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High School
U.S. History/U.S. History Honors
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Description: The United States began as an experiment in freedom and democracy. Since its establishment, the country and its people have endured social, political, and economic revolutions. In this course, students will investigate the people, events, and ideas that have shaped the United States from the end of the Civil War through today.
Students are asked to analyze and evaluate decisions made by political, business, and military leaders. Emphasis is placed on connections between events of the past and present. This course also gives students the opportunity to conduct research and apply their learning to current, real-world problems.
Major Topics and Concepts
Segment One Topics:
Understanding the chronological order of historical events
Understanding the connections between historical events
Generating inferences around historical events
Purpose and application of various maps
Interpreting Primary and Secondary sources
Civil War
Reconstruction
Westward Expansion
Industrial Revolution
Populism
Push and Pull Factors of Immigration
Social Reform
Imperialism
World War I
The Roaring Twenties
The Great Depression
Segment Two Topics:
World War II
Cold War
Korean War
Vietnam War
Civil Rights Movement
1970s, 1980s, and 1990s
The Millennium
Terrorism
Competencies
Reconstruction and Westward Expansion
Students will demonstrate an understanding of Reconstruction and Westward Expansion by explaining factors that led to the Civil War and Westward Expansion, and describing the impact of government actions on individuals during Reconstruction and Westward Expansion
The Second Industrial Revolution
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the Second Industrial Revolution by explaining causes of the Second Industrial Revolution, analyzing the resulting social impact of economic expansion in the United States, and summarizing resulting labor and social reform movements.
The Impact of War on Domestic and Foreign Policy
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the impact of war on domestic and foreign policy by describing United States foreign policy before World War I, summarizing the causes of World War I and the impacts of United States participation, and explaining United States domestic policy during World War I.
Impact of the Economy on Cultural Change
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the impact of the economy on cultural change by explaining the impact of economic factors on American culture and society between World War I and World War II, and describing the reflection of American values in cultural trends.
United States Intervention in Foreign Conflict
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the United States’ intervention in foreign conflict by explaining the change in United States foreign policy in response to World War II, describing the United States’ response to the Holocaust, and analyzing the impact of United States foreign policy during World War II.
Containing Communism and Preventing Nuclear Attack
Students will demonstrate an understanding of containing communism and preventing nuclear attack by explaining foreign policy related to the Korean War, describing the consequences of the Cold War for American society, and analyzing American disillusionment during the Vietnam War.
The Civil Rights Movement
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the Civil Rights Movement by describing Civil Rights Movement leaders and methods, summarizing events of the Civil Rights Era, and analyzing the impact of the Civil Rights Movement on marginalized groups.
Challenges of the Modern Era
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the challenges of the Modern Era by analyzing social and environmental issues of the Modern Era.
New Hampshire’s Role in International Diplomacy
Students will demonstrate an understanding of New Hampshire's role in international diplomacy by explaining New Hampshire’s role in events leading to the settlement of the Russo-Japanese War.
Open
Projects allow students to demonstrate competence and understanding of concepts and skills by completing a career-related task. For example, the assignment might be to create a mural, a package design, a speech, a film review, or a movie set – you name it! These creative projects are about applying your learning acquired through in-depth research to real-world career tasks.
Each competency will be addressed through a project that is based on a real-life career task. Here are the careers you will explore: Podcaster, Photo Curator, Military Historian, Set Designer, Conflict and Stability Operations Specialist, Political Scientist, Speechwriter, Script Writer, and Historic Preservation Specialist.
Projects
Podcaster
You will take on the role of a Syndicated Podcast Radio Personality for an online podcast station, tasked with creating the scripts for three podcast episodes. Your podcast series will have the opportunity to teach your listeners about history in a way that also entertains them!
Photo Curator
You will take on the role of a Photo Curator tasked with creating a digital photo exhibit for a historical association. The exhibit aims to help Americans understand the social impact of economic expansion and the social reform movements of the 19th century.
Military Historian
You will take on the role of a military historian, tasked with designing a proposal for the documentation of events and policies of WWI.
Set Designer
You will take on the role of a set designer for a movie based during the economic boom of the 1920s or economic depression of the 1930s, and you will create a proposal for a movie set.
Conflict and Stability Operations Specialist
You will take on the role of a Conflict and Stability Operations Specialist for the State Department for the United States, tasked with writing a Conflict Diagnosis Report.
Political Scientist
You will take on the role of a Political Scientist participating in a nationally broadcast news show. You will prepare for the discussion by creating talking points with evidence.
Speechwriter
You will take on the role of a speechwriter for a nonprofit group that works for a current Civil Rights Movement and create a motivational speech to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Scriptwriter
You will take on the role of a scriptwriter for a documentary highlighting many challenges of the Modern Era. You will create part of your final script for the documentary’s producers.
Historic Preservation Specialist
You will take on the role of a Historic Preservation Specialist for New Hampshire’s Division of Historical Resources, tasked with creating a presentation about New Hampshire’s role in international diplomatic events.
Competencies
Reconstruction and Westward Expansion
Students will demonstrate an understanding of Reconstruction and Westward Expansion by explaining factors that led to the Civil War and Westward Expansion, and describing the impact of government actions on individuals during Reconstruction and Westward Expansion
The Second Industrial Revolution
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the Second Industrial Revolution by explaining causes of the Second Industrial Revolution, analyzing the resulting social impact of economic expansion in the United States, and summarizing resulting labor and social reform movements.
