Title: United States History and Geography
The study of United States history and geography prepares students to take up the challenges of life in contemporary society. This full year course introduces students to the history of the United States with a focus on the post-Civil War Industrial Age to the present day. Beginning with a review of prior political, intellectual, and demographic transformations that shaped the nation, students learn about major political, philosophical, and historical underpinnings of our government. Throughout the course, students analyze how ideas of freedom and equality have shaped our collective past and explore implications for the future. Adopting a chronological approach, students analyze their causes and effects of events in the nation’s past. They use primary and secondary sources to explore time and place in the twentieth century. Within their historical study of twentieth century America, students deepen their understanding of major geographical themes, economic principles, and significant concepts in United States government. Throughout the course students learn to develop important questions, conduct inquiry, and evaluate evidence. They also read a variety of historical arguments and develop skills in writing evidentiary-based arguments and historical narratives. By helping identify common and diverse strands that formed and continue to shape life in America, students develop the habits of mind essential for democratic citizenship.

Sequencing of Units within this Course

Careful thought has been given to the order in which the units are presented. Certain scaffolds have been created based on this order and schools should take care in moving units from their intended placement in the curriculum. Following a traditional chronological approach, the units build upon each other and provide opportunities for students to make arguments about cause-effect relationships, turning points, and continuity and change over time. Embedded literacy scaffolds are gradually removed as students move through the units and subsequent units require students to apply knowledge and skills learned in earlier ones.

Course Rationale:

History is an evidentiary field in which students investigate questions relating to change and continuity over time by using historical evidence to answer questions and construct arguments. By teaching students how to think historically, they learn how to "wrestle with issues of causality, connections, significance, and context with the goal of developing credible explanation of historical events and developments based on reasoned interpretation of evidence." C3 Framework, p. 45. Moreover, engagement in civic life requires culturally aware citizens who have a sense of our shared national past. This course is designed to develop students disciplinary practices and literacies required for success in college as well as the critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative skills for the world beyond school.

Alignment to Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations

This course is aligned to the Michigan social studies content expectations adopted by the Michigan State Board of Education in 2007, the common core state standards for literacy in history and social studies, and the C3 Framework.