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Luke Rosa

This fantastic course covers everything you need to know about the first half of American History. Straightforward and engaging videos break down each topic to the most important elements so you can understand even the most complicated issues. Each video lesson comes with a guided notes worksheet that you can fill out as you watch.

The course begins with a look at the diverse Native American groups that existed in North America prior to the arrival of Europeans and continues through the 13 Colonies, Revolution, Early America, Civil War and Reconstruction Era. There are 8 total units of study:

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This fantastic course covers everything you need to know about the first half of American History. Straightforward and engaging videos break down each topic to the most important elements so you can understand even the most complicated issues. Each video lesson comes with a guided notes worksheet that you can fill out as you watch.

The course begins with a look at the diverse Native American groups that existed in North America prior to the arrival of Europeans and continues through the 13 Colonies, Revolution, Early America, Civil War and Reconstruction Era. There are 8 total units of study:

  • Exploration and Encounter

  • The 13 Colonies

  • The American Revolution

  • The Constitution

  • Early America and the Age of Jackson

  • Manifest Destiny

  • Sectionalism

  • The Civil War

  • Reconstruction

In addition to the videos and guided notes, each unit includes an important primary source document or secondary reading to further help you understand the main aspects of that era in American History. These important documents include

  • The Iroquois Confederacy's Constitution

  • The Mayflower Compact

  • The Germantown Quaker Petition Against Slavery

  • George Washington's Farewell Address

  • The Gettysburg Address

  • And more.  

Answer keys for these are included to help you check your own understanding.

Finally, each unit concludes with a short quiz to test your understanding of the content.

This is the perfect course for any student looking to learn about early American History, for parents looking to support their children in their history courses, or students preparing for an exam and looking for help.

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What's inside

Learning objective

This course covers american history from the first encounters between american indians and europeans through the end of the reconstruction era.

Syllabus

Students will be able to describe characteristics of and differences among the American Indian groups and identify reasons for European exploration of the Americas .
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This lecture covers the various groups of Native Americans that existed in North America prior to the arrival of Europeans.

This lesson focuses on the European explorers who explored North, South, and Central America.

This lecture covers the worldwide exchange of animals, plants, culture, disease, and ideas that began between the two hemispheres after Europeans and indigenous Americans first came into contact.

This short quiz is designed to assess your knowledge of this unit. Please select the best answer for each question.

This assessment covers the Colonial Era of American history, from the founding of Jamestown through the mid-1700s.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Includes quizzes at the end of each unit, which can help students assess their knowledge and prepare for exams
Examines primary source documents like the Iroquois Confederacy's Constitution and the Gettysburg Address, offering insights into historical perspectives
Begins with pre-colonial America and continues through the Civil War and Reconstruction, providing a comprehensive overview of early US history
Uses straightforward and engaging videos to break down complex topics, which can help learners understand challenging historical issues
Offers guided notes worksheets for each video lesson, which can help learners actively engage with the material and retain information
Covers the worldwide exchange of animals, plants, culture, disease, and ideas, which is also known as the Columbian Exchange

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive us history part 1 overview