The Impact of War on Domestic and Foreign Policy
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the impact of war on domestic and foreign policy by describing United States foreign policy before World War I, summarizing the causes of World War I and the impacts of United States participation, and explaining United States domestic policy during World War I.
Impact of the Economy on Cultural Change
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the impact of the economy on cultural change by explaining the impact of economic factors on American culture and society between World War I and World War II, and describing the reflection of American values in cultural trends.
United States Intervention in Foreign Conflict
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the United States’ intervention in foreign conflict by explaining the change in United States foreign policy in response to World War II, describing the United States’ response to the Holocaust, and analyzing the impact of United States foreign policy during World War II.
Containing Communism and Preventing Nuclear Attack
Students will demonstrate an understanding of containing communism and preventing nuclear attack by explaining foreign policy related to the Korean War, describing the consequences of the Cold War for American society, and analyzing American disillusionment during the Vietnam War.
The Civil Rights Movement
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the Civil Rights Movement by describing Civil Rights Movement leaders and methods, summarizing events of the Civil Rights Era, and analyzing the impact of the Civil Rights Movement on marginalized groups.
Challenges of the Modern Era
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the challenges of the Modern Era by analyzing social and environmental issues of the Modern Era.
New Hampshire’s Role in International Diplomacy
Students will demonstrate an understanding of New Hampshire's role in international diplomacy by explaining New Hampshire’s role in events leading to the settlement of the Russo-Japanese War.
Open
Experiences allow you to explore a career field you’re curious about while mastering competencies for school credit. Through experiential learning, you will learn skills and apply them to tasks you would complete as part of a career rather than completing traditional assessments like essays or tests. During your Experience, you’ll work with a professional in the field to support your learning whom we call a “mentor.” You’ll earn a badge for your accomplishments to share on social media and higher education platforms, or with colleges, potential employers, peers, and colleagues to display your qualifications.
Here’s how Experiences work:
- Each competency you work on is addressed through a separate deliverable predetermined by you and your instructor.
- Guided learning for each module consists of research and/or work with a professional in the field. Your instructor will coach you through this process.
- Each module culminates in a final demonstration of understanding, which includes a deliverable and a discussion-based assessment with your instructor.
- Here’s an example:
Let’s say you’re curious about a career in healthcare. You decide you’d like to learn about this career area, make a professional connection, earn a badge, and meet competencies for your 9th-grade English requirement. While enrolled in English 1 Experiences, you conduct research to better understand language and structure in writing. Then you may work with an Occupational Therapist to help apply your writing skills to the creation of an informational video about adaptive equipment for patients. The video aims to advise family members of patients regarding the use of accommodations and equipment to help patients perform daily tasks. Now you’ve earned the Language and Structure in Writing competency! This is just one example of the many ways Experiences can bridge competencies to careers.
Obtaining a Mentor: Prior to enrollment, please have an idea for a mentor in mind. We have partnered with hundreds of mentors you can work with during your Experience, who you can find in our Career Mentor Catalog here. Or, you may consult with our counseling department by emailing [email protected] for help in identifying one.
*A parent/guardian permission form and background check of the mentor are both required to work with mentors without parental supervision.
Competencies
Reconstruction and Westward Expansion
Students will demonstrate an understanding of Reconstruction and Westward Expansion by explaining factors that led to the Civil War and Westward Expansion, and describing the impact of government actions on individuals during Reconstruction and Westward Expansion
The Second Industrial Revolution
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the Second Industrial Revolution by explaining causes of the Second Industrial Revolution, analyzing the resulting social impact of economic expansion in the United States, and summarizing resulting labor and social reform movements.
The Impact of War on Domestic and Foreign Policy
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the impact of war on domestic and foreign policy by describing United States foreign policy before World War I, summarizing the causes of World War I and the impacts of United States participation, and explaining United States domestic policy during World War I.
Impact of the Economy on Cultural Change
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the impact of the economy on cultural change by explaining the impact of economic factors on American culture and society between World War I and World War II, and describing the reflection of American values in cultural trends.
United States Intervention in Foreign Conflict
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the United States’ intervention in foreign conflict by explaining the change in United States foreign policy in response to World War II, describing the United States’ response to the Holocaust, and analyzing the impact of United States foreign policy during World War II.
Containing Communism and Preventing Nuclear Attack
Students will demonstrate an understanding of containing communism and preventing nuclear attack by explaining foreign policy related to the Korean War, describing the consequences of the Cold War for American society, and analyzing American disillusionment during the Vietnam War.
The Civil Rights Movement
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the Civil Rights Movement by describing Civil Rights Movement leaders and methods, summarizing events of the Civil Rights Era, and analyzing the impact of the Civil Rights Movement on marginalized groups.
Challenges of the Modern Era
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the challenges of the Modern Era by analyzing social and environmental issues of the Modern Era.
New Hampshire’s Role in International Diplomacy
Students will demonstrate an understanding of New Hampshire's role in international diplomacy by explaining New Hampshire’s role in events leading to the settlement of the Russo-Japanese War.
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