Grade 11 Syllabus

AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL
US History SYLLABUS
5 hours per week, one credit
GRADE 11
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In this course, students study the history of the United States since European exploration of North
America to the Progressive Era and from Progressive Era to modern times. Historical content
focuses on the political, economic, and social events and issues related to the colonial period,
revolutionary war, forming of government, territorial expansion, expansion of slavery, the Civil
War.
This survey course provides an introduction to the political, economic, ideological, and social
developments in the United States from pre-colonial period beginning to 1877 and from
Progressive Era to 2001. Course explores indigenous peoples and cultures of North America. The
course traces the developments that allowed colonists from thirteen disparate colonies to see
themselves as one people who should constitute an independent nation. Course also explores how
Americans struggled with the meaning and consequences of their Revolution. Students will
examine the impact of constitutional issues on American society, evaluate the dynamic relationship
of the three branches of the federal government, and analyze efforts to expand the democratic
process. The forth half of the course traces developments of the young republic during
1820-1830ies, primary focus is Jacksonian America, expanding democracy and humanitarian
reforms. The fifth half of the course focuses on the territorial expansion (1840ies), foreign policy
and sectional crisis of 1850ies; Debates between the ideals of liberty and the existence of slavery.
The sixth half explores how America go through the Civil War and how this military conflict define
its further development. The seventh half of the course traces developments during the “Gilded
Age” and explores how vanishing frontier, settling of the West industrialization and urbanization
changed American culture and society. During this part students analyze the impact of
technological innovations on the American labor movement.
Students will also learn how historians assess, use, and interpret primary sources (the documents,
images, artifacts, and architecture that historians use to know about and interpret the past). Next
part of the curse, since The Progressive Era to modern times is introductory level survey of United
States history from the end of Reconstruction in 1877 up to the present. Additionally, this course
will trace US history not just within our national boundaries, but will consider the ways in which the
US shaped, and was shaped by, global events as its international presence increased throughout the
nineteenth and twentieth centuries. How have issues like racial or economic inequality
transformed over time? In what ways and in what context did governmental power change in the
twentieth century? How have economic, political, and social policies and struggles of the latter half
of the 1900s shaped the world as we know it in the second decade of the twenty-first century?
These are just some of the questions this course seeks to address. Students will also examine the
impact of geographic factors on major events that took place in American history. Students describe
the relationship between the arts, culture, architecture and the times during which they were
created. Students use critical-thinking skills to explain and apply different methods that historians
use to interpret the past, including points of view and historical context.
WEEK TOPICS
Topics and lessons
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Week 1 1. Introductions & Syllabus
2. A Nation Is Born, Beginnings to 1789
3. Converging Cultures
4. A Diverse Society (Colonial America)
5. Native American Societies and Culture
Week 2 Physical geography of the United States
6. The Land
7. Water System
8. Natural resources
9. Climate and Vegetation
10. Regions
Week 3 Colonial Experience
11. Religion in New England
12. Salem Witch Trails Primary Source Activity 1
13. Salem Witch Trials Primary Source Activity 2
14. Mayflower Compact Historical Background
15. Mayflower Compact Primary Source analysis
Week 4 American Independence

The Colonies Fight for Their Rights
16. The Revolution Begins
17. The War for Independence
18. The War Changes American Society
19. Founding Fathers
20. The Declaration of Independence (Primary source analysis)
Week 5 21. The Confederation

22. A New Constitution
23. Ratifying the Constitution
24. Bill Of Rights
25.Benjamin Franklin and American Enlighters
Week 6 The Young Republic, 1789–1850

26. Washington and Congress
27. Adams Administration
28. Partisan Politics
29. Jefferson in Office
30. The War of 1812
Week 7 Growth and Division Growing
31. American Nationalism
32. Early Industry
33. The Land of Cotton
34. Growing Sectionalism
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Week 8 Manifest Destiny
35.The Western Pioneers
36.Native Americans and American West
37. Trails West
38. The Hispanic Southwest
39. Independence for Texas
Week 9 40. Texas Revolution 2

41. The Battle of the Alamo
42. The War With Mexico
43. Alamo: Movie Discussion
44. The Battle of the Alamo: Primary Source Analysis
28/1820–1848
Week 10 Sectional Conflict Intensifies
45. Slavery and Western Expansion
46. Old South
47. The Crisis Deepens
48. State Rights and Secession
49. The Union Dissolves
Week 11 The Civil War
50.The Opposing Sides
51.The Early Stages
52.Life During the War
53.The Turning Point
54.The War Ends
1861–1865
Week 11 Reconstruction
55.Assasination of Lincoln
56. The Debate Over Reconstruction
57.Republican Rule
58.Constitutional Amendments
59.Reconstruction Collapses
Week 12 Birth of Modern America
60.Miners and Ranchers
61.Farming the Plains
62.Transcontinental Railroad
63. Settling the West
64.Native Americans
Week 13 Industrialization 1865–1901
65. The Rise of Industry
66. The Railroads
67. Big Business
68. Unions
69.New Technologies
Week 14 Urban America 1865–1896
70.Immigration
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71.Urbanization
72.The Gilded Age
73.Populism
74.The Rise of Segregation
Week 15 Oral Presentations, End of the term exams
Week 16 The Progressive Movement 1890 –1920

