American History
Wednesday
1:00 - 2:30 pm
- 10/6
- 10/13
- 10/20
- 10/27
- 11/3
- 11/10
- 11/17
- 11/24
REQUIREMENTS
All required reading can be found on the internet.
Student will be required to produce notes and read and speak from their notes.
PURPOSE
To educate the student in the distinctives of American History. America is a young country, if measured from colonial times, a mere 400 years old—if counted from our Revolution only 240 years old. And yet, arguably America has become the most productive and creative culture in the history of the world.
What caused this to be so?
At the conclusion of this course, students will command a set of facts and memorized materials that will give them a decided advantage in their understanding the America. They will be able to explain in summary the history of the United States, but more important, the student will be able to explain what is unique and fundamental to IDEA OF AMERICA, why it has succeeded and why there are tensions in the fabric of the republic.
Colonial America
The Whole World is ruled by Kings: Then comes America
The 1. Historic, 2. Religious 3. Intellectual roots of America
Distinctions amongst the 13 colonies
Different religious backgrounds and purposes for the colonies
The Enlightenment vs. the Reformation
The origins of slavery in America
The America Revolution and the Ideas underlying it
Discuss Declaration of Independence
The causes of the America Revolution
Discuss the idea of government based on the nature of man
Discussion of Thomas Jefferson
Discussion of George Washington
Brief overview of the Revolutionary War
The American Constitution and Synthesis.
Completion of the American Founding
Student Questions.
Discussion of the Constitution and Bill of Rights
Legal Source of the US Constitution in the history of Britain and the American Colonies
The Civil War: Battles and Heroes
Discuss Ulysses S. Grant and Lee
Battle for Control of the Rivers
Anaconda Blockade
Southern Foreign Policy
Class Discussion: This is Bastille Day: How is the
America Revolution Different from the French Revolution?
Synthesis: What is the American Story? Is there something unique and admirable about it?
Discussion.