You need to complete your US history credit, but want something beyond the traditional memorization of places, names, and dates. You want real US history that includes progress and peril. You want to know how history shapes the world you live in.
You’re here because you want to understand how we got here—in our politics, our power struggles, our place in the world. This isn’t just another history class. This is your chance to ask real questions, investigate bold ideas, and uncover the patterns that have shaped the United States—and still shape your life today.
⭐ This is part 1 of a full year class that meets twice a week for 15 weeks. Together, the two parts constitute one credit that can be used on a high school transcript.
📌 What You’ll Experience:
* You’ll start with a question tied to today’s world—so the history we uncover feels relevant from the beginning.
* Then, we dig into the past: reading letters, investigating speeches and political cartoons, watching videos, and more.
* Along the way, you’ll learn to spot patterns, challenge assumptions, and think critically—just like a historian.
📌 By The Time You Complete This Class, You Will Have:
* A broader understanding of American history and identity
* Stronger critical thinking and reading comprehension skills
* Greater confidence analyzing primary and secondary sources
* Practice connecting current events to historical trends
* A framework for understanding civic issues and your own role in democracy
📌 In Part 1, we’ll tackle three major themes:
* Power: Who gets it? Who decides? From the Founders to now, Americans have debated state vs. federal power—and we still are.
* America’s Role in the World: How has U.S. foreign policy evolved, and why? Understanding it helps explain today’s global headlines.
* Citizenship: What should it mean to be an American citizen? Who defines it—and who gets left out?
📌Why Thematic History Works:
Thematic learning encourages deeper thinking and real-world relevance. This approach keeps learners engaged, encourages curiosity, and improves their ability to think critically about what they read, watch, and hear in the world around them.
Is There Homework?
Yes! Students will be provided with weekly assignments (reading, watching, listening, writing) to do in advance of class meetings. Students can expect to spend 3-4 hours outside of class each week on work to prepare for class.
Can A Student Earn A Grade?
Yes! Grades are based on class participation (35%), weekly written journal responses (35%) and a final project (30%). Class participation can be by voice or by chat. If either of those are a hurdle for a student, other options are available. Students receive weekly feedback on their work, and can choose to receive a progress report midway through the semester.
Is This An “Honors” Course?
An honors or advanced designation is decided by a school district or state department of education. Homeschooling parents choose how to designate the classes their learners engage in. Students who want additional rigor are provided with a “Digging Deeper” option that adds additional homework material, higher standards for written assignments, and are required to do a final project.
What Sources Were Used To Create This Class?
This course was created using a wide range of high-quality educational resources that emphasize factual accuracy, primary sources, and thoughtful analysis of the history of the United States. Rather than relying on a single textbook or viewpoint, I draw from multiple sources to ensure students encounter well-rounded perspectives, credible evidence, and diverse interpretations.
Core instructional sources include materials from:
- The Gilder-Lehrman Institute of American History
- The Smithsonian Institution
- The Revolutionary War Museum
- The World War II Museum
- The Bill of Rights Institute
- The National Constitution Center
- The American Yawp
- Teaching U.S. History Thematically, by Rosalie Metro
- These Truths, by Jill Lepore
- The Crash Course
- The American Historical Association
- Teaching American History
- Research and writing by a variety of historians
Approximate Weekly Schedule
Week 1: Welcome & Introductions; Modern issues that involve federal vs state power; The Articles of Confederation
Week 2: The Whiskey Rebellion; Relationships with Native Tribes
Week 3: The Nullification Crisis; The Road to the Civil War
Week 4: Post Civil War and Reconstruction; The Gilded Age
Week 5: Little Rock and Eisenhower; First Theme Analysis & Intro to Theme 2
Week 6: Early Foreign Policy Boundaries; The War of 1812 & The Monroe Doctrine
Week 7: Manifest Destiny and the Mexican American War; American Imperialism
Week 8: World War I and the League of Nations; Balancing Divergent Viewpoints in WWII
Week 9: The Truman Doctrine and Containment; The US and the Middle East
Week 10: Theme 2 Wrap-Up; What Does Citizenship Encompass?
Week 11: 3/5 Compromise; Dred Scott v Sanford
Week 12: 14th Amendment and Women’s Suffrage; Wong Kim Ark v US
Week 13: Evolving Treatment of Native Americans; Rebirth of the KKK
Week 14: 1964 Voting Rights Act; Citizenship Defined Since 1965
Week 15: Historical Noodling: Analysis, Synthesis and Final Projects
