The standard American History course in Louisiana's high school curriculum covers 1877 to the present. It picks up where the 7th grade course ends. However, this is not the Advanced Placement (AP) course. The AP organization writes its own curriculum.

American History: 1877 to the Present

Grade Level Expectations

History (Core Course: U.S. History)

History

Historical Thinking Skills

1. Construct a timeline to explain and analyze historical periods in U.S. history (H-1A-H1)

2. Compare historical periods or historical conflicts in terms of similar issues, actions, or trends in U.S. history (H-1A-H1)

3. Contrast past and present events or ideas in U.S. history, demonstrating awareness of differing political, social, or economic context (H-1A-H1)

4. Analyze change or continuity in the United States over time based on information in stimulus material (H-1A-H1)

5. Describe multiple perspectives on an historical issue or event in U.S. history (H-1A-H2)

6. Analyze the point of view of an historical figure or group in U.S. history (H-1A-H2)

7. Analyze or interpret a given historical event, idea, or issue in U.S. history (H-1A-H2)

8. Debate a historical point of view, with supporting evidence, on an issue or event in U.S. history (H-1A-H2)

9. Evaluate and use multiple primary or secondary materials to interpret historical facts, ideas, or issues (H-1A-H3)

10. Determine when primary and/or secondary sources would be most useful when analyzing historical events (H-1A-H3)

11. Propose and defend alternative courses of action to address an historical or contemporary issue, and evaluate their positive and negative implications (H-1A-H4)

12. Analyze and evaluate the credibility of a given historical document (e.g., in terms of its source, unstated assumptions) (H-1A-H4)

13. Analyze source material to identify opinion or propaganda and persuasive techniques (H-1A-H4)

14. Interpret a political cartoon depicting an historical event, issue, or perspective (H-1A-H4)

15. Interpret or analyze historical data in a map, table, or graph to explain historical factors or trends