AP US HISTORY
COURSE SYLLABUS 
45.0820011

Teacher:  Mrs. Sanchez
Email:  Kathy_Sanchez@gwinnett.k12.ga.us or instructorsanchez@yahoo.com
Room:  B-214
Makeup Work:  Before school 6:45-7:20 or after school by appointment

Course Description:
	AP U.S. History is a demanding introduction to American History and culture that assumes a high level 
of interest and competence.  Because this course is similar to a first-year college course, students should expect 
that the workload will be heavier than most regular high school history courses.  The analytical thinking, 
writing, and reading skills that students develop in AP US History will equip them for college and lifelong 
learning.  
	In order to succeed, students need both to be motivated to study and to be able to keep up with the 
demands of a college-level course.  By taking the AP Exam at the end of the course, students have the 
opportunity to demonstrate that they have, indeed, learned college-level material and are prepared to enter 
advanced college courses.  The ultimate goal is to see high scores on the Advanced Placement exam in May.  
The 2001 class had six perfect 5's and the class of 2002 had seven 5's.  I want us to beat that score this year.

AKS OBJECTIVES:		
1.	Identify cultures which inhabited the Americas before the arrival of the Europeans, determine how 
geography affected their development and describe their significant accomplishments
2.	Examine life in the early Spanish, French, Dutch, and English colonies and how these colonies 
reflect and differ from their mother countries 
3.	Describe the differences which developed between the New England, the Middle, and the Southern 
colonies 
4.	Determine how the concept of limited government originated in England and developed in the 
American colonies 
5.	Analyze the causes and the immediate and long-range results of the American Revolution 
6.	Analyze the development of the American Constitutional government and explain how it has been an 
outgrowth of the Enlightenment and the Age of 
7.	Examine the major political, social, cultural and economic issues faced by the United States in its 
formative years 
8.	Examine the causes and consequences of the Industrial Revolution 
9.	Determine the causes of the rise of Jacksonian Democracy and how the United States was changed 
by it 
10.	Identify the major factors and events which led to the continental growth of the United States in the 
19th century 
11.	Describe the events, trends and conditions which led to the development of sectionalism prior to 
1861 
12.	Assess the advantages and disadvantages of the North and the South in the American Civil War, 
their military strategies and the significance of the major battles of the war 
13.	Evaluate the short and long term effects of the Civil War on the politics, economics, and society of 
the United States 



STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:
1.	Be on time, which means being in the room before the tardy bell rings.
2.	Be prepared--textbook, paper, writing utensil
3.	Be respectful of people and property
4.	Be ready to learn which means alert, well read, and ready to contribute to class discussions.
5.	All school rules apply.

CONSEQUENCES:
Any violation of school rules will be met with the following consequences:
a.	Warning 
b.	Warning and parental notification      		
c.	Teacher detention 1day 30 minutes--parental notification
d.	Teacher detention 2 days 30 minutes after school--parental notification
e.	Administrative referral

MATERIALS:
1.	Textbook—The American Pageant; by Bailey, et.al
a.	You should bring your textbook to class everyday.
b.	You should read a little of your textbook every night.
c.	Cost of textbook is around $50.00 should you suffer the loss of your book.
2.	Notebook—You will need a 3 ring binder
3.	3 ¼" Computer Disk and email account.
4.	You must obtain an AP Study Guide.  We will be placing a class order.  The study guide that I will 
place an order for is the best I have seen.  Should you prefer to obtain one on your own see me for a 
list of suggestions.  Some of you may have a study guide at home.  If you want to use that one look it 
over thoroughly and look at the one I want to use in class and see which is the best for yu.  It appears 
the cost of the book will be less than $15.00.

ATTENDANCE:
	Students are expected to be in class everyday.  When you are absent work will be missed.  It is your 
responsibility to obtain makeup work and complete it within the required timetable.  Makeup work is only 
permitted when a permit to makeup work is brought within two days upon returning from an absence.  It is your 
responsibility to find out the work that was missed, and to arrange make up times for tests, quizzes, and other 
class work, if not made up within one week you will receive a zero.

EVALUATION:	
	The following percentages will be used to determine student grades.  Due to the fact that some assignments 
require more effort than others, the teacher will notify you when any extra grades apply to an assignment.  For 
example, it might count as two test grades or two homework grades.

		25%	Average of essay grades
		25%	Average of test grades
		10%	Average of grades received on other assignments.
		15%    	Average of grades on projects
		  5%	Class Participation
		20%	Final Exam	







GRADING SCALE:
	Standard			AP
	100-90=A			5
	89-80=B			4
	79-75=C			3
	74-70=D			2
	69-0=F			1

READING AND MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS:
 A.  Textbook—The American Pageant; by Bailey, et. al.
1.	You are expected to independently read the chapters corresponding to each unit of study. 
2.	Each unit's corresponding chapters are listed in the pacing guide at the end of the resume.
3.	I will have quizzes on the textbook; therefore you should read the section in the books that 
correspond to the areas covered in class.  
4.	You are expected to come prepared to discuss the material in class.
5.	The text is not easy reading, so the best suggestion is to do a little bit every night.
6.	Course outlines that may be helpful to you will be available on my website.

