A. P. United States History

Units and Descriptions

Mr. Cooper

2006/2007

UNIT 1: Pre-Columbus and The Colonial era (up to 1763) Chapters 1-3
Native American tribes exist without outside interference, then Europe discovers America during this era as explorers from Spain, Portugal, and England begin to learn something about the shape, size, and nature of America. Mexico and the Caribbean were colonized by Spain during this period. Acquiring colonies became "the thing" during this period as England, France, Spain, and the Netherlands establish permanent settlements in North America. The thirteen original English colonies are formed and rather quickly become independent. The international power struggle between England, France, and their respective allies touches the colonies in a series of wars. The final power struggle between these giants, the French and Indian War, is fought almost entirely in North America. England emerges the winner and France the bitter and vindictive loser.

UNIT 2: The Revolutionary Era 1763-1800- Chapters 4-6
The increased colonial responsibilities facing England at the end of the French and Indian War caused her to seek to assert political and economic control over her colonies. The thirteen English colonies, accustomed to relative independence within the colonial empire, rebel and form the United States of America. The new nation then faces basically the identical problem England faced in 1763, how to create an effective national government for thirteen independent and rebellious states.

UNIT 3: The Federal Period 1800-1824 Chapters 7- 9
This period is preoccupied with the efforts of the nation to establish a strong national government under the new constitution. The development of political parties creates the foundation for the American political system. Internationally, the nation walks a diplomatic tightrope as it tries to win respect internationally and to avoid becoming entangled in the growing and continuing conflict between England and France.

UNIT 4: The Jacksonian Era 1824-1850 Chapters 10-12
This period takes its name from the man whose personality and presidency set the stage and tone for the era, Andrew Jackson. The industrial revolution creates major changes in transportation and in turn creates changes in the nations economy. A number of reform movements form in reaction to these forces. Gradually, the movement to abolish slavery overshadows all others and signals the devastating conflict to come. The nation increases its territorial size and by purchase or war acquires most of its present territory. This rapid expansion increases the political and socio-economic conflict between the North and the South. Politics responds to the conflict and change of this era by adopting new campaign techniques and avoiding the explosive issues of the time.

UNIT 5: House Divided and Reunited…sort of.  1850-1877 Chapters 13-15
The conflicts between the North and South deepen into open hostility, creating a gulf no compromise can bridge. Three time units are covered in this era. the first covers those years when the Union was moving toward war, 1850-1860. The second covers the war years of 1860-1865, and the third includes the post-war Reconstruction era 1865-1877.

UNIT 6: The Gilded Age 1870-1900 Chapters 16-19
This era marks the end of the frontier as the Great Plains and Far West are settled and the last free Indians are broken. The nation becomes the world's leading industrial nation and its population becomes increasingly urbanized. Business becomes "big business" and the nation is dominated by business interests, money, and power. The great industrial forces of change that occurred during the previous era force the United States out of its isolationist shell. The United States enters an imperialistic period and acquires foreign colonies and asserts itself militarily and diplomatically throughout the world.

UNIT 7: Imperialism, the Progressive Period 1890’s-1914 Chapters 20-22
The great industrial change spawns reform movements at home as efforts are made to reform industrial, political, and environmental abuses. The United States falls under the shadow of war after trying to create an empire, then returns to isolationism afterward.

UNIT 8: World War One and the Roaring Twenties 1914-1929 Chapters 23-24
The decade of the war and the one that follows are frantic, turbulent periods of social change that creates a renaissance in the sciences, technology, popular entertainments, and in all creative arts.

UNIT 9: The Great Depression 1929-1941 Chapters 25-26
The Thirties, a decade of economic crisis and despair, stands in sharp contrast to the Twenties. The nation's government under the leadership of Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal vastly expands its power in order to prevent a total economic collapse and struggles to restore the faith of the people in the nation and in themselves.

UNIT 10: World Crisis and War 1921-1945 Chapters 27-28
The international crisis and threat posed by Germany and the Axis powers thrusts the United States into the international arena and forces the nation to develop an enormous military- industrial capability to defeat them. The nation emerges from the war as a dominant economic and military nation.

UNIT 11: The Cold War 1946-1969  Chapters 29-31
International events become the focus of the nation following World War II. The world becomes divided into two camps, Communist and non-Communist. Each camp perceives the other to be intent on world domination. A series of economic, political, and localized military offenses are undertaken by each side that have a doomsday implication because each possesses the military capability to destroying human life on a planet-wide scale. Domestic concerns degenerate as the costly and unpopular Vietnam War creates social and political unrest in the form of riots, assassinations, and resignations in disgrace of a President and a Vice- President.

UNIT 12: Crisis of Authority and the New Right 1970- 1998 Chapters 32-34
Growth of the conservative government brings in a new era in American history. The collapse of Communism in both the Union of Soviet Socialists Republics and in Eastern Europe ushers in a new era. Democracy seems to be sweeping the world and the Communist party falls into disfavor. Struggles for power in the Soviet Union and in former Communist satellite countries in Eastern Europe are causes for concern. Terrorism and world lawlessness make news as third world countries try to find their place on the world scene.