BOOK: The American Vision – Appleby, Brinkley, Broussard, McPherson and Ritchie

GOAL: To familiarize students with the history of our country from many different perspectives including political, social and economic. Students will also be able to understand the past and apply it to the present and the future.

EVALUATION: A variety of evaluating techniques will be used – tests, quizzes, projects, assignments, homework and in-class assignments. Also, a final exam will be given at the end of the year which will account for 1/5^th of your entire grade. Students with a 95% average for the year are eligible but not guaranteed exemption from the final exam. Behavior, participation and cooperation will be the deciding factor in all exemption cases.

CITIZENSHIP GRADE: It is your responsibility to keep track of all graded assignments and materials. You must also keep track of your own grade, which is rather simple since your grades will be posted on the Gradespeed website. Behavior, participation and cooperation will count for half of your citizenship grade. Disobedience of the rules will result in FIVE (5) point deductions for each offense.

LATE-WORK: Ample time is always given for completion of homework assignments and projects. Assignments are also posted on the course website as are some handouts. Other than absences and extreme situations which are looked at individually by the instructor, NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR A GRADE. All late work will receive the grade of ZERO (0) but will be taken to count towards citizenship.

MAKE-UP WORK: It is YOUR responsibility to find out what you missed during absences and complete all assignments. As was mentioned above, most assignments are posted on the website. The instructor will answer any questions that you might have about missed assignments between classes or any other time he is free. DO NOT interrupt your class or any other class period to ask questions about missed assignments!

- students will understand when specific groups arrived in America

- students will discover different cultures and changes

- students will learn about the early European attempts to colonize the continent

- students will discover the changes made to the continent by the colonizing powers

- students will learn how life was for the early colonists

- students will understand the problems that led to the American Revolution

- the American Revolution will be discussed in detail

- political, social and economic developments and changes will be evaluated

- students will understand the difficulties in creating a new nation

- students will understand how the Constitution works and their role in government

- the republican process will be examined and put into practice

- differing American ideals and the Democratic system will be learned

- students will learn about the expansion of the country in a variety of aspects

- problems concerning slavery will start to develop

- attempts at change in the American process will be discussed

- differing ideas that will lead to the Civil War will become apparent

- the American idea of inhabiting the continent will be looked at in detail

- affects of Manifest Destiny to Native Americans and the environment will be discussed

- the years leading up to the Civil War are the focus of this chapter

- problems and defined sides will be visualized

- the Civil War will be discussed in great detail using a variety of sources

- activities of the war and the outcome will be a great focus

- students will learn about the problems in putting the country back together after the war

- new American ideas that will lead to the modern era will be discussed

- the industrial revolution in America will be examined

- changes in all aspects of the country will lead to new ideas

- a new wave of immigration will be examined and understood

- students will have a chance to look at their own family histories

- the process of America’s rise to power in the world will be evaluated

- students will understand what constitutes power in the world arena

- the first great war in the world and America’s involvement is the focal point

- the effects of the war and the future will be discussed in detail

- culture in America during the Roaring Twenties is the focus of this chapter

- students will actively reenact cultural things of the ear

- political aspects during the twenties will be discussed that will lead to the Depression

- this chapter will be the bridge between this course and Modern American History

Current Events

Local History

Elections and Politics

Social Issues

Other related topics

1. Students are to abide by all rules of the classroom, which are subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.

2. Students must be prepared for each class, including having your notebook/binder, text book, writing utensils, handouts, etc. Points will be taken off of your citizenship grade for each unprepared offense.

3. All graded wok is to be completed in blue or black ink – NO EXCEPTIONS. Most major assignments are to be typed.

4. Cheating on anything will result in an AUTOMATIC ZERO (0) and be evaluated for further disciplinary actions.

5. All students who miss an exam will be given an alternate exam. Also, each class period may be subject to a different form of the exam to cut down on cheating.

6. Advance notice is given for every test, quiz and assignment. Missing the day before a test or quiz IS NOT a valid reason for being excused from the test or quiz on the day it is to occur. It is your responsibility to prepare ahead of time. You are young adults and will be respected as so. Responsibility is a major key to success in this class.

7. All rules in the Bishop Carroll Handbook apply in this classroom including dress code.

8. I am always available for student assistance. A copy of my daily schedule is listed below. Special appointments will be made for before or after school if our schedules do not coincide.

9. Except for emergencies, students will only be permitted to use the restrooms at the beginning or end of each class.

10. I have the right to revise and edit this syllabus and the rules when I feel it is necessary.

11^th Commandment – Failure to cooperate with any of the rules or regulations will result in either point deduction or disciplinary actions and sometimes both.

Homeroom – OPEN

Period 1 – World History

Period 2 – United States History

Period 3 – World History

Period 4 – United States History

Period 5 – LUNCH

Period 6 – World History

Period 7 – Modern American History

Period 8 – United States History

Period 9 – Free Period

I also arrive each day for school by 7:30 AM and usually stay until at least 3:00 PM. Further accommodations for meeting can be made by talking with the instructor or by e-mail at the address listed at the beginning of this syllabus.

UNITED STATES HISTORY MAIN PAGE

HOMEPAGE