	B.  Supplemental Readings:  
Occasionally I will Xerox additional materials for you to read, you should read those independently 
when they are distributed.

C.  Document Analysis:  I will also present you with selected documents that you will be expected to 
summarize and provide analysis on these documents. 
	
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:
A.	All essays will be written in class and should be fully developed.
B.	Quizzes will be given on textbook and supplemental readings.
   C.  Major Test:
	1.  Multiple choice questions and essays.
	2.  Test will use be based on notes, readings, and old AP exams
	3.  All tests will be comprehensive from the first day of class.
	4.  All essays are expected to be completely developed and contain significant historical information.

STUDENT ASSISTANCE: 
	 I am available to help students before school I usually arrive by 6:45.  If you have a conflict and need to 
come after school please schedule with me in advance so I will be sure to be available.  Please, take advantage 
of this arrangement, I want you to be successful in this course, and am available any time you need to talk.  
All homework information and class outlines, and helpful links can be found at my website.  
www.geocities.com/instructorsanchez/






TENTATIVE PACING GUIDE:

	August 12-27—Exploration and Colonization, Chapters1-5

	August 28-September 11—Road to Independence, the American Revolution, Chapters 6-8

	September 12-26—Constitutional Government and Launching the new nation and Jefferson, Chapters 9-11

	September 27-October 17—Jacksonian Democracy and Rising Nationalism, Chapters12-16
	
	October 18-November 8—Crisis, Compromise, Civil War and Reconstruction, Chapters 17-23

	November 11-Dec. 6—Industrialization, Urbanization, Immigration, Closing the Frontier, Chapters 24-28







Course Outline
A.P. U. S. History

1. Discovery and Settlement of the New World, 1492–1650
A. Europe in the sixteenth century
B. Spanish, English, and French exploration
C. First English settlements
1. Jamestown
2. Plymouth
D. Spanish and French settlements and long-term 
influence
E. American Indians
2. America and the British Empire, 1650–1754
A. Chesapeake country
B. Growth of New England
C. Restoration colonies
D. Mercantilism; the Dominion of New England
E. Origins of slavery
3. Colonial Society in the Mid-Eighteenth Century
A. Social structure
1. Family
2. Farm and town life; the economy
B. Culture
1. Great Awakening
2. The American mind
3. "Folkways"
C. New immigrants
4. Road to Revolution, 1754–1775
A. Anglo-French rivalries and Seven Years' War
B. Imperial reorganization of 1763
1. Stamp Act
2. Declaratory Act
3. Townshend Acts
4. Boston Tea Party
C. Philosophy of the American Revolution
5. The American Revolution, 1775–1783
A. Continental Congress
B. Declaration of Independence
C. The war
1. French alliance
2. War and society; Loyalists
3. War economy
D. Articles of Confederation
E. Peace of Paris
F. Creating state governments
1. Political organization
2. Social reform: women, slavery
6. Constitution and New Republic, 1776–1800
A. Philadelphia Convention: drafting the Constitution
B. Federalists versus Anti-Federalists
C. Bill of Rights
D. Washington's presidency
1. Hamilton's .nancial program
2. Foreign and domestic dif.culties
3. Beginnings of political parties
E. John Adams' presidency
1. Alien and Sedition Acts
2. XYZ affair
3. Election of 1800
7. The Age of Jefferson, 1800–1816
A. Jefferson's presidency
1. Louisiana Purchase
2. Burr conspiracy
3. The Supreme Court under John Marshall
4. Neutral rights, impressment, embargo
B. Madison
C. War of 1812
1. Causes
2. Invasion of Canada
3. Hartford Convention
4. Conduct of the war
5. Treaty of Ghent
6. New Orleans
8. Nationalism and Economic Expansion
A. James Monroe; Era of Good Feelings
B. Panic of 1819
C. Settlement of the West
D. Missouri Compromise
E. Foreign affairs: Canada, Florida, the Monroe 
Doctrine
F. Election of 1824: end of Virginia dynasty
G. Economic revolution
1. Early railroads and canals
2. Expansion of business
a. Beginnings of factory system
b. Early labor movement; women
c. Social mobility; extremes of 
wealth
3. The cotton revolution in the South
4. Commercial agriculture


