Adam Blalock, Instructor

U.S. History

770.684.5432 Voice Mail Extension: 7317

Email Address:

2015-2016

Course Description

The United States History course is a survey of the country’s history from colonial times to the present.The course will trace the geographic, political, social, and economic development of the country.Not only will students learn of important figures and events, but they will also gain an understanding of how our country has developed into the nation that it is today. The Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (CCGPS) for U.S. History will be covered in this course. Each student will be required to take an End of Course assessment (EOC) which will be considered their final exam. The EOC will be 20% of their final grade.

Textbook

United States History,Pearson

Course Requirements

Daily class work and class discussion
Homework assignments
Quizzes over lectures
Unit Tests
Essays and projects assigned throughout the year
End of Course (EOC)

Materials Needed: Loose-leaf notebook with paper, blue or black pen, pencil --- Students will need to bring all materials and textbook to class every day.

Grading Policy: All tests, major compositions, oral presentations, and projects count as major test grades. All other class work, homework, quizzes, etc. count as daily grades. Homework is assigned 2-3 times weekly, as needed.

Make-up Work Policy: For each grading period, makeup work must be completed no later than two weeks after progress reports are issued. Students may not make up work outside of the grading period window once the time has passed.

Re-Test Policy: Any student can retest any chapter test regardless of the grade on the test provided that the student attends tutoring as directed by the teacher. The student must retest within two weeks of the grade being returned. The higher of the two grades will be recorded. This excludes benchmark assessments, final exams, standardized tests (such as EOC, Milestones, EOPA, AP Exams, etc.), and major projects and research that required an exorbitant amount of time in and outside the classroom (ie: research paper).

Exam Exemption: Exam exemption policies must be approved by the superintendent each school year. Any and all exemption policies do not apply to EOCTs, AP exams, or any other PSD mandated examinations.

Late Assignment Policy: Students are expected to turn all completed assignments in at the time scheduled by the teacher. Any project or composition turned in late will result in a ten-point deduction per day late in the grade.

Website: I will be using my website to post important assignments, notes, presentations, and upcoming due dates. My website address is:

Remind101: Remind 101 is a service that allows me to send text messages to my students and their parents simultaneously. This is a free service unless you are charged for incoming messages. To sign up for my Remind 101 simply text @jamestown to 81010. You should receive a text back thanking you for signing up.

Extra Credit Policy: Bonus/extra credit questions are usually included on all major tests. All major compositions provide students with the opportunity to earn bonus points. Other opportunities are available upon request by the student when that students’ average warrants it.

Class Policies/Rules: All policies of the Polk School District Board of Education and student handbook will be enforced.

Homework Policy: Students are to complete homework assignments each day and be prepared to turn in completed assignments when requested. Failure to turn in homework assignments will result in to after school detention at each occurrence. Parents will be telephoned after the second failure to turn in homework assignments. After the fourth failure, students will be referred to the administrative staff for discipline.

Progress Report Dates: Sept. 10, Nov. 20, Feb. 19, April 28

Report Card Dates: October 26, January 20, March 24, June 2

The Common CoreGeorgia Performance Standards, found at be adhered to in this course. This course will break the US History Georgia Performance Standards down into the following ten units that include each of the indicated subtopics.

Colonization of North America – Settlement of Three Colonial Regions – Southern, Middle, and Northern Colonies; Puritan New England; Development of Representative Government; Mercantilism; Middle Passage and the Slave Trade; Social Mobility; the Great Awakening (Standards 1 and 2)
Creation of a Country – Declaration of Independence; American Revolution; George Washington; Articles of Confederation; Constitution (Standards 3-5)
Early Expansion – Northwest Ordinance; Louisiana Purchase; War of 1812; Erie Canal; Monroe Doctrine; Industrial Revolution; Manifest Destiny; Early Social Movements; Jacksonian Democracy (Standards 6 and 7)
Clash of Beliefs and Ideals –Abolition; Nullification and States’ Rights; Compromises; Secession; Civil War; Reconstruction (Standards 8-10)
Expansion and Reform – Technological Innovation; Railroads; Rise of Big Business; Relations with Native Americans; Labor Unions and Muckrakers; Spanish American War (Standards 11-14)
World War I and American Culture – Neutrality; League of Nations; Socialism; Red Scare; Prohibition; Jazz; Harlem Renaissance (Standards 15-16)
A Time of Turmoil – Great Depression; New Deal; World War II; Development of Atomic Bomb (Standards 17-19)
US as a World Power- Marshall Plan; Cold War; Containment Policy; Korean War; Cuban Missile Crisis; Vietnam War (Standard 20)
Societal Change and Changing Roles of Government- Baby Boom, Civil Rights Movement; Great Society; NOW; Anti-Vietnam War Movement; Environmental Movement; Farm Workers Movement; Warren Court (Standards 21-24)
US since 1968 – Rise of Conservativism; Watergate; Supreme Court Cases (Roe v. Wade and Bakke); Iran Hostage Crisis; Reaganomics; Collapse of Soviet Union; NAFTA; impeachment of Clinton; 2000 Election; War on Terror