Course Description

AP US History focuses on the development of analytical skills, along with a deep factual knowledge of the problems and themes, to enable students to critically interpret our nation’s history. Students assess historical primary and secondary sources, weighing the evidence presented, to arrive at informed conclusions. Students learn to think like historians: evaluating sources and interpretations, developing thesis statements, supporting their interpretations with evidence, and communicating their conclusions persuasively. Students gain an appreciation for how historic events have shaped our modern political, social, cultural, and economic life. The course provides opportunities for guided inquiry and student-centered learning to foster critical thinking skills.

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Course Objectives

After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Read, understand, and interpret a variety of primary and secondary sources.
• Demonstrate proficiency in explaining, analyzing and evaluating problems and themes in US history.
• Apply the concepts and procedures of historical inquiry to understanding US history.
• Communicate effectively in writing interpretations and conclusions based on historical evidence.

DoDEA U.S. History Standards may be viewed by clicking the link.

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Course Outline: Semester One

Module I: A New World

Section A – The First Americans
Section B – The Columbian Exchange
Section C – Colonial Societies
Section D – The English Colonies
Section D – The Colonies Expand

Module II: Revolution and Independence

Section A – Life in the Colonies
Section B – The American Revolution
Section C – A Republican Model
Section D – The Young Republic

Module III: The Growing Republic

Section A – Defining and Defending a New Nation
Section B – Rise of a National Economy
Section C – Mass Democracy

Module IV: A House Divided

Section A – The Nation Expands
Section B – An Impending Crisis
Section C – Civil War and Reconstruction

Module V: A New Order

Section A – The Gilded Age
Section B – The Rise of Big Business
Section C – A Nation on the Move

Semester 1 Exam

Image: Abraham Lincoln statue in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C; Shutterstock.com

Course Outline: Semester Two

Module VI: Becoming a Modern Nation

Section A – Progressivism
Section B – America Turns Outward
Section C – A Pluralistic Society

Module VII: Domestic and Global Challenges

Section A – The Great Depression
Section B – Fighting WWII
Section C – The Home Front

Module VIII: A World Superpower

Section A – A Global Leader
Section B – Expanding Equity
Section C – Increased Prosperity

Module IX: A New Century

Section A – Competing Values
Section B – A New Role in the World Community
Section C – Increased Globalization

Module X: Understanding American History

Section A – Identity
Section B – Work, Exchange and Technology
Section C – Peopling
Section D – Politics and Power
Section E – America in the World
Section F – Environment and Geography
Section G – Ideals, Beliefs and Culture

Semester 2 Exam

Preparing for the AP US History Exam

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Textbook

Out of Many: A History of the American People (AP Edition), 2007

ISBN Numbers (Student Edition) 0-13198613-9

Publisher: Pearson - Prentice Hall & Addison-Wesley

Student Study Guide

AP Test Prep Series: AP U.S. History Pearson Education to accompany: Out of Many: A History of the American People (AP Edition) 2007
Pearson-Prentice Hall

Image: Cover: Out of Many: A History of the American People (AP Edition), 2007