James Joyce once said, "History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake."
Many people, both living in the United States and around the world, are interested in the history of America. A knowledge of history helps answer questions about how our country ended up where it is today, reveals the source of our diversity, and clarifies our current role and place in this vast world. Ultimately, someone who understands American history understands America, and by extension themselves.
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James Joyce once said, "History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake."
Many people, both living in the United States and around the world, are interested in the history of America. A knowledge of history helps answer questions about how our country ended up where it is today, reveals the source of our diversity, and clarifies our current role and place in this vast world. Ultimately, someone who understands American history understands America, and by extension themselves.
James Joyce once said, "History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake."
Many people, both living in the United States and around the world, are interested in the history of America. A knowledge of history helps answer questions about how our country ended up where it is today, reveals the source of our diversity, and clarifies our current role and place in this vast world. Ultimately, someone who understands American history understands America, and by extension themselves.
This general survey course is intended to give participants a broad understanding of US History from the arrival of native peoples to the end of the Reconstruction era that followed the Civil War.
The course is divided into 11 thematic sections that are chronologically ordered. Each covers the people, places, ideas, and events that were most influential to our nations development. Each of these sections includes;
Multiple course lectures which combine carefully organized and outlined notes, images, and music to give you a broad overview of the topic.
A selection of carefully selected historic documents that provide the opportunity to read more about important events first-hand through the words of people who were there.
Each unit concludes with a quiz that tests your overall knowledge of the entire thematic unit.
This course is comparable to a full semester of college-level U.S. History, but is simplified to ensure it remains relevant to the widest audience possible. It can also be completed at your own pace, so you can breeze through it in a few weeks, or carefully analyze it over a few months.
Amateur historians, AP students looking for review material, people getting ready for vacation, and anyone else with a genuine interest in the presidents, military conflicts, social movements, locations, and everything else that is a part of our nation's story will find this course to be especially rewarding.
If you've ever wished you had a better understanding of our nation's origins, but don't want to suffer through a dry, boring textbook, this is the course for you.
What's inside
Learning objectives
- Learn about the various political, social, and economic developments that have shaped and continue to shape the united states.
- Gain a better understanding of how compromise led to the formation of our national government.
- Understand the role of military conflict in shaping the nation's borders and character.
- Focus on the men and woman who's important contributions made a lasting impression on our nation and its culture.
- Learn about the various political, social, and economic developments that have shaped and continue to shape the united states.
- Gain a better understanding of how compromise led to the formation of our national government.
- Understand the role of military conflict in shaping the nation's borders and character.
- Focus on the men and woman who's important contributions made a lasting impression on our nation and its culture.
Syllabus
Welcome to United States History: Prehistory to Reconstruction. Check out our introductory video to get all sorts of information including course content, focus, and teaching style.
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Syllabus
Welcome to United States History: Prehistory to Reconstruction. Check out our introductory video to get all sorts of information including course content, focus, and teaching style.
This presentation discusses the arrival of people in North America and the factors that led to the formation of eight distinct cultural regions.
In this lecture you will learn how the New World was "discovered" by Spain and their efforts to both conquor and explore what will become the United States.
The early colonization efforts of England, France, and the Netherlands are at the forefront of this lecture. We will look at the challeneges each of these nations faced in carving our their own New World Empires.
This brief assessment will test your knowledge of Section one topics.
New England, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies. All three of these regions had unique environments, economies, people, and cultures. This lecture will explore all three to help you better understand colonial America's cultural landscape.
The roots of America's great democratic tradition, beginning with the Magna Carta of 1215, are traced by this breif lecture.
Work, Food, Social Class, Family, and Education. Learn about what all of them were like in the 1700's.
The assessment will test your knowledge of life in the English colonies.
The French and Indian War seemingly gave Britain control of North America, but actually set up the circumstances which eventually robbed them of their American empire.
The lectures outlines the major causes of the American Revolution and looks at them from both an American and British point of view.
What happened between the Battle of Lexington and the invasion of New York City by the British? This presentations clarifies the period of time where there was a lull in the fighting.
Learn all about the importance and deeper meaning of the Declaration of Independence.
This two-part lecture on the Revolutionary War follows the major events of the war up to the Battle of Saratoga.
The second part of our Revolutionary War lectures chronicles the conclusion of the war and the peace that followed.
This short quiz covers the causes and course of the Revolutionary War.
Why was the Constitutional Convention called for? Learn about the catalysts that created our national government in this lecture.
The discussions, compromises, and debates that occurred during the Constitutional Convention come alive in this lecture.
How did the Bill of Rights help ensure the ratification of the Constitution? This lecture tells all about the events which led to the adoption of the Constitution.
The convention, ratification, and Bill of Rights take center stage in this assessment.
The beginning years of our government are outlined in this lecture. It also descibes the differences between America's first two political parties.
The contest between Federalists and Republicans is the subject of this lecture.
This lecture discusses the events that occured outside of the United States during the Washington and Adams administration and how they were dealt with.
This lecture discusses the causes, course, and conclusion of the War of 1812.
Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison star in this short quiz on our Early Republic section.
How did the economic and judicial reforms of the Era of Good Feelings help solidify our national identy? This lecture explains just that!
How did art, literature, symbols, and music all help contribute to an American identity?
Andrew Jackson was both a heroic and villious figure. Learn how this president helped guide the country forward with a style all his own.
Test your knowledge of Monroe, Jackson, and the emerging American identity with this quiz.
America doubles in size in a few short years thanks to the aquisition of two territories. Find out how we got them both in this lecture.
Texas was the only independent republic to be willingly annexed by the U.S. The story of how it gained its independence and joined our nation is outlined in this lesson.
The challeneges of settling Oregon take center stage in this lecture.
