Course Overview:  This course surveys US History from the colonial period  to the events of the
present day.  The important individuals, civilizations, eras, events, movements, discoveries, and
ideas that have shaped the development of our country & world will form the core of our studies.
Students will not only be expected to master important geographical & historical knowledge, but
also to effectively engage in critical thinking about both past & present situations.  Research and
writing skills will be sharpened through various assignments, and special projects may be
assigned to foster & encourage creativity.

Prospective US History Syllabus:

Unit 1:  A New Nation (1789-1820)
     Lesson 1:  Domestic Issues and Conflicts of the Federalist Era
     Lesson 2 : An Unequal Freedom
     Lesson 3:  International Commercial & Diplomatic Relationships

Unit 2:  Territorial Growth & Reform  (1801-1850)
     Lesson 1:  Expansion and New States
     Lesson 2:  Nationalism & Sectionalism
     Lesson 3:  Economic & Social Causes of Nationalism & Sectionalism
     Lesson 4:  Political Figures, Events, & Issues that increased Nat. & Sec.
     Lesson 5:  Major Reform Movements
     Lesson 6:  Religion and Social Issues

Unit 3:  Crisis, the Civil War, and Reconstruction (1848-1877)
     Lesson 1:  Key Events from the Mexican War to the Civil War
     Lesson 2:  The Causes of the Civil War
     Lesson 3:  The Civil War
     Lesson 4:  Reconstruction and Its Impacts
     Lesson 5:  The Rise of the Federal Government

Unit 4:  Westward Ho! (1860s-1896)
     Lesson 1:  The Pioneers and Their Plights
     Lesson 2:  The Impact of Settlement
     Lesson 3:  Agricultural Struggles & Populism
     Lesson 4:  The New Agriculture and Business

Unit 5:  Industrial Society  (1877-1900)
 Lesson 1:  Immigration, Industrialization, & Urbanization
 Lesson 2:  Captains of Industry, or Robber Barons?
 Lesson 3:  Labor Unions
 Lesson 4:  Changes in the Role of Government

Unit 6:  The US emerges in the World  (1890-1914)
     Lesson 1:  Moving into the World
     Lesson 2:  The US expands its influence
     Lesson 3:  The US impact on other Nations

Unit 7:  The Progressive Movement  (1890-1914)
     Lesson 1:  The Rise of Progressivism
     Lesson 2:  The Impact of the Progressives
     Lesson 3:  Segregation
     Lesson 4:  The Impacts of Technology

Unit 8:  World War I and the Aftermath (1914-1930)
     Lesson 1:  Causes of Neutrality & Involvement
     Lesson 2:  World War I
     Lesson 3:  The Impacts of World War I

Unit 9:  Prosperity & the Great Depression (1919-1939)
     Lesson 1:  Economic Boom & Bust
     Lesson 2:  Unequal Prosperity
     Lesson 3:  Social & Intellectual Changes
     Lesson 4:  Tradition under Siege
     Lesson 5:  The New Deal & the Federal Growth

Unit 10: World War II & the Cold War  (1930s-1963)
     Lesson 1:  The Causes of WWII & US entry
     Lesson 2:  Turning Points of WWII
     Lesson 3:  WWII’s Impacts on the US
     Lesson 4:  US Foreign Policy & the Cold War
     Lesson 5:  International Organizations

Unit 11:  Recovery, Prosperity, & Turmoil (1945-1980)
     Lesson 1:  Impacts of the Cold War
     Lesson 2:  The Civil Rights Movement
     Lesson 3:  Social Movements
     Lesson 4:  Vietnam
     Lesson 5:  The Impacts of Technology
     Lesson 6:  Important Political Events &  Actions

Unit 12:  The US since Vietnam (1973-Present)
     Lesson 1:  US Forejgn Policy since Vietnam
     Lesson 2:  Important Constitutional Amendments & Court Rulings
     Lesson 3:  Economic, Technological, and Environmental Changes
     Lesson 4:  Social Changes
     Lesson 5:  Ethnic Diversity
     Lesson 6:  21st Century Terrorist Activity
 

Rules for Success:

1)  Be on time & bring ALL needed materials to class.  You are tardy if you are not in your
     seat when the tardy bell rings!
2)  Be alert & attentive to your task AT ALL TIMES!  Writing, exchanging, or reading notes to
      others will result in After school detention the next day.
3)  NO excess talking without the teacher s permission.  Talking during a quiz or test will result
      in a ZERO on that assignment.
4)  There will be NO EATING, NO DRINKING, in class. All food & drinks must be OUT OF
      SIGHT!!! (Unopened and inside your book bag.)
5)  Show respect for others at all times.
6)  Throw away all trash & put away all resources properly before leaving.
7)  Listen carefully & follow instructions THE FIRST TIME!
8)  You will be allowed a MAXIMUM of 2 bathroom/hall passes per nine weeks. (1 for 1st
     period & third period.)  You must SIGN OUT ANYTIME you leave class!

Discipline Policy:  The discipline policy of SIHS will be followed.  In addition, the following
system of discipline will be used for those who break class rules or fail to obey reasonable
requests:
  1)  WARNING ( may be individual or group)
  2)  30 minutes of After School Detention on the next school day.
  3)  1 hour of After School Detention, phone call to parents.

Course Requirements:

A. Homework:  This course will require outside study & work, and I expect it to be done ON
TIME, and BY YOU!!  COPYING AN ASSIGNMENT WILL RESULT IN A ZERO, AND
A WRITE UP!!   I check assignments randomly, and if an assignment is not completed and
turned in by the assigned deadline it will receive a ZERO.  All worksheets are to be completed
by the next day unless I specifically say differently.  If you are absent, it is YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY to get the makeup work when you return.

B.  Major Tests:  There will be a major test after each unit of study.  THE TWO KEYS TO
SUCCESS ON THESE TESTS ARE:  1)  DOING THE WORK WHEN IT IS ASSIGNED,
AND 2)  STUDYING THE UNIT TEST REVIEWS.  In order to be eligible for RETESTING
(for scores less than 80), you must attend a PRETEST session at 8:00 a.m. the day before the
test.  ANY TEST MISSED MUST BE MADE UP WITHIN 5 SCHOOL DAYS!  It is YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY to schedule a makeup.

C.  EXAMS:  ALL students take the exam, which counts for 25% of your final grade.  This
exam is an EOC test from the state.

D.  NOTEBOOK:  All students are expected to maintain a completed notebook of notes,
worksheets, maps, etc., which are organized by unit.  Each unit s work will be checked before
that unit s test.  This grade will be worth 2.5 times the value of a daily grade.  If you turn in
your entire completed notebook at the end of the course, it will be worth 3 points on your
course grade!  ( I will do this by adding 6 points to your second 9 weeks grade. )

E.  ADDITIONAL:  I reserve the right to assign additional projects & papers, allowing at least
4 weeks for completion.

F.  INTERNET: We will be using the Internet  for research on specific web sites.  This research
will be done primarily in the school computer lab under close supervision.

G.  BEHAVIOR: All students will be expected to obey all class and school rules.

Grading Policy:
Grade Calculations:                          Grade Scale:
   37.5 %  Unit Tests                                                  100-93 A     84-77 C     below 70  E
   37.5 %  Daily Grades                                              92-85  B     76-70 D
   25  Exam