American History:
The Constitution to the Civil War
Course Description
American History is a year long two-semester course which which concentrates on the period of American History from the formation of the Constitution through the Civil War and Reconstruction. The course attempts to have students analyze the growth of American power and prestige and to evaluate its role in world affairs. We will examine the compromises that made up the Constitution; the problems encountered by the early administrations; the expansion of the U.S. to the West; and the growing sectionalism which led to the Civil War. The purpose of studying history is to learn from mistakes of the past, hence there will be a constant effort to draw parallels between events of the past and the current issues of today. This course is designed to correlate to the Kansas State Social Studies Standards.
Course Outline
Forming a Government
a. Chapter 5-1: The Articles of Confederation
b. Chapter 5-2: The New Nation Faces Challenges c. Chapter 5-3: Creating the Constitution d. Chapter 5-4: Ratifying the Constitution Citizenship and the Constitution
a. Chapter 6-1: Understanding the Constitution
b. Chapter 6-2: The Bill of Rights c. Chapter 6-3: Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship Launching the Nation
a. Chapter 7-1: Washington Leads a New Nation
b. Chapter 7-2: Hamilton and National Finances c. Chapter 7-3: Challenges for the New Nation d. Chapter 7-4: John Adams' Presidency The Jefferson Era
a. Chapter 8-1: Jefferson Becomes President
b. Chapter 8-2: The Louisiana Purchase c. Chapter 8-3: The Coming of War d. Chapter 8-4: The War of 1812 A New National Identity
a. Chapter 9-1: American Foreign Policy
b. Chapter 9-2: Nationalism and Sectionalism c. Chapter 9-3: American Culture The Age of Jackson
a. Chapter 10-1: Jacksonian Democracy
b. Chapter 10-2: Jackson's Administration c. Chapter 10-3: Indian Removal Expanding West
a. Chapter 11-1: Trails to the West
b. Chapter 11-2: The Texas Revolution c. Chapter 11-3: The Mexican-American War d. Chapter 11-4: The California Gold Rush |
The North
a. Chapter 12-1: The Industrial Revolution in
America b. Chapter 12-2: Changes in Working Life c. Chapter 12-3: The Transportation Revolution d. Chapter 12-4: More Technological Advances The South
a. Chapter 13-1: Growth of the Cotton Industry
b. Chapter 13-2: Southern Society c. Chapter 13-3: The Slave System New Movements in America
a. Chapter 14-1: Immigrants and Urban
Challenges b. Chapter 14-2: American Arts c. Chapter 14-3: Reforming Society d. Chapter 14-4: The Movement to End Slavery e. Chapter 14-5: Women's Rights A Divided Nation
a. Chapter 15-1: The Debate Over Slavery
b. Chapter 15-2: Trouble in Kansas c. Chapter 15-3: Political Divisions d. Chapter 15-4: The Nation Divides The Civil War
a. Chapter 16-1: The War Begins
b. Chapter 16-2: The War in the East c. Chapter 16-3: The War in the West d. Chapter 16-4: Daily Life During the War e. Chapter 16-5: The Tide of War Turns Reconstruction
a. Chapter 17-1: Rebuilding the South
b. Chapter 17-2: The Fight Over Reconstruction c. Chapter 17-3: Reconstruction in the South |
Textbook: United States History: Beginnings to 1877, Holt McDougal (2012)