According to learners, this course provides a strong foundational overview of early US history from 1500 to 1877. Many find the lectures engaging and the use of guided notes helpful for following along. The inclusion of primary source documents is highlighted by some as a valuable addition. While generally well-received, a minority of students felt the course lacked sufficient depth on certain topics and noted that the quizzes were sometimes too basic or not perfectly aligned with the lecture detail. Overall, it is seen as a good resource for beginners or those needing a structured review.
Guided notes and sources aid learning.
"The guided notes worksheets were incredibly useful for retention."
"Using the primary source documents added great context."
"The readings provided a good supplement to the video content."
Instruction is clear and easy to follow.
"The instructor explains complex topics clearly."
"I found the lectures very easy to understand and engaging."
"The video lessons were well-paced and kept my attention throughout the course."
Covers key historical periods well.
"This course gave me a solid understanding of the period."
"It's perfect for someone just starting to learn US History."
"I felt prepared for further study after taking this course."
Quizzes could be improved.
"The quizzes sometimes felt too simple compared to the lecture content."
"I found that the quizzes didn't always test the most important points."
"Could use more varied types of assessment questions."
Some topics needed more detail.
"I wish some units went into more depth, especially on the Civil War."
"Felt like certain complex issues were only briefly touched upon."
"Needed to do additional research for a deeper understanding."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in US History Part 1: 1500-1877 with these activities:
Review Colonial Geography
Strengthen your understanding of the geographical differences between the colonial regions to better understand their unique social and economic structures.
Browse courses on Geography
Show steps
  • Review maps of the 13 colonies.
  • Identify key geographical features of each region.
  • Research the impact of geography on colonial economies.
Read 'The American Yawp'
Expand your knowledge of American history with a free and comprehensive online textbook.
Show steps
  • Explore the online textbook.
  • Read chapters related to the course syllabus.
  • Take notes on key concepts and events.
Read 'A People's History of the United States'
Gain a deeper understanding of the perspectives of marginalized groups during the periods covered in the course.
Show steps
  • Read selected chapters relevant to the course syllabus.
  • Take notes on key arguments and perspectives.
  • Reflect on how these perspectives challenge or complement the course material.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Timeline of Key Events
Solidify your understanding of the chronology of events leading up to the Civil War by creating a visual timeline.
Show steps
  • Identify major events from 1850-1860.
  • Research the dates and significance of each event.
  • Create a visual timeline using online tools or physical materials.
  • Add brief descriptions of each event's impact.
Write a Blog Post on Manifest Destiny
Explore the concept of Manifest Destiny and its impact on westward expansion by writing a blog post.
Show steps
  • Research the history and ideology of Manifest Destiny.
  • Analyze its impact on Native Americans and Mexican territories.
  • Write a blog post summarizing your findings and offering your perspective.
Research a Civil War Battle
Deepen your understanding of the Civil War by researching a specific battle and its significance.
Show steps
  • Choose a Civil War battle to research.
  • Gather information from primary and secondary sources.
  • Analyze the battle's strategies, key figures, and outcomes.
  • Write a report summarizing your findings.
Create a Presentation on Reconstruction
Synthesize your knowledge of the Reconstruction era by creating a presentation that explores its social, economic, and political impact.
Show steps
  • Research the key aspects of Reconstruction.
  • Organize your findings into a coherent presentation structure.
  • Create visually appealing slides with relevant information.
  • Practice your presentation delivery.

