20803211Early US History
Course Information
Description
In this course the origin and growth of the United States is studied. It also surveys American political, economic and social development from the founding of the colonies through the Civil War.
Total Credits
3
Prior Learning Assessment
  • Exam-Advanced Placement
Course Competencies
  1. Examine the early civilizations of America
    Assessment Strategies
    Essay Exam and/or Paper
    Criteria
    identify who first discovered and settled in America and the approximate time period
    summarize the Native American life styles on the eve of Columbus's "rediscovery"
    explore the European invasion of North America
    explore the impact of European invasions on Indian communities
    recognize English struggles in founding successful colonies

  2. Investigate the early settlement societies of America
    Assessment Strategies
    Essay Exam and/or Paper
    Criteria
    identify the processes which moved early settlements into societies in the South
    summarize the histories of Puritan settlement in New England
    evaluate the beginnings of American slavery
    investigate the world the slaves made for themselves

  3. Examine the upheaval of provincial America from 1660-1760
    Assessment Strategies
    Essay Exam and/or Paper
    Criteria
    explain the purpose of England's North American empire
    examine the major colonial convulsions and rebellions
    summarize the description of maturing colonial societies in unsettled times

  4. Investigate the breaking of the bonds of the empire (1760-1775)
    Assessment Strategies
    Essay Exam and/or Paper
    Criteria
    explain the imperial crisis of the 1760s
    investigate the colonial patterns of resistance
    evaluate the colonial-English rupture of imperial relations

  5. Explore the Revolutionary War period
    Assessment Strategies
    Essay Exam and/or Paper
    Criteria
    explore the Second Continental Congress
    assess the meaning of the Declaration of Independence
    investigate the expanding martial conflict
    explain the role of France in the Revolutionary War
    indicate the strategies which led to Yorktown victory and generous peace settlement

  6. Investigate how Americans secured the Republic and its ideals
    Assessment Strategies
    Essay Exam and/or Paper
    Criteria
    explain the formation of states and National government
    differentiate between the two sets of governments
    summarize the crisis of confederation
    examine the Consitutional Convention
    examine the Constitution document
    explore the ratification struggle

  7. Examine the Formative Decade (1790-1800)
    Assessment Strategies
    Essay Exam and/or Paper
    Criteria
    examine the roots of economic growth
    assess Washington's cabinet and the establishment of the machinery of government
    relate details of Hamilton's achievements
    analyze the birth of political parties
    assess arguments which separated political affiliation
    recount the challenges of Adams's presidency
    summarize the reasons for the "Revolution of 1800"

  8. Investigate the Jeffersonians in power (1800-1815)
    Assessment Strategies
    Essay Exam and/or Paper
    Criteria
    investigate the Jeffersonian presidency
    recount the achievements of the Jeffersonians
    explain the impact of the Louisiana Purchase
    analyze the disputes between the United States and England
    analyze the impact of the War of 1812 on U.S. society and on Tecumseh's confederation

  9. Explore nationalism, economic growth, and the roots of sectional conflict (1815-1824)
    Assessment Strategies
    Essay Exam and/or Paper
    Criteria
    explore the various components of nationalism
    examine economic growth and territorial expansion, using maps and graphs for visual reference
    explain the roots of sectional and functional conflicts
    assess the Panic of 1819 and the Missouri crisis as main sources of conflict

  10. Investigate power and politics in Jackson's America
    Assessment Strategies
    Essay Exam and/or Paper
    Criteria
    explain political democratization
    examine the rebirth of the political parties (second American party system)
    compare the first party system to the second party system
    investigate Jacksonian politics regarding Indians
    investigate Jacksonian politics regarding nullification
    investigate Jacksonian politics regarding the National Bank

  11. Examine the age of reform
    Assessment Strategies
    Essay Exam and/or Paper
    Criteria
    examine the sources of reform impulses
    summarize examples of institutional reforms and reformers
    examine community experiment examples

  12. Investigate the divided North and the divided South
    Assessment Strategies
    Essay Exam and/or Paper
    Criteria
    investigate Wisconsin as an example of a divided North
    summarize complexities of divided South
    investigate slave labor systems
    investigate slave family life
    investigate slave resistance
    investigate slave cultural expressions

  13. Investigate how cultures collided in the far West
    Assessment Strategies
    Essay Exam and/or Paper
    Criteria
    examine Hispanic and Native American cultures in the West
    analyze various pre-1850 pioneer surges into the far West
    explain United States expansion motives
    relate details of Texas, Oregon, and California Manifest Destiny
    assess reasons for and significance of the war with Mexico

  14. Examine the crisis of 1850 and the compromise between the North and the South
    Assessment Strategies
    Essay Exam and/or Paper
    Criteria
    summarize the last great compromise between the North and South
    examine the disintegration of the second party system
    explain the formation of the third party system
    recount examples of extreme sectional tension, including "Bleeding Kansas"

  15. Explore the Civil War
    Assessment Strategies
    Essay Exam and/or Paper
    Criteria
    examine Lincoln's election and the formation of the Confederacy
    analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the North and South
    summarize the second and third days of the battle of Gettysburg as well as several other battle scenes

  16. Examine the Reconstruction Era
    Assessment Strategies
    Essay Exam and/or Paper
    Criteria
    explain post-war conditions and issues
    examine presidential reconstruction and its failures
    summarize the successes and failures of Congressional reconstruction

  17. Write about historical topics
    Assessment Strategies
    Essay Exam and/or Paper
    Criteria
    employ primary and secondary sources
    comply with the conventions of standard written English
    present information which directly addresses historical issues
    organize thoughts logically and coherently

  18. Analyze historical materials
    Assessment Strategies
    Essay Exam and/or Paper
    Criteria
    break apart a specific time period or concept into economic, social, political, and cultural elements
    draw conclusions
    make inferences
    connect information to ideas
    employ techniques of visual and auditory analysis

  19. Use elements of research
    Assessment Strategies
    Essay Exam and/or Paper
    Criteria
    find appropriate resources
    incorporate research into written work appropriately
    compile a bibliography
    support a thesis with sufficient evidence
    document sources using standard academic documentation

  20. Collaborate with fellow students
    Assessment Strategies
    Performance
    Criteria
    solves problem related to course content
    create answers related to course content working in small groups
    discuss issues related to readings or course content
    present summary of findings
    connect course content to external experiences