ap united states history syllabus 09-10 for students

8/14/2019 AP United States History Syllabus 09-10 for Students

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AP UNITED STATES HISTORYCourse Syllabus

COURSE OVERVIEWAdvanced Placement United States History is a college-level course that students may take tofulfill the 11 thgrade Social Studies requirement for graduation. In addition, students may have anopportunity to earn college credits if they pass their AP exam. The AP curriculum demandshigher-order thinking skills within a rigorous academic context. Students are expected to master

not only specific factual information, but also important analytical skills. A great deal of emphasisis placed on reading, constructing arguments, analyzing data, and interpreting opinions. Thestudent will be expected to master historical information and polish analytical skills such as, butnot limited to, identifying point of view, bias, cause and effect and creating plausible arguments.

COURSE TEXT BOOKDivine, Robert A., et al. America Past and Present. 7 th AP ed . New York: Pearson Longman,

ADDITIONAL TEXTS AND READINGSDavidson, James W., Mark Lytle. After the Fact, with Primary Source Investigator CD: The Art of Historical Detection. 5 th ed. McGraw-Hill, 2004.

Kennedy, David M., Thomas A. Bailey. The American Spirit Vol. 1: To 1877. 11 thed. Boston:Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006.

Kennedy, David M., Thomas A. Bailey. The American Spirit Volume 2: Since 1865. 11 thed.Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006.

Lorence, James J. Enduring Voices. Vol. 1 and 2, 3 rd ed. Lexington, MA: D. C. Heath andCompany, 1996.

Taylor, Alan. American Colonies: The Settling of North America. Penguin, 2002.

Yazawa, Melvin. Documents to Accompany Americas History Vol. 1: To 1877. 6 th ed. Boston:Bedford St. Martins, 2008.

Zinn, Howard. A Peoples History of the United States, 1492- Present. New York: Harper Perennial, 2003.

*Requirement : Cracking the AP United States History Exam . The Princeton Review. 2009/10ed.

A variety of primary and secondary sources will be used throughout the course. Additionaldocuments and articles from multiple sources will be assigned for analysis and interpretationwhen appropriate.

COURSE EXPECTATIONSStudents are expected to arrive to class on time, participate in class discussions and activities,and complete all assigned readings and assignments. No late work will be accepted. Anymake-up assignments must be completed no later than 2 days after returning to class and mustbe accompanied with an excused admit.


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AP COURSE DEMANDSIt should be understood from the beginning of this course that the expectations of this class areconsistent with those of any Advanced Placement course. Students should expect a workloadsimilar to that of a college level course. This will involve extensive reading every night, activeparticipation in class discussions and activities, taking notes, completing projects, andconducting research.

THE AP EXAM

One of the goals of this course is to prepare you for the AP Exam. A passing score will earn youcollege credit for the class. The AP United States History Exam is scheduled for Friday, May 7 th .

ASSESSMENTSTestsTests will follow approximately every three chapters in the textbook and after the completion of each unit.QuizzesQuizzes will be given on readings from each chapter.ProjectsThere will be an assigned project for each of the four grading periods throughout the course.EssaysPractice in writing change and continuity over time essays, as well as writing comparative andDBQ essays, will occur periodically throughout the course.Classwork/HomeworkClasswork and homework assignments will consist of assigned readings with questions for analysis and interpretation , historical maps to label and color, chart completions, and other activities.ParticipationClass participation in lectures and discussions is a requirement of this course.

* All assignments need to be hand written unless you are asked to do otherwise.

COURSE PLAN1. Early Colonial America: Discovery to 1763 (Chapters 1-4) 3 weeks2. The Revolution, Critical Period, (Chapters 5-7) 3 weeks

& the Early Republic: 1763-18003. The Early National Period, (Chapters 8-10) 3 weeks

Jefferson to Jackson: 1801-18404. The Late National Period, Slavery, (Chapters 11-13) 3 weeks

& Manifest Destiny5. Sectionalism, Civil War, & Reconstruction (Chapters 14-16) 2 weeks6. The West, Industrialization, & Urbanization (Chapters 17-18) 2 weeks7. The Gilded Age, Populists, Imperialists, (Chapters 20-22) 3 weeks

& Progressives8. America & the World at the Beginning (Chapters 23-25) 3 weeksof the 20 th Century

9. Depression, a Hot and a Cold War (Chapters 26-28) 3 weeks10. America in a Complicated & Multi-polar World (Chapters 29-32) 4 weeks

AP UNITED STATES HISTORY THEMES


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We will adhere to the following themes throughout the course of the year. The themes will help to see thebig picture and will be used often as a frame work for discussing topics and exam questions.

American DiversityThe diversity of the American people and the relationships among different groups. The roles of race,class, ethnicity, and gender in the history of the United States.American IdentityViews of the American national character and ideas about American exceptionalism. Recognizingregional differences within the context of what it means to be an American.CultureDiverse individual and collective expressions through literature, art, philosophy, music, theater, and fi lmthroughout U.S. history. Popular culture and the dimensions of cultural confl ict within American society.Demographic ChangesChanges in birth, marriage, and death rates; life expectancy and family patterns; population size anddensity. The economic, social, and political effects of immigration, internal migration, and migrationnetworks.Economic TransformationsChanges in trade, commerce, and technology across time. The effects of capitalist development, labor and unions, and consumerism.EnvironmentIdeas about the consumption and conservation of natural resources. The impact of population growth,

industrialization, pollution, and urban and suburban expansion.GlobalizationEngagement with the rest of the world from the fifteenth century to the present: colonialism,mercantilism, global hegemony, development of markets, imperialism, and cultural exchange.Politics and CitizenshipColonial and revolutionary legacies, American political traditions, growth of democracy, and thedevelopment of the modern state. Defining citizenship; struggles for civil rights.ReformDiverse movements focusing on a broad range of issues, including anti-slavery, education, labor,temperance, womens rights, civil rights, gay rights, war, public health, and government.ReligionThe variety of religious beliefs and practices in America from prehistory to the twenty-first century;influence of religion on politics, economics, and society.Slavery and Its Legacies in North AmericaSystems of slave labor and other forms of unfree labor (e.g., indentured servitude, contract labor) inAmerican Indian societies, the Atlantic World, and the American South and West. The economics of slavery and its racial dimensions. Patterns of resistance and the long-term economic, political, and socialeffects of slavery.War and DiplomacyArmed conflict from the precolonial period to the twenty-fi rst century; impact of war on American foreignpolicy and on politics, economy, and society.

Additional Information:

See www.collegeboard.com for complete Course Description.
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