Career center

Learners who complete US History Part 1: 1500-1877 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
History Teacher
A history teacher educates students about the past, often focusing on specific periods or regions. This course offers comprehensive content on early American history, from the pre-colonial era through Reconstruction. This may offer a strong base for a history teacher looking to instruct a class on similar topics. The course materials, including video lessons, guided notes, and primary source documents, can help a history teacher as they build a curriculum. The course's structure, designed to break down complex topics, may also inform a teacher's approach to class instruction and lesson planning. The quizzes and answer keys may also be used to develop assignments.
Historical Researcher
A historical researcher investigates the past by examining primary and secondary sources. This course covers a wide range of topics in early American history, which would be quite helpful to a historical researcher specializing in this era. The course's study of primary source documents, like the Mayflower Compact and the Gettysburg Address, gives a researcher valuable experience with the kind of material they may encounter. This course would also provide a strong foundation for understanding the social, political, and economic forces that shaped this period, which is important for thorough historical analysis.
Curriculum Developer
A curriculum developer designs educational materials and programs. The course, with its comprehensive overview of early American history, offers a model for a curriculum developer working on a similar project. The course includes video lessons, guided notes, and primary source documents, which may inform the creation of engaging learning materials. The syllabus for the course, which has a logical structure, may help a curriculum developer who needs to structure their own coursework. The course's quizzes and answer keys may help in creating ways to test whether students understand the material.
Museum curator
A museum curator manages and develops museum collections, often specializing in a period or subject matter. This course, focusing on American history from 1500-1877, could help a museum curator who works with artifacts and exhibits from this period. Understanding the social, economic, and political contexts from the course is valuable for creating engaging exhibits and informative displays. This course's overview of the key events and figures of the era, alongside the inclusion of primary source documents, provides a solid foundation for the analysis and presentation of historical materials in curated spaces. The course may help one understand items in their collections and contextualize them for the public.
Archivist
An archivist is responsible for evaluating, organizing, and preserving historical documents and records. This course, with its deep dive into early American history, including primary source documents, may be especially helpful for an archivist specializing in materials from this era. The course's focus on the key events and figures of the period provides valuable context for an archivist working with related collections. These materials provide an understanding of the historical issues that an archivist may need to understand to properly do their work. This course also provides an overview of the different perspectives present at the time, which may help an archivist in interpreting and cataloging relevant artifacts.
Content Writer
A content writer creates written material for various media. This course may be valuable to a content writer who needs to be knowledgeable about early American history. This could include developing text for historical websites, educational platforms, or museum guides. The course will help a content writer understand the key events, figures, and themes of the American Revolution through Reconstruction, helping them to craft accurate and informative content. The course’s syllabus, which includes primary and secondary readings, would also offer a strong foundation for content research.
Park Interpreter
A park interpreter provides educational programs and tours to visitors at historical sites. This course, covering early American history, may help a park interpreter working at sites related to this era. An understanding of the historical context, which this course helps build using primary sources and straightforward lesson plans, is quite useful for an interpreter. The course's emphasis on key events of the American Revolution, the Civil War, and Reconstruction would provide a helpful foundation and context for an engaging tour. The course may help a park interpreter engage with the public in an informative and meaningful way.
Academic Editor
An academic editor reviews and prepares scholarly work for publication. This course, with its focus on early American history, could be useful for an editor working with historical texts. The course's study of primary sources and the major events of the era, from the initial encounters with European explorers through Reconstruction, may help an editor working with related materials. This course will also help an editor understand the social, political, and economic contexts of the period to ensure accuracy and clarity throughout the manuscript.
Librarian
A librarian organizes and manages library collections, and assists patrons in finding resources. A librarian specializing in history, especially American history, may find this course useful for its overview of the early American period. This course may help a librarian better understand and categorize historical materials, as well as aid patrons seeking information about this era. The course content, which includes primary sources, may deepen a librarian's knowledge of the subject and improve their collection development. Furthermore, this course will help a librarian aid scholars, students, and the general public in their research.
Legislative Aide
A legislative aide supports political leaders with research and policy analysis. This course, with its study of the roots of American government, may be relevant for a legislative aide interested in the historical basis for current policies. The course's detailed examination of early American history, including the Constitution, may help a legislative aide better understand the legislative landscape. The course helps one understand the social and economic forces that have shaped the United States, which is also useful in this role. This course enhances the historical context one needs on complex political issues.
Political Consultant
A political consultant advises political campaigns or organizations on strategy and communications. This course's study of the development of American political ideas and systems may provide valuable insight. The course provides context on the Constitution, the early Republic, and the Civil War, which shaped the United States. This background may be useful to a political consultant who must develop effective strategies and communications. The course may help a political consultant understand many of the historical arguments present in political debate today.
Journalist
A journalist investigates and reports on current events. Although not directly related, this course may provide a valuable historical background. A journalist needs strong research skills, an understanding of political systems, and the ability to contextualize events. This course's study of the history of the United States through Reconstruction may help a journalist understand some of the historical forces that shape today's issues. The course, with its use of primary source documents, may help a journalist with their research and analysis.
Genealogist
A genealogist researches family histories. This course, which covers early American history, may be helpful to a genealogist who is researching family lines in this period. The course provides information about colonial expansion, major migrations, and the social structures of the time. Understanding the historical context of this period may help a genealogist in their search. This course, though limited to the period from 1500-1877, may be a useful starting place.
Policy Analyst
A policy analyst researches and evaluates public policies. While not directly related, this course provides a broad understanding of the historical roots of American society. This knowledge, including information about the establishment of political systems and the social conflicts of the 17th through 19th centuries, may provide historical context for a policy analyst's work. The material covered in this course might serve as useful background for a policy analyst, especially one looking at governmental policy.
Nonprofit Manager
A nonprofit manager oversees the operations of a nonprofit organization. This course, which provides a background in early American history, may be useful for a nonprofit manager working with a historical society or cultural organization. The course's overview of American history from 1500 to 1877 may help the nonprofit manager better understand their organization's mission and work. The course's discussion of social and political trends may be helpful when planning their organization's strategies.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in US History Part 1: 1500-1877.
This open-source, collaborative textbook provides a comprehensive overview of American history. It is particularly useful for providing background knowledge and alternative perspectives on the topics covered in the course. It is valuable as a reference text and for additional reading.

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