US History B

Course Description

The purpose of this core course is to help students make connections between what they learn about the past and the present to understand how and why events happen and people act in certain ways. We want to gain a better understanding of America's beginnings so that we can use and transition the information learned into what is happening in the world today. Students will examine the evolution of the American Identity by looking at cultural differences and how they influence various groups. Students will also gain knowledge of the political sphere and how it has developed across the US.

emergence of modern america

Learn this: I will explore how social, political, and economic changes in the late 1800s and early 1900s helped shape modern America so that I can make smarter choices about today’s world and my future.

Do this: I will create a project that shows that I can:

Explain how American imperialism reshaped global power dynamics and influenced both the U.S. and other nations.
Analyze how World War I affected American society, economy, and its role on the world stage.
Evaluate the impact of muckrakers in exposing societal issues and sparking reforms during the Progressive Era.
Assess how the Progressive Movement addressed social, political, and economic challenges in early 20th-century America.
Apply concepts of American Imperialism that set the stage for America’s role as military leader in WWI and as an economic leader, and problems that come with it to what is happening in our world today.

Grow from: I will respond to teacher feedback.

great depression & wwii

Learn this: I will understand the causes, experiences, and outcomes of the Great Depression and World War II, and evaluate how these events reshaped the role of the United States in the world so that I can recognize how crisis and leadership shape our world and impact my life today.

Do this: I will create a project that shows that I can:

Explain how economic hardship during the Great Depression reshaped American society and evaluate how the New Deal’s successes and limitations continue to influence government responses to crises today.
Describe how the attack on Pearl Harbor transformed U.S. foreign policy and connect this shift to America's evolving role as a world power during and after World War II.
Compare the U.S. military strategies and major turning points on the Pacific and European fronts, and assess how these efforts shaped the global balance of power after World War II.
Evaluate how American actions during World War II laid the foundation for U.S. leadership in the postwar world, considering military, economic, and political factors.
Apply concepts of the Great Depression and how American leadership set the stage for America’s role in WWII to help a problem that we see today.

Grow from: I will respond to teacher feedback.

cold war

Learn this: I will understand what a "cold war" is and analyze how the United States’ strategies, conflicts, and policies during the Cold War shaped global power structures, influenced public trust in government, and contributed to the U.S. emerging as a world leader so that I can better understand today’s world and learn to evaluate government actions critically.

Do this: I will create a project that shows that I can:

Explain the concept of a "cold war" and analyze how U.S. policies of deterrence and containment shaped its global strategy during the Cold War era.
Evaluate how key Cold War events — including the Cuban Missile Crisis, Berlin Crisis, and Vietnam War — reflected and intensified global tensions between the U.S. and Soviet Union.
Analyze how Cold War events and conflicts, including the Vietnam War and domestic scandals, influenced public perception of government and reshaped the relationship between American citizens and their leaders.
Assess how Cold War events ultimately contributed to the decline of Soviet power and the rise of the United States as a global leader.
Apply concepts of the Cold War to help solve a real-world problem that we see today.

Grow from: I will respond to teacher feedback.

Civil Rights Era

Learn this: I will understand the causes, methods, and lasting impacts of the Civil Rights Movement, analyze how people work to create social change and apply those lessons to current struggles for justice so that I can understand different perspectives and take action for fairness and equality today.

Do this: I will create a project that shows that I know:

Explain how systemic discrimination affected different groups in the U.S. and give examples of how it shaped their daily lives and opportunities.
Compare and evaluate different strategies used during the Civil Rights Movement—such as legal action, nonviolent protest, and grassroots organizing—and explain why some were more effective than others in certain contexts.
Describe the strengths, limitations, and significance of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and explain how it changed American law and society, both immediately and over time.
Apply what I’ve learned about the Civil Rights Movement to solve a real-world problem that we see today, including who is involved, what strategies would be best to use, and how change should be pursued.

Grow from: I will respond to teacher feedback.

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