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| | [[American History Lecture One|Lecture]] - [[American_History_Homework_One|Questions]] - [[American History Homework One Answers|Student Answers]] | | [[American History Lecture One|Lecture]] - [[American_History_Homework_One|Questions]] - [[American History Homework One Answers|Student Answers]] |
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| − | Welcome to "American history," also known as "United States history." This is the story of who we are and how our society developed. This course has something for everyone: heroes, villains, criminal trials, comical mistakes, competitions, politics, literature, geniuses, treasure, inventions, war, and peace. You name it, American history has it. We are going to have some fun in this course. | + | Welcome to "American history," also known as "United States history." This is the story of everything. It is a much broader topic than "American government," as this course includes all of culture and intellectual thought and activities. It addresses the many unsolved mysteries of who we are, and why. Why do we speak English rather than Spanish? Why is the United States the most prosperous society in the history of the world? Be prepared to ask many questions, and look for the answers until you find them. |
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| − | Unlike a course in government, this history course will include discussions of ideas, culture, literature, wars, movements, and everything that goes into our existence. Government is only a small part of this course.
| + | Politics is about the future, while history is about the past. But learning the past can give us insights into where we are going in the future. Studying history helps us understand ourselves better; learning history can inspire and guide us to greater achievement. When we learn that Thomas Edison invented the phonograph (music player) even though he was mostly deaf, then we can strive to do more with the talents and abilities God gave us. |
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| − | The Pilgrims came to America with a group not much bigger than our class, traveling in a boat called the "Mayflower" that was not much larger than our classroom. Just before arriving on shore, the Pilgrims agreed to a written agreement or "compact" to bind them after they arrived. The very first words of their "[[Mayflower Compact]]" were "In the name of God Amen."<ref>The Mayflower Compact is viewable here: http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/amerdoc/mayflower.htm</ref>
| + | A small boat into unchartered waters brought the Pilgrims to America. Their group not much bigger than our class, and their boat (the "Mayflower") was not much larger than our classroom. Just before arriving on shore, the Pilgrims agreed to a written agreement or "compact" to bind them after they arrived. The very first words of their "[[Mayflower Compact]]" were "In the name of God Amen."<ref>The Mayflower Compact is viewable here: http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/amerdoc/mayflower.htm</ref> |
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| | Just as our Nation's founders started with a prayer, so do we. Prayer clears out the noise in our minds. We are looking for knowledge and inspiration here, and that comes from God. In most countries parents do not have the freedom even to have a class like this. The main reason we have freedoms is because America was established on principles of liberty, and religious devotion in America remains among the strongest in the world today, as it was nearly 400 years ago. | | Just as our Nation's founders started with a prayer, so do we. Prayer clears out the noise in our minds. We are looking for knowledge and inspiration here, and that comes from God. In most countries parents do not have the freedom even to have a class like this. The main reason we have freedoms is because America was established on principles of liberty, and religious devotion in America remains among the strongest in the world today, as it was nearly 400 years ago. |