Shawnee Mission School District

High School Course Syllabus

Course
Title / United States History / Teacher: Mr. McFall
Number / 3160, 3164B / School: Shawnee Mission South HS
Department / Social Studies / Year: 2014-2015
Course
Description / United States History is designed as a chronological survey continuing from the late 1800’s to the present. Consideration is given to major trends and patterns in political, economic, social, and cultural history of each era. The focus is on the twentieth century.
Primary
Objectives / Previously taught historical eras will be reviewed as needed for students to understand cause and effect relationships and connections.
Ongoing throughout the year.
Analyze the principles of the US Constitution and summarize the purposes for and the processes of changing the US Constitution.
Chronological Study of Eras of U.S. History:
Students will understand and participate in historical thinking strategies throughout the study of American History. Close Reading, Sourcing, Contextualization, Corroboration.
Examine the effect of the Industrial Age (scientific discoveries, manufacturing innovations, the rise of big business and American Labor movement).
Analyze the economic, social, and political effects of immigration in order to understand the immigrant experience and life at the turn of the century.
Examine the emergence of the United States in international affairs at the turn of the 20th century (e.g debate over imperialism, Spanish American War, Philippine Insurrection, Panama Canal, Open Door Policy, Roosevelt Corollary, and Dollar Diplomacy).
Explain the spread of the Progressive movement (Political influence on elections, desire to have government regulations of private business and industry, child labor laws, Muckrakers, Roosevelt, and Wilson. (1.5 State benchmark) Chapter 9
Analyzes the reasons for and impact of the US entrance into WWI.
Trace the Political and Social changes after WWI and throughout the decade of the 1920’s.
Analyze the causes and impact of the Great Depression.
Analyze the costs and benefits of the New Deal Programs (Chapter 15) (e.g. budget deficits vs. creating employment, expanding government: CCC, WPA, Social Security, TVA, Community infrastructure improved, dependence on subsidies).
Analyze the reasons for US entry into WWII.
Discuss how WWII influenced the home front (e.g. women in the workplace, rationing, role of radio in communicating news from the war front, victory gardens, and conscientious objectors).
Analyzes the origins of the Cold War (e.g. establishment of the Soviet Bloc, Mao’s victory in China, Marshall Plan, Berlin Blockade, Iron Curtain).
Understand the economic, social, political and cultural changes that occurred in post WWII America.
Examines the struggle for racial and gender equality and the extension of Civil Rights (Ch 21) (e.g. Brown v. Topeka Board of Education, Little Rock Nine, Martin Luther King, Jr. Montgomery Bus Boycott, Voting Rights Act of 1965, Betty Friedan, NOW,ERA, Title IX).
Understand the political and international role of the United States from the 1960’s through the 1990’s and in the world today. (Chapter 20-26) (e.g. Examine the Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Reagan Administrations).
Use of Primary and Secondary sources about an event in US History to develop a credible interpretation of the event.
Use of historical visual media to depict US History events.
Primary
Objectives
Continued / Analyze and evaluate conditions, actions, and motivations that contribute to conflict and cooperation with the United States and her global partners during the Twentieth Century.
Evaluate the role of technology as it contributes to or helps resolve conflicts.
Determine how productive resources, environmental and global changes affect the social and economic development of the United States (i.e., global warming trends, raw materials, dust bowl).
Analyze American historical examples of supply and demand, prices, incentives and profits in determining economic decisions in light of twentieth century historical events (i.e., history of labor, economic expansion during the World Wars, Cold War trading relationships).
Apply economic concepts of shortages and surpluses to twentieth century U.S. historical events (i.e., Farm parity, Populism and the early Progressive Era, Great Depression, Stock Market Crashes).
Compare the economic policies of twentieth century U.S. with traditional and command economic systems of other countries.
Apply knowledge of production, distribution, and consumption in the analysis of a public issue.
Identify historical examples of the interaction and inter-dependence of science, technology and society.
Analyze how science and technology influence the core values, beliefs and attitudes of society.
Analyze and evaluate the effects of changing technologies.
Explain the influence of cultural elements (language, art, music, belief systems) as they lead to an understanding or a misunderstanding.
Analyze how the rule of law can be used to restrict the action of private citizens and government officials in order to promote the common good (i.e., sedition during wartime, Red scares and Cold War culture, eminent domain, material law during disasters, health and safety regulations).
Analyze and propose possible solutions and their effects on worldwide problems.
Analyze how international issues such as national sovereignty, human rights, and international organizations have influenced United States history.
The student can explain the essential Constitutional powers of the American government (expressed, implied, reserved, concurrent, prohibited).
Understand the Bill of Rights and identify, analyze, and evaluate examples of citizen's rights and responsibilities.
Analyze contemporary social issues regarding economic rights within the United States (i.e., free enterprise, rights of choice, government regulation).
Illustrate how individual behaviors can affect future generations.
Know the federal budgeting procedure and the major areas of government spending (i.e., New Deal, Great Society Programs).

2014-2015

Textbook
Used / AMERICANS: Reconstruction to the twentieth century by McDougal-Littell, 2007
Major Topics Covered by Quarter
(projected schedule) / TOPIC QUARTER
Colonization, American Revolution, Manifest 1
Destiny, Civil War, Reconstruction
Industrial Revolution, Immigration, Progressivism 2
And Imperialism, World War I
Roaring Twenties and Great Depression, FDR and 3
New Deal, World War II
Korea and Cold War, Great Society and Civil Rights,
Vietnam War, 70’s and Social Change, Reagan Years, 4
Terrorism and US Today
Method of Evaluation / ü  Tests, Projects, Discussion
ü  Quizzes and Daily Assignments
ü  Rubrics of Evaluation
ü  Grades will be based on the percentage of total points earned at the end of each quarter
Student Expectations/
Responsibilities / ü  Master a chronological knowledge of history (Main Focus on 20th century)
ü  Use technology to enhance learning in and out of the classroom
ü  Use historical data to support arguments and position concerning perennial historical issues
ü  Interpret and apply data from various primary source documents
ü  Work effectively with others to solve problems as they relate to US History
*Understand the relationship of cause and effect/comparison and contrast over various historical issues

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Course Syllabus