Welcome to American History! During the school year students will study the history of the United States from Exploration to Reconstruction. We will follow the development of our country’s past and see how our foundations and founding principles were shaped by these events. Remember this quote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana
U.S. History Organizing Principles:
1) Historians study about people and events of the past. They use many tools and employ knowledge of geography, economics, civics, and government to learn about the past.
2) Europeans explored and colonized the Americas in the 15th & 16th centuries encountering multiple Native American societies leading to what
historians refer to as the Columbian Exchange.
3) Between 1607 and 1763 the British North American colonies began to develop practices of self-government, religious freedom, and economic
independence from Great Britain.
4) Between 1763-1777 British attempts to exert control over the colonies led to violent, organized, and successful resistance and revolution.
5) From 1777 to 1783 the American Colonies overcame hardships and numerous disadvantages to win the Revolutionary War.
6) The U.S. experimented first with a weak form of central government, and then later designed a new written constitution that strengthened
the government but limited its power.
7) The debate over the role of the federal government would continue with issues related to western expansion, international conflict and
economic growth.
8) The desire to expand throughout continental North America resulted in exploration, conflict and settlement of western territory.
9) Success in developing territorial agreements with Europe would usher in a populist period known as the Age of Jackson resulting in an
expansion of democracy, but not without domestic conflict.
10) As regional economies helped shape the growing nation, a national desire to improve society and the lives of Americans grew during the
first half of the 1800's.
11) The Civil War was caused by historic differences between the North and South (economic, social, political, and sectional) that were
emotionalized by the slavery issue.
12) The Civil War was a brutal conflict that resulted in tremendous loss of life and property and led to major changes in the American way of life.
1) Historians study about people and events of the past. They use many tools and employ knowledge of geography, economics, civics, and government to learn about the past.
2) Europeans explored and colonized the Americas in the 15th & 16th centuries encountering multiple Native American societies leading to what
historians refer to as the Columbian Exchange.
3) Between 1607 and 1763 the British North American colonies began to develop practices of self-government, religious freedom, and economic
independence from Great Britain.
4) Between 1763-1777 British attempts to exert control over the colonies led to violent, organized, and successful resistance and revolution.
5) From 1777 to 1783 the American Colonies overcame hardships and numerous disadvantages to win the Revolutionary War.
6) The U.S. experimented first with a weak form of central government, and then later designed a new written constitution that strengthened
the government but limited its power.
7) The debate over the role of the federal government would continue with issues related to western expansion, international conflict and
economic growth.
8) The desire to expand throughout continental North America resulted in exploration, conflict and settlement of western territory.
9) Success in developing territorial agreements with Europe would usher in a populist period known as the Age of Jackson resulting in an
expansion of democracy, but not without domestic conflict.
10) As regional economies helped shape the growing nation, a national desire to improve society and the lives of Americans grew during the
first half of the 1800's.
11) The Civil War was caused by historic differences between the North and South (economic, social, political, and sectional) that were
emotionalized by the slavery issue.
12) The Civil War was a brutal conflict that resulted in tremendous loss of life and property and led to major changes in the American way of life.