acc. PHILLIPS
  • acc. PHILLIPS
  • America
    • Introduction
      • Course Overview
      • Policies
      • Essential Documents
    • 1492-1754
      • Colonization
    • 1754-1848
      • Revolution
      • Constitution
      • Expansion
    • 1848-1898
      • The Civil War
      • The Gilded Age
    • 1898-1945
      • The American Empire
      • The Great Depression
      • The Second World War
    • 1945-1991
      • The Early Cold War
      • The Great Society
      • The Late Cold War
    • 1991-Today
      • The Culture Wars
      • The War on Terror
  • Europe
    • Introduction
    • 1200-1450
    • 1450-1648
      • Renaissance
      • Reformation
      • Exploration
      • Readings
    • 1648-1815
      • Sovereignty
      • Commerce
      • Reason
      • Revolution
      • Readings
    • 1815-1914
      • Industry
      • Ideology
      • Empire
      • Modernity
      • Readings
    • 1914-Today
      • WWI
      • WWII
      • Cold War
      • EU
      • Readings
  • World
    • Ancient
    • Modern
      • Introduction
        • Course Overview
        • Policies
        • Essential Documents
        • Exam
      • 1200-1450
        • Asia
        • Africa
        • Europe
        • Americas
        • Trade
      • 1450-1750
        • Discovery
        • Maritime Empires
        • Land Empires
      • 1750-1900
        • Revolutions
        • Industrialization
        • Imperialism
      • 1900-Today
        • World Wars
        • Postwar World
        • Globalization
  • Research
  • Resources
  • About
  • Contact
  • acc. PHILLIPS
  • America
    • Introduction
      • Course Overview
      • Policies
      • Essential Documents
    • 1492-1754
      • Colonization
    • 1754-1848
      • Revolution
      • Constitution
      • Expansion
    • 1848-1898
      • The Civil War
      • The Gilded Age
    • 1898-1945
      • The American Empire
      • The Great Depression
      • The Second World War
    • 1945-1991
      • The Early Cold War
      • The Great Society
      • The Late Cold War
    • 1991-Today
      • The Culture Wars
      • The War on Terror
  • Europe
    • Introduction
    • 1200-1450
    • 1450-1648
      • Renaissance
      • Reformation
      • Exploration
      • Readings
    • 1648-1815
      • Sovereignty
      • Commerce
      • Reason
      • Revolution
      • Readings
    • 1815-1914
      • Industry
      • Ideology
      • Empire
      • Modernity
      • Readings
    • 1914-Today
      • WWI
      • WWII
      • Cold War
      • EU
      • Readings
  • World
    • Ancient
    • Modern
      • Introduction
        • Course Overview
        • Policies
        • Essential Documents
        • Exam
      • 1200-1450
        • Asia
        • Africa
        • Europe
        • Americas
        • Trade
      • 1450-1750
        • Discovery
        • Maritime Empires
        • Land Empires
      • 1750-1900
        • Revolutions
        • Industrialization
        • Imperialism
      • 1900-Today
        • World Wars
        • Postwar World
        • Globalization
  • Research
  • Resources
  • About
  • Contact

American History
​Introduction

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Course Overview

This course examines the formation of the United States of America and the American political system, U.S. territorial growth and social reform, the American Civil War and Reconstruction, and the political, economic, social and cultural development of the United States from the late 1800s to the present. It traces the changing ethnic composition of American society; the movement toward greater civil equality for minorities; and the emergence of the US as a major world power.

The course covers six time periods organized into 14 units. The first time period, Colonial America, c. 1492-1754, is available for self-study. We will begin with the second time period, Early America, c. 1754-1848, and continue to the present.

