaluate and assess the political, social, and economic conditions that led to the
sectional divide within United States that resulted in the Civil War and the events
that unfolded throughout the Era.
12. Assess the successes and failures of the Reconstruction Era and how lingering and
associated social, political, and economic issues from the post-Civil War period
remained challenges throughout the 20th century.
13. Associate and evaluate the impact of industrialization, urbanization, and
immigration on the politics and reform of the Progressive Era.
14. Examine and interpret the emergence of the United States as a world power
through imperialism and involvement in World War I and discuss how the United
States is now a country using its identity, power, and influence to mediate,
intervene, and advance its interests throughout the world.
15. Trace the events and factors which led to multiple economic transformations
through the 1920s, understand the ensuing financial panic and the impact of the
Great Depression on the lives of Americans, and evaluate the government’s role
in altering the national economy during this time period.
16. Evaluate the political, economic, and social implications brought upon the United
States through the buildup and involvement in World War II and the effects of
that involvement on the United States government and its citizens.
17. Assess multiple layers of the Cold War in regards to how the roots of
confrontation were grounded in World War II and expanded into the post-war era
nations competed against one another in many facets of society.
18. Evaluate the methods and effectiveness of the Presidency, Congress, and the
Supreme Court in dealing with the increasing demands for political and social
change in the second half of the 20th century.
19. Compare and contrast the cultural responses of the generations of the second half
of the 20th century to the challenges facing the country and how the government
responded to those challenges.
20. Examine contemporary United States history through a context of globalization,
technology and change, and shifting social, political, and cultural values to meet
the needs of 21st century.
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Tests/quizzes correlated to the College Board
DBQ analysis and writing samples
FRQ analysis and writing samples
Individual and collaborative projects
Multimedia presentations
Research projects and essays
Classroom scored discussions
Participation in general classroom assignments
Board Adopted Materials:
Text:
Out of Many: A History of the American People,
Faragher, John Mack, et al. Pearson
Prentice Hall: 2007