C3_FRAMEWORK_SOCIAL_STUDIEShigh school
US History
The American story from colonial foundations through the modern era. Build historical thinking skills — source analysis, cause-and-effect reasoning, and the ability to see events from multiple perspectives — while understanding the forces that shaped the nation.
6units
20topics
270questions
~7hours
Course Units
Learning objectives
- Analyze the economic, political, and social causes of the American Revolution
- Evaluate the influence of Enlightenment philosophy on the founding documents
- Explain how colonial experiences shaped American political identity
- Assess the significance of the Declaration of Independence as a political argument
- Compare the perspectives of Patriots, Loyalists, and neutral colonists to understand why independence was a contested decision
Topics in this unit
Learning objectives
- Explain the compromises made at the Constitutional Convention and their lasting effects
- Analyze the structure of federalism and the separation of powers
- Evaluate the significance of the Bill of Rights in protecting individual liberties
- Describe the emergence of the first political party system and its causes
- Analyze how the debate between Federalists and Anti-Federalists shaped the ratification process and the addition of the Bill of Rights
Learning objectives
- Analyze the political, economic, and moral causes of the Civil War
- Evaluate the impact of the Reconstruction amendments on American democracy
- Assess the experiences of formerly enslaved people during and after Reconstruction
- Explain how the end of Reconstruction shaped the trajectory of civil rights for decades
- Evaluate the role of African American agency and resistance in shaping the outcomes of the Civil War and Reconstruction
Topics in this unit
Learning objectives
- Analyze the causes and effects of industrialization on American economy and society
- Evaluate the impact of immigration on economic growth, culture, and nativism
- Describe the goals and achievements of the Progressive movement
- Assess the role of labor unions in shaping workers' rights and economic policy
- Analyze how muckraking journalism and public advocacy movements pressured government to enact progressive-era reforms
Topics in this unit
Learning objectives
- Analyze the causes of American involvement in World War I and World War II
- Evaluate the domestic impact of WWII including internment, the home front, and the GI Bill
- Explain the origins, strategies, and consequences of the Cold War
- Assess the strategies and achievements of the civil rights movement
- Compare the strategies of different civil rights organizations and leaders to explain why the movement took multiple forms
Learning objectives
- Analyze the political and economic effects of globalization on the United States
- Evaluate the impact of technological innovation on American society and the economy
- Assess the causes and consequences of the war on terror and its impact on civil liberties
- Explain how contemporary social movements address ongoing issues of inequality and justice
- Evaluate how digital technology and social media have changed the nature of political participation and public discourse
Topics in this unit