Contents

  1. Colonial America, c. 1492-1754
  2. Early America, c. 1754-1848
  3. Reconstructing America, c. 1848-1898
  4. Modern America, c. 1898-1945
  5. Cold War America, c. 1945-1991
  6. Contemporary America, c. 1991-Today

Colonial America

c. 1492-1754

c. 1492-1754
Colonization 
​
surveys establishment and development of European colonies along the Atlantic coast of North America.
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Early America

c. 1754-1848

c. 1754-1848
Revolution 
​
explores the causes and course of the American War of Independence from Great Britain. 
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Constitution 
​
examines the creation of the new federal government of the United States of America, and the new nation’s early years from Washington’s Administration through the War of 1812. 
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Expansion 
​explores the growth of American nationalism, economic and industrial development, and expansion of political participation. It also surveys social and religious reform movements, westward expansion through the Mexican-American War, and the impact of American slavery.
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Reconstructing America

c. 1848-1898

c. 1848-1898
The Civil War 
​
investigates the issues that led to secession crisis and conflict between the United States and the Confederate States during the American Civil War. It also examines the struggles to rebuild the nation during Reconstruction. 
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The Gilded Age 
​surveys conflicts between settlers, ranchers, miners, Native Americans, and others during the heyday of the Western Frontier. It also examines the rapid economic and urban development and widespread corruption in the years following the Civil War.
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Modern America

c. 1898-1945

c. 1898-1945
The American Empire 
​
examines the rise of the United States as a new global power, and surveys widespread social, economic, and political reform at the turn of the 20th century.  ​
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The Great Depression 
​
investigates the prosperity and social changes of the Roaring ’20s followed by a catastrophic economic collapse and Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal response. 
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The Second World War 
​examines the United States’ role in the fight against Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan. ​
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Cold War America

c. 1945-1991

c. 1945-1991
The Early Cold War 
follows the United States' global struggle against communist forces in the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, China, and Korea. The US also experienced tremendous economic growth as the suburbs sprang up. 
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The Great Society 
​investigates the turbulent social transformation and political unrest during the Civil Rights Era, and the challenge to mainstream America arose in a powerful counterculture during the Vietnam War. 
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​The Late Cold War 
​
explores domestic and foreign challenges the United States faced during the 1970s and 1980s.
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Contemporary America

c. 1991-Today

c. 1991-Today
The Culture Wars 
​
epitomize the political and social polarization between left-wing liberal Democrats and right-wing conservative Republicans.
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The War on Terror 
explores the U.S. response to 9/11, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and acts of domestic terrorism from the Oklahoma City bombing to the U.S. Capitol Insurrection
.
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American History home
Introduction
Course Overview
Policies
Essential Documents
c. 1492-1754
c. 1754-1848
c. 1848-1898
c. 1898-1945
c. 1945-1991
c. 1991-Today

Select:

America
Europe
World

​

Resources:

Barron's AP European History Flashcards, Second Edition​

About:

Research
Meet D.W. Phillips
Contact

​

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Contents are for educational purposes only.
© COPYRIGHT 2023.
  • acc. PHILLIPS
  • America
    • Introduction
      • Course Overview
      • Policies
      • Essential Documents
    • 1492-1754
      • Colonization
    • 1754-1848
      • Revolution
      • Constitution
      • Expansion
    • 1848-1898
      • The Civil War
      • The Gilded Age
    • 1898-1945
      • The American Empire
      • The Great Depression
      • The Second World War
    • 1945-1991
      • The Early Cold War
      • The Great Society
      • The Late Cold War
    • 1991-Today
      • The Culture Wars
      • The War on Terror
  • Europe
    • Introduction
    • 1200-1450
    • 1450-1648
      • Renaissance
      • Reformation
      • Exploration
      • Readings
    • 1648-1815
      • Sovereignty
      • Commerce
      • Reason
      • Revolution
      • Readings
    • 1815-1914
      • Industry
      • Ideology
      • Empire
      • Modernity
      • Readings
    • 1914-Today
      • WWI
      • WWII
      • Cold War
      • EU
      • Readings
  • World
    • Ancient
    • Modern
      • Introduction
        • Course Overview
        • Policies
        • Essential Documents
        • Exam
      • 1200-1450
        • Asia
        • Africa
        • Europe
        • Americas
        • Trade
      • 1450-1750
        • Discovery
        • Maritime Empires
        • Land Empires
      • 1750-1900
        • Revolutions
        • Industrialization
        • Imperialism
      • 1900-Today
        • World Wars
        • Postwar World
        • Globalization
  • Research
  • Resources
  • About
  • Contact