← View Course Details

U.S. History B Self-Paced

Syllabus

Course Essential Questions

  • To what extent does the United States live up to the ideals established in the founding documents?
  • How has the struggle for rights and opportunity been a defining feature of American history?
  • How do unresolved conflicts throughout American history continue to impact the country (us) today?

Course Learning Objectives

  • Identify and explain historical developments and processes throughout United States history.
  • Analyze and discuss primary source documents.
  • Analyze the context of historical events, developments, or processes.
  • Develop an argument based on historical evidence.

Unit 1: Challenges at Home and Abroad (Topics 1-3)

Unit Level Essential Questions

  • How did race, class and gender impact social change?
  • How is social change/reform accomplished?
  • Why did the US become a world power?
  • Was US involvement in WWI inevitable?
  • How does war impact the home front?

Topic 1: The Progressive Movement

Learning Objectives

  • Explain the primary goals of the Progressive movement
  • Compare the goals and tactics of various Progressive activists
  • Analyze the impact of major governmental policies of the Progressive era

Topic 2: America’s Growing Role in World Affairs

Learning Objectives

  • Analyze the causes (and impact?) of the growing role of the US in world affairs
  • Describe US actions to create a global empire and evaluate the impact of those actions
  • Compare the foreign policy of Presidents T Roosevelt and Taft

Topic 3: World War I and the Homefront

Learning Objectives:

  • Explain the rationale and events leading to the US entry into WWI
  • Evaluate the impact of WWI on the ongoing struggle for civil rights and economic opportunity

Unit 2: Economic Disruption and the Role of the Government (Topics 4-5)

Unit Level Essential Questions

  • What role should the government have in the economy?
  • How do the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution compare with the reality of the American experience?
  • How have divides between rural and urban America been evident throughout history?
  • What caused the Great Depression?
  • Whose responsibility is to take care of those in need in American society?

Topic 4: Highs and Lows of the Early 1900s

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the cultural, artistic and technological changes of the 1920s that made for a more "modern" America
  • Compare the impact of economic prosperity on different groups in American society through the 1920s
  • Analyze the impact of Nativism and racism on American culture and politics.
  • Describe the underlying weaknesses in the US economy that contributed to the Great Depression
  • Compare the economic and social impact of the Great Depression on different groups in American society

Topic 5: The New Deal

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the economic philosophy of FDR and key pieces in his "First New Deal"
  • Describe the key pieces in FDR's "Second New Deal" and evaluate how they addressed criticisms of the First New Deal
  • Analyze the short and long term impact of New Deal policies and programs

Unit 3: World War II Changed America (Topics 6-8)

Unit Level Essential Questions

  • Was US involvement in WWII inevitable?
  • What responsibility does the US have to the cause of democracy around the world?
  • Does war create economic opportunity?
  • How do the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution compare with the reality of the American experience?
  • How does war cause cultural change?

Topic 6: American Entry into World War II

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the factors that gave rise to facism & Nazism in Europe
  • Identify the key turning points as the US went from a policy of neutrality to engagement in WWII
  • Describe the strategies, major battles and turning points in the European theater and the Pacific theater.
  • Describe how WWII changed employment opportunities and patterns
  • Analyze the constitutional impact of Japanese internment policy
  • Compare the rights and responsibilities African American soldiers had while fighting abroad to the rights afforded to them at home.

Topic 7: Post-War America and the Onset of the Cold War

Learning Objectives

  • How does war cause cultural change?
  • What responsibility does the US have to the cause of democracy around the world?
  • How do the ideals set forth in the founding documents compare with the reality of the American experience?

Topic 8: The Cold War at Home and Abroad

Learning Objectives

  • Describe US involvement in various Cold War "hotspots" around the world
  • Analyze the roots and impact of McCarthyism and stifling political dissent
  • Trace US policy in Vietnam from the late 1950s through the end of the Vietnam War

Unit 4: Ongoing Fight for Civil Rights and Opportunity (Topics 9-11)

Unit Level Essential Questions

  • How do the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution compare with the reality of the American experience?
  • Can social activism create political and cultural change?
  • What is the relationship between public opinion and US military engagement around the world?
  • Is backlash an inevitable response to social change?

Topic 9: The Civil Rights Movement

Learning Objectives

  • Trace the major events and developments of the Civil Rights Movement
  • Analyze the strategies and tactics different individuals and groups used to expand civil rights
  • Trace US policy in Vietnam from the late 1950s through the end of the Vietnam War

Topic 10: The Turbulent 1960s

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the counterculture of the 1960s
  • Identify the different groups advocating for economic, social and political change in the 1960s & 1970s and evaluate their effectiveness
  • Trace US policy in Vietnam from the late 1950s through the end of the Vietnam War

Topic 11: Backlash and Political Corruption

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the beliefs and rise of the "Silent Majority"
  • Analyze the impact of Watergate and Nixon's resignation on American politics and culture
  • Trace US policy in Vietnam from the late 1950s through the war

Unit 5: Modern America (Topics 12-14)

Unit Level Essential Questions

  • What role should the government have in the economy?
  • Whose responsibility is it to take care of those in need in American society?
  • How has the role of the presidency changed over time?
  • How do the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution compare with the reality of the American experience?
  • Is the future of American democracy guaranteed?

Topic 12: Economic Growth and Stratification

Learning Objectives

  • Compare and contrast the economic and social policies of the Reagan and Clinton administrations and their impact on the nation
  • Analyze the increasing partisan divides of the 1990s and the impact on American politics and culture

Topic 13: America in the 21st Century

Learning Objectives

  • Explain how the United States responded to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the rationale for the war in Afghanistan and Iraq
  • Analyze the decisions of four presidential administrations related to the War on Terror and the impact on American society
  • Evaluate the significance of President Barack Obama's election
  • Analyze the backlash to racial progress and ongoing barriers to equal opportunity

Topic 14: Course Wrap Up and the Future of American Democracy

Learning Objective

  • Reflect on the progress towards achieving the founding ideals of the US and challenges and barriers that remain.