Honors U.S. History
BEC: US People and Ideas I
US People and Ideas II
Course Profile
Mrs. Heffernan
2003 - 2004
This thematic American History course examines the social, economic, political and philosophical
foundations of America. The path of study In US People and Ideas I commences with colonization by
weaving themes such as submission, diversity, authority and individualism into a foundation of
constitutionalism and concludes with the Civil War by revisiting these themes as grounds to dismantle
the very structure that they created
The path of study in US People and Ideas II focuses on the twentieth century. It introduces the
interrelated themes of immigration, industrialization and urbanization, moves to military conflicts,
and concludes with the social, political and economic conditions of the 1990’s.
Students are expected to interpret historical evidence, through maps, graphs, political cartoons, primary
source documents, supplemental readings and oral and written evaluations.
The selection and development of five (5) themes each semester, allows students to cultivate a deeper
understanding of key principles, periods and movements and will create students who think critically
about the United States today by discovering, examining and discussing where it has been.
Text:
The American Pageant
David M. Kennedy
Lizabeth Cohen
Thomas A. Bailey
Required Readings:
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
War & Remembrance
Home Before Morning
Grading Distribution:
Tests
Quizzes
Writings
Class Work &
Participation
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Herman Wouk
Lynda Van Devantar
35%
25%
25%
15%
Make-Up Policy:
Make up tests will be administered ONLY ONCE,
on a day agreed to by the student/ students who
missed the test. It must be taken within one week
of the missed test. Any student who is absent from
the make up test will receive a “0” on the test.*
Incomplete and / or Late Assignments:
Assignments not handed in on the assigned date will be discounted one (1) letter grade per day and ten (10)
points per day thereafter. If you are absent on the day of the assignment you are expected to submit it prior
to your departure or send it in with a parent/friend on the day it is due.*
You will not receive a “0” in this class for incomplete assignments. If an assignment is not handed in, you
will receive an INCOMPLETE, which will jeopardize both course credit and promotion.
Semester I (US People and Ideas I)
1. FROM AUTHORITY TO INDIVIDUALISM
“…freedom of thought and the right of private judgment in matters of conscience direct their course
to this happy country as their last asylum”.
Sam Adams, 1776
2. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION vs. THE AMERICAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE
“ The revolution was effected before the war commenced. The revolution was in the minds and
hearts of the people”.
John Adams, 1818
3. EVOLUTION OF A NATION-STATE
“A Republic, if you can keep it.”
Ben Franklin, 1787
4. AN EMERGING NATIONALISM
“The American continents…are not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any
European powers”.
James Monroe, 1823
5. FROM NATIONALISM TO SECTIONALISM
“ A house divided against itself cannot stand”.
Abe Lincoln, 1858
\
Semester II (US People and Ideas II)
6. IMMIGRATION…INDUSTRIALIZATION…URBANIZATION
“Fate has written our policy for us; the trade of the world must and shall be ours”.
Albert Beveridge, 1898
7. IMPERIALISM …PROGRESSIVISM
”New races are presented for us to civilize, educate and absorb…”.
Theodore Roosevelt, 1905
8. DOMESTIC AND GLOBAL CONFLICTS
“The world must be made safe for democracy”.
Woodrow Wilson, 1917
“We in America today are nearer to the final triumph over poverty than ever before in the history of any
land”.
Herbert Hoover, 1928
9. CONTAINMENT…THE COLD WAR
“An iron curtain has descended across the continent”.
Winston Churchill, 1946
10. CONTEMPORARY HISTORY
“I am not a crook”.
“I have a dream”
Richard Nixon
Martin Luther King Jr.
*Long term illness is the standing exception (one week or more). Negotiations will only be considered
through a parent conference.
Student Contract
I have read and am aware of the “course requirements and grading procedures” for HONORS US
HISTORY. I accept both as part of this course of study and fully understand the consequences of failing
to meet these requirements.
_____________________________________________Student’s signature
_____________________________________________Parent’s signature