United States History

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Course Overview

The Acellus United States History course, taught by Todd Edmond, traces the nation’s evolution from its revolutionary origins to its role as a modern global leader. Students begin by exploring the Enlightenment roots of American liberty and the pivotal events of the Revolutionary era, including key Boston landmarks, the Declaration of Independence, and the creation of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The course then examines the early republic’s internal challenges—religious liberty, the legacy of slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, westward expansion, and the rise of American imperialism—before moving into the transformative periods of industrialization, immigration, and Progressive Era reforms that reshaped American society and the economy.

Building on these foundations, students investigate America’s emergence onto the world stage through World War I, the cultural dynamism and social tensions of the Roaring Twenties, the devastating impact of the Great Depression, and the bold responses of the New Deal. The curriculum covers U.S. leadership in World War II and the postwar era, including the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, and major social, economic, and technological changes. In the final unit, students analyze modern America from the 1970s to the present, addressing political scandals, economic shifts, globalization, environmental policy, and ongoing questions of American exceptionalism, civic engagement, and the nation’s future role in the world.

Throughout the course, students develop essential historical thinking skills by analyzing primary sources, evaluating cause-and-effect relationships, and forming educated opinions grounded in factual evidence. By examining key events, leaders, movements, and cultural developments, learners gain a deep appreciation for America’s enduring commitment to liberty, innovation, and democratic principles while critically reflecting on the nation’s challenges and achievements.

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Sample Lesson - Introduction to US History

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This course was developed by the International Academy of Science. Learn More

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Scope and Sequence

Unit 1: Revolutionary Foundations In this introductory unit, students will explore the Enlightenment roots that shaped America’s foundational principles of liberty and self-government. They will analyze key sites and events of Revolutionary resistance in Boston, including Faneuil Hall, the Old South Meeting House, the Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere’s ride, signals from the Old North Church, battles at Bunker Hill and Dorchester Heights, and the broader military campaign. The unit culminates in the study of the Declaration of Independence, the contributions of leaders like John Adams, and the creation of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, highlighting how these developments positioned America as a global beacon of liberty.

Unit 2: Early National Challenges and Expansion Students will examine the early challenges facing the new American republic, beginning with religious liberty under the First Amendment and the significance of national mottos. The unit covers the legacy of slavery in the North, the causes and key events of the Civil War, Reconstruction efforts to promote equality, and post-Reconstruction economic recovery including railroads and westward expansion. It concludes with the economic and political factors driving early American imperialism, the Spanish-American War, the Panama Canal, and diplomatic approaches leading into World War I, illustrating the nation’s internal divisions and growing international presence.

Unit 3: Industrialization and Immigration This unit focuses on America’s dramatic economic and cultural transformation after 1877. Students will study the rise of industrialization, Gilded Age working conditions, urban growth, immigration waves, and the Americanization movement. They will analyze the roles of big business, labor unions, Progressive Era reforms, women’s contributions, technological advances, and cultural shifts. Key topics include corporate consolidation, labor conflicts, rural-to-urban migration, and economic policies, providing insight into the social challenges and innovations of the industrial age.

Unit 4: World War I and the Roaring Twenties In this unit, students will investigate the United States’ emergence as a world power during World War I and the social and cultural dynamism of the 1920s. Topics include the causes of WWI, U.S. neutrality and entry, military innovations, Wilson’s Fourteen Points, the Treaty of Versailles, and the war’s economic and social impacts, such as the Red Scare and racial tensions. The unit then explores the Roaring Twenties through women’s suffrage, the Harlem Renaissance, Prohibition, consumer culture, technological advances, political leadership, and key figures, examining the era’s prosperity, cultural shifts, and underlying tensions.

Unit 5: Great Depression and New Deal Students will analyze the causes and devastating effects of the Great Depression, including monetary policies, the 1929 stock market crash, and the Dust Bowl. The unit covers President Hoover’s responses and the transformative New Deal programs under Franklin D. Roosevelt, including agencies, Social Security, labor reforms, and cultural impacts. Students will evaluate the expansion of federal power, controversies surrounding the New Deal, labor movements, and the role of free enterprise in recovery, developing an understanding of government intervention in economic crises.

Unit 6: World War II This unit details the United States’ critical role in World War II and its emergence as a global superpower. Students will study the origins of the war, U.S. neutrality policies, the impact of Pearl Harbor, mobilization on the home front, Allied strategies in Europe and the Pacific, key leaders, and major events such as the Normandy invasion and the use of the atomic bomb. Additional topics include Japanese internment, African American contributions, the Holocaust response, postwar shifts, the United Nations, and technological advances, emphasizing America’s leadership in the Allied victory.

Unit 7: Postwar and Cold War Students will explore the postwar economic boom of the 1950s and the intensifying Cold War tensions. The unit covers presidential leadership (Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy), containment policies including the Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, Berlin Airlift, Korean War, and Cuban Missile Crisis, as well as McCarthyism. Significant focus is placed on the Civil Rights Movement, including Brown v. Board, key legislation like the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, and leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., alongside women’s rights, the environmental movement, Vietnam War, and Great Society programs.

Unit 8: Modern America In the final unit, students will examine U.S. history from the 1970s to the present, addressing political scandals (Watergate), presidential policies (Nixon through recent administrations), the end of the Cold War, 9/11 and the War on Terror, economic challenges like the Great Recession, and ongoing social issues. Topics include American exceptionalism, leadership, technological and economic innovation, globalization, environmental policy, constitutional issues, civic engagement, and America’s continued role as a global leader, encouraging reflection on modernization’s effects and the nation’s future.