PURPOSE OF THE COURSE

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Purpose
The purpose of this course is to provide students with a basic understanding of the story of the United States from the exploration of the New World by Europeans in the late 15th Century (and the established native civilizations they found there) through America's emergence as one of two global superpowers after 1945, following the Second World War. In addition, a handful of mini-units (one or two days in length) at the conclusion of the school year will be devoted to introducing the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, the Watergate scandal & life in the 1970s, the development and proliferation of computer technology, and America in the early 21st Century.

Given the survey nature of the course and the vast expanse of time we intend to cover in just nine months, not all topics can be afforded equal time. Every effort has been made to plan areas of study and learning activities that will be interesting to students and that balance political, social, and military history in an even manner. When we come across the topic that students would like to spend additional time studying, we will attempt to do so. Finally, while we will undoubtedly touch upon the stories of various groups of people who have played a vital role in the development of the nation, we will work together to view these stories not as the histories of these groups alone, but as key elements in the larger story of America. Much of our study will be through biography, focusing on the lives and impact of a number of individuals who mattered, significantly, to American history.