The battle for control of California and the war that determined the future of the west is the subject of this this presentation.
Who were the people who traveled west to settle it? Find out by watching this lecture.
The growth of the U.S. takes center stage in this quiz.
Abolition, Temperence, Asylums, and Transcendentalism are all focuses of this quiz.
The factors which set the North and South worlds apart is the subject of this lecture.
How did slave masters control their slaves? How did slaves fight back against impossible odd? Find out in this presentation.
What caused the Union to fall to pieces? This presentation explores this topic up to the year 1852.
How did the Civil War begin? In this lecture we will trace the origins of the war right up to its explosive beginnings.
This quiz is an excellent way to test your knowledge of slavery and other causes of the American Civil War.
Industry, military power, population. What strengths did each side have at the outset of the Civil War?
The first two climactic clashes of the Civil War, Bull Run and Antietam, take focus in this lecture.
This presentation focuses on the results of the Civil Wars most crucial turning points; Gettysburg and Vicksburg.
America's bloodiest conflict comes to an end in this final presentation.
How much did you learn about the War between the States? Take this quiz and find out!
Your final quiz challeneges your knowledge of the Reconstruciton period.
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Reviews summary
Comprehensive us history survey course
Lectures use mixed media, includes documents.
Organized into thematic units, self-paced.
Activities
Review Key Figures of the Revolutionary War
Show steps
Solidify your understanding of the key figures involved in the Revolutionary War to better grasp their motivations and impact on the nation's founding.
Show steps
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Create a timeline of major events and identify key figures involved.
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Research the backgrounds and contributions of each key figure.
-
Summarize their roles and significance in the Revolutionary War.
Read 'A People's History of the United States'
Show steps
Gain a deeper understanding of US history from the perspective of marginalized groups, complementing the course's broad overview.
View
A Young People's History of the United States...
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read selected chapters focusing on periods covered in the course.
-
Take notes on key arguments and perspectives presented in the book.
-
Compare and contrast the book's narrative with the course lectures.
Research and Present on a Specific Reconstruction Policy
Show steps
Solidify your understanding of the Reconstruction era by researching and presenting on a specific policy or event.
Browse courses on
Reconstruction
Show steps
-
Choose a specific Reconstruction policy or event to research.
-
Gather information from various sources, including primary and secondary sources.
-
Create a presentation or report summarizing your findings.
-
Present your research to a group or share it online.
Three other activities
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Show all six activities
Create a Presentation on the Causes of the Civil War
Show steps
Synthesize your knowledge of the factors leading to the Civil War by creating a presentation that explains the complex interplay of social, economic, and political issues.
Browse courses on
Slavery
Show steps
-
Research the major causes of the Civil War.
-
Organize the information into a clear and concise presentation.
-
Include visuals and examples to illustrate key points.
-
Practice delivering the presentation to ensure clarity and engagement.
Read 'Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln'
Show steps
Deepen your understanding of Abraham Lincoln's leadership and the political dynamics of the Civil War era.
View
The Leadership Journey: How Four Kids Became...
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read the book, focusing on Lincoln's strategies and relationships.
-
Take notes on key events and decisions during Lincoln's presidency.
-
Reflect on the lessons learned from Lincoln's leadership style.
Compile Primary Source Documents on Reconstruction
Show steps
Enhance your understanding of the Reconstruction era by compiling a collection of primary source documents that offer firsthand accounts of the period.
Show steps
-
Research and locate primary source documents related to Reconstruction.
-
Organize the documents into categories based on themes or perspectives.
-
Write brief summaries or annotations for each document.
Review Key Figures of the Revolutionary War
Show steps
Solidify your understanding of the key figures involved in the Revolutionary War to better grasp their motivations and impact on the nation's founding.
Show steps
- Create a timeline of major events and identify key figures involved.
- Research the backgrounds and contributions of each key figure.
- Summarize their roles and significance in the Revolutionary War.
Read 'A People's History of the United States'
Show steps
Gain a deeper understanding of US history from the perspective of marginalized groups, complementing the course's broad overview.
View
A Young People's History of the United States...
on Amazon
Show steps
- Read selected chapters focusing on periods covered in the course.
- Take notes on key arguments and perspectives presented in the book.
- Compare and contrast the book's narrative with the course lectures.
Research and Present on a Specific Reconstruction Policy
Show steps
Solidify your understanding of the Reconstruction era by researching and presenting on a specific policy or event.
Browse courses on
Reconstruction
Show steps
- Choose a specific Reconstruction policy or event to research.
- Gather information from various sources, including primary and secondary sources.
- Create a presentation or report summarizing your findings.
- Present your research to a group or share it online.
Create a Presentation on the Causes of the Civil War
Show steps
Synthesize your knowledge of the factors leading to the Civil War by creating a presentation that explains the complex interplay of social, economic, and political issues.
Browse courses on
Slavery
Show steps
- Research the major causes of the Civil War.
- Organize the information into a clear and concise presentation.
- Include visuals and examples to illustrate key points.
- Practice delivering the presentation to ensure clarity and engagement.
Read 'Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln'
Show steps
Deepen your understanding of Abraham Lincoln's leadership and the political dynamics of the Civil War era.
View
The Leadership Journey: How Four Kids Became...
on Amazon
Show steps
- Read the book, focusing on Lincoln's strategies and relationships.
- Take notes on key events and decisions during Lincoln's presidency.
- Reflect on the lessons learned from Lincoln's leadership style.
Compile Primary Source Documents on Reconstruction
Show steps
Enhance your understanding of the Reconstruction era by compiling a collection of primary source documents that offer firsthand accounts of the period.
Show steps
- Research and locate primary source documents related to Reconstruction.
- Organize the documents into categories based on themes or perspectives.
- Write brief summaries or annotations for each document.
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