9. Sectionalism
A. The South
1. Cotton Kingdom
2. Southern trade and industry
3. Southern society and culture
a. Gradations of White society
b. Nature of slavery: "peculiar 
institution"
c. The mind of the South
B. The North
1. Northeast industry
a. Labor
b. Immigration
c. Urban slums
2. Northwest agriculture
C. Westward expansion
1. Advance of agricultural frontier
2. Signi.cance of the frontier
3. Life on the frontier; squatters
4. Removal of American Indians
10. Age of Jackson, 1828–1848
A. Democracy and the "common man"
1. Expansion of suffrage
2. Rotation in of.ce
B. Second party system
1. Democratic Party
2. Whig Party
C. Internal improvements and states' rights:  the 
Maysville Road veto
D. The Nulli.cation Crisis
1. Tariff issue
2. The Union: Calhoun and Jackson
E. The Bank War: Jackson and Biddle
F. Martin Van Buren
1. Independent treasury system
2. Panic of 1837
11. Territorial Expansion and Sectional Crisis
A. Manifest Destiny and mission
B. Texas annexation, the Oregon boundary, and 
California
C. James K. Polk and the Mexican War; slavery and
the Wilmot Proviso
D. Later expansionist efforts
12. Creating an American Culture
A. Cultural nationalism
B. Education reform/professionalism
C. Religion; revivalism
D. Utopian experiments: Mormons, Oneida 
Community
E. Transcendentalists
F. National literature, art, architecture
G. Reform crusades
1. Feminism; roles of women in the 
nineteenth century
2. Abolitionism
3. Temperance
4. Criminals and the insane
13. The 1850's: Decade of Crisis
A. Compromise of 1850
B. Fugitive Slave Act and Uncle Tom's Cabin
C. Kansas-Nebraska Act and realignment of parties
1. Demise of the Whig Party
2. Emergence of the Republican Party
D. Dred Scott decision and Lecompton crisis
E. Lincoln-Douglas debates, 1858
F. John Brown's raid
G. The election of 1860; Abraham Lincoln
H. The secession crisis
14. Civil War
A. The Union
1. Mobilization and .nance
2. Civil liberties
3. Election of 1864
B. The South
1. Confederate constitution
2. Mobilization and .nance
3. States' rights and the Confederacy
C. Foreign affairs and diplomacy
D. Military strategy, campaigns, and battles
E. The abolition of slavery
1. Con.scation Acts
2. Emancipation Proclamation
3. Freedmen's Bureau
4. Thirteenth Amendment
F. Effects of war on society
1. In.ation and public debt
2. Role of women
3. Devastation of the South
4. Changing labor patterns





15. Reconstruction to 1877
A. Presidential plans: Lincoln and Johnson
B. Radical (congressional) plans
1. Civil rights and the Fourteenth 
Amendment
2. Military reconstruction
3. Impeachment of Johnson
4. African American suffrage: the Fifteenth 
Amendment
C. Southern state governments: problems, 
achievements, weaknesses
D. Compromise of 1877 and the end of 
Reconstruction
16. New South and the Last West
A. Politics in the New South
1. The Redeemers
2. Whites and African Americans in the 
New South
3. Subordination of freed slaves: Jim Crow
B. Southern economy; colonial status of the South
1. Sharecropping
2. Industrial stirrings
C. Cattle kingdom
1. Open-range ranching
2. Day of the cowboy
D. Building the Western railroad
E. Subordination of American Indians: dispersal of 
tribes
F. Farming the plains; problems in agriculture
G. Mining bonanza
17. Industrialization and Corporate Consolidation
A. Industrial growth: railroads, iron, coal, electricity, 
steel,
oil, banks
B. Laissez-faire conservatism
1. Gospel of Wealth
2. Myth of the "self-made man"
3. Social Darwinism; survival of the .ttest
4. Social critics and dissenters
C. Effects of technological development on 
worker/workplace
D. Union movement
1. Knights of Labor and American 
Federation of Labor
2. Haymarket, Homestead, and Pullman

18. Urban Society
A. Lure of the city
B. Immigration
C. City problems
1. Slums
2. Machine politics
D. Awakening conscience; reforms
1. Social legislation
2. Settlement houses: Jane Addams and 
Lillian Wald
3. Structural reforms in government
19. Intellectual and Cultural Movements
A. Education
1. Colleges and universities
2. Scientific advances
B. Professionalism and the social sciences
C. Realism in literature and art
D. Mass culture
1. Use of leisure
2. Publishing and journalism
20. National Politics, 1877–1896: The Gilded Age
A. A conservative presidency
B. Issues
1. Tariff controversy
2. Railroad regulation
3. Trusts
C. Agrarian discontent
D. Crisis of 1890s
1. Populism
2. Silver question
3. Election of 1896: McKinley versus Bryan






I have read the course syllabus for Mrs. Sanchez's AP US History class and have the following questions:

I have no questions or, 
  
Questions to be addressed:






Student signature: ________________________________

Parent or guardian signature:  ___________________________

Date:  ________________________
	



1