American History

Explore the history of America from prehistoric habitation to the contemporary U.S., and how our nation's status in the world defines American society. Examine the complex timeline of events, social and economic trends, wars and political issues that shaped the modern fabric of the United States, with the goal of defining what it means to be an American citizen.

This High School Course is also offered as part of the College Prep Online Diploma program.

Credits: 1 Unit

Course ID: SSV11

Course Area: Social Studies

Course Type: College Prep

Study Method: Online

Course Outline:

Module 1: Birth of a Nation

Unit: 1 Discovery and Colonization

Lesson 1: Land bridge to North America

Lesson 2: European contact

Lesson 3: The Columbia exchange

Lesson 4: Colonization: economic, social and religious freedom

Lesson 5: The North American colonies

Lesson 6: New England colonies

Lesson 7: The Chesapeake colonies: Virginia and Maryland

Lesson 8: The restoration colonies

Unit 2: The Fight for Rights

Lesson 1: Society in 18th century colonial America

Lesson 2: Enlightenment and religious revival in the colonies

Lesson 3: Events leading to the Revolutionary War

Lesson 4: Growing discontent

Lesson 5: The Declaration of Independence

Lesson 6: The start of the American Revolution

Lesson 7: After the Revolution

Module 2: The New Republic

Unit 1: The Constitution

Lesson 1: The Constitution and the new republic

Lesson 2: The Constitution and the amendments

Unit 2: The Beginnings of a Nation

Lesson 1: Americans on their own

Lesson 2: A spirit of nationalism

Lesson 3: Societal changes of the 18th century

Lesson 4: Democracy for all?

Lesson 5: Manifest destiny and expansionism

Module 3: Crisis in the Union (1849-1880)

Unit 1: Slavery, States' Rights and Expansionism

Lesson 1: Expansion and sectional conflicts

Lesson 2: The antebellum society

Lesson 3: The institution of slavery

Lesson 4: The argument for expansionism

Lesson 5: Bleeding Kansas

Unit 2: Civil War and Reconstruction

Lesson 1: Civil War (1861-1862)

Lesson 2: Civil War (1863-1865)

Lesson 3: Social effects of the Civil War

Lesson 4: Reconstruction begins

Lesson 5: The end of Reconstruction

Module 4: Industrial America (1865-1900)

Unit 1: Going West

Lesson 1: Mining, ranching and farming

Lesson 2: Native Americans and the West

Lesson 3: The institution of slavery

Unit 2: Industrialization

Lesson 1: American industrial revolution

Lesson 2: Railroads and development.

Lesson 3: American tycoons and big business.

Unit 3: Urban America

Lesson 1: Immigrants and urbanization

Lesson 2: Gilded age: the drawbacks of rapid urbanization and industrialization

Lesson 3: Reform movements

Items Provided by Students: none