ED Honors US History 1B

From the first colonial settlements through the Gilded Age and industrialization, students will embark on a more rigorous yearlong study of the beginnings of our nation’s history. Students investigate the political, social, cultural, intellectual, and technological revolutions of the United States that have helped to lay the foundation of our country. Units progress through the course by starting with an in-depth look at the first settlements and European explorations that eventually led to colonization. Students study the events and outcomes of the American Revolution, as well as the creation of the Constitution and the beginnings of our government. Manifest destiny and slavery are the next topics students analyze that lead into a closer look at the Civil War and how it changed our nation. From writing about the Lincoln-Douglas debates to analyzing the effects of immigration and urbanization, students are better equipped to understand what happened during our nation’s beginnings. Throughout this Honors course, students continuously analyze primary and secondary sources relating to the period of study. Incorporating activities from other disciplines gives students the opportunity to connect history to other subjects. Students read selections like “Your People Live Only Upon Cod,” and poetry such as “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus. Activities such as writing a personal narrative as either a slave or newly freed person and analyzing a report on child labor encourage students to perform throughout the course at a higher level.