Changes

Welcome to "American history," also known as "United States history."  This is likely to become your favorite course.  It has something for everyone: heroes, villains, criminal trials, comical mistakes, competitions, politics, literature, gold, silver, 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 likely to become your favorite course.  It has something for everyone: heroes, villains, criminal trials, comical mistakes, competitions, politics, literature, gold, silver, war, and peace.  You name it, American history has it.  We are going to have some fun in this course.

 

We will start without a textbook, to encourage students to have initiative in learning history.  If we can find a good textbook or reference source, then we'll buy and distribute it in a few weeks.  You may find it easier not to have another book to read in addition to lectures and homework.

We will start without a textbook, to encourage students to have initiative in learning history.  If we can find a good textbook or reference source, then we'll buy and distribute it in a few weeks.  You may find it easier not to have another book to read in addition to lectures and homework.

 

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>

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>

 

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 250 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 250 years ago.

 

Now is a critical time in our nation's history, and this class may be as important to the future as the Mayflower voyage was.  Let's begin.

Now is a critical time in our nation's history, and this class may be as important to the future as the Mayflower voyage was.  Let's begin.

The key to mastering history is to find what you like and understand, and then use it as your foundation to learn everything else.  In other words, first find and learn what you like, and then learn everything else by connecting it to what you know.  Use the same technique that we all use for directions:  pick a landmark or a place that you know how to get to, and then figure out how to go from there to where you need to go.

The key to mastering history is to find what you like and understand, and then use it as your foundation to learn everything else.  In other words, first find and learn what you like, and then learn everything else by connecting it to what you know.  Use the same technique that we all use for directions:  pick a landmark or a place that you know how to get to, and then figure out how to go from there to where you need to go.

 

For example, if you are most interested in religion, then learn about the 13 colonies based on their different attitudes towards religion.  If you are most interested in one colony, then learn about it and how it relates to other colonies.  If you like military history, then use that as your starting point.  Perhaps you enjoy mysteries; in that case, use our list of [[Essay:Greatest Mysteries of American History|Greatest Mysteries of American History]] to motivate you.

For example, if you are most interested in religion, then learn about the 13 colonies based on their different attitudes towards religion.  If you are most interested in one colony, then learn about it and how it relates to other colonies.  If you like military history, then use that as your starting point.  Perhaps you enjoy mysteries; in that case, use our list of [[Essay:Greatest Mysteries of American History|Greatest Mysteries of American History]] to motivate you.

 

Perhaps you like politics the most.  In that case, you'll want to memorize the presidents and leaders of Congress, and relate historical events to their times in office.  Or perhaps you enjoy legal issues, and reading about what the courts do.    If so, then you'll want to focus your attention on the major rulings of the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] throughout American history, and relate other historical events to those decisions.

Perhaps you like politics the most.  In that case, you'll want to memorize the presidents and leaders of Congress, and relate historical events to their times in office.  Or perhaps you enjoy legal issues, and reading about what the courts do.    If so, then you'll want to focus your attention on the major rulings of the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] throughout American history, and relate other historical events to those decisions.

 

On the SAT II U.S. History exam, the breakdown by subject matter is as follows:

On the SAT II U.S. History exam, the breakdown by subject matter is as follows:

<br>Political History - 32-36%

<br>Political History - 32-36%