II Term 75. The Roots of Progressivism
76. Roosevelt
77.Taft
78.The Wilson Years
79. Progressivism Shaped America
Week 17 World War I and Its Aftermath
80.The United States Enters World War I
81.The Home Front
82.A Bloody Conflict
83.The War’s Impact
84. Wilson’s 14 Points
Week 18 The Jazz Age
85.The Politics of the 1920s
86.A Growing Economy
87.A Clash of Values
88.Cultural Innovations
89.African American Culture 1921–1929
Week 19 90.Prohibition in United States
91.Prohibition primary Source Activity
92. Jazz Music: Discussion
93.American Culture in 1920ies
94.The Automobile and Environment in American History
Week 20 The Great Depression Begins 1929–1932
95. The Causes of the Great Depression
96. Life During the Depression
97. Hoover Responds to the Depression
98.The First New Deal
99.The Second New Deal
Week 21 A World in Flames

100. America and the World
101.Roosevelt Radio Address Analysis
102.World War II Begins
103. The Holocaust
104. America Enters the War
Week 22 America and World War II 1941–1945
105.Mobilizing for War
106.The Early Battles
107.Life on the Home Front
108.Pushing Back the Axis
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109.The War Ends
Week 23 The Cold War Begins, 1945–1960
110.The Origins of the Cold War
111.Discussion: Hiroshima and Nagasaki
112.The Early Cold War Years
113.The Cold War and American Society
114.Eisenhower’s Cold War Policies
Week 24 Postwar America, 1945–1960

115.Truman
116. “Sweet 1950ies” Introduction
116.Eisenhower
117.The Affluent Society 1
118.The Affluent Society 2
Week 25 119.The Other Side of American Life

119. 1950ies American Pop Culture
120.Baby Boom
121.Levittowns and Housing in 1950ies
122. Music in 1950ies
Week 26 The New Frontier and the Great Society, 1961–1968

123.The New Frontier
124.JFK and the Cold War
125. Assassination of JFK: Discussion
125.The Great Society
126. The Great Society2
Week 27 The Civil Rights Movement, 1954–1968

127.The Movement Begins
128.Challenging Segregation
129.New Civil Rights Issues
130.Rise of Counterculture
131.Music of 1960ies
Week 28 The Vietnam War, 1954–1975

132.Going to War in Vietnam
133.Vietnam Divides the Nation
134.The War Winds Down 1
135. The War Winds Down 2
136. Why Americans Lost The Vietnam War: Discussion
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Week 29 The Politics of Protest, 1960–1980
137.Students and the Counterculture
138.The Feminist Movement
139.Latino Americans Organize
140.Martin Luther King
141.Native Americans’ Protest
Week 30 Politics and Economics, 1968–1980
142.The Nixon Administration

143.The Watergate Scandal
144.Ford Administration
145.Carter Administration
146.New Approaches to Civil Rights
Week 31 Resurgence of Conservatism, 1980–1992

147.The New Conservatism
148.The Reagan Years
149.Conservative Revolution
150.Life in the 1980s
151.The End of the Cold War
Week 32 152.A Time of Change, 1980–2000

153.The Technological Revolution
154.The Clinton Years
155.A New Wave of Immigration
156.An Interdependent World
Week 33 A New Century Begins, 2001–present

157.America Enters a New Century
158.The War on Terrorism Begins
159. Bush Years
160.The Invasion of Iraq
161.A Time of Challenges
Week 34 The presidency of Barack Obama
162.Domestic Affairs
163.Health care Reform
164.Economy
164.Foreign Affairs
165.Donald Trump Elected
Week 35 Exam Week – Oral Presentations
Final Grade Composition:

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1. Homework 20 %
2. Participation -20%
3. Midterm exam- 20 %
4. Presentation – 20%
5. Final exam – 20%
Classroom activities include differentiation to respond to variance among students in the classroom. Differentiating
instruction, tiered activities are used through which all students work with the same important understandings and skills,
but proceed with different levels of support, challenge, or complexity. Teaching approach varies In order to capture the
full range of abilities and talents that students possess.
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Grade 11 Syllabus

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AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

Week 4 American Independence

Week 5 21. The Confederation

Week 6 The Young Republic, 1789–1850

Week 9 40. Texas Revolution 2

Week 15 Oral Presentations, End of the term exams

Week 16 The Progressive Movement 1890 –1920

Week 21 A World in Flames

Week 24 Postwar America, 1945–1960

Week 25 119.The Other Side of American Life

Week 26 The New Frontier and the Great Society, 1961–1968

Week 27 The Civil Rights Movement, 1954–1968

Week 28 The Vietnam War, 1954–1975

Week 30 Politics and Economics, 1968–1980

142.The Nixon Administration

Week 31 Resurgence of Conservatism, 1980–1992

Week 32 152.A Time of Change, 1980–2000

Week 33 A New Century Begins, 2001–present

Final Grade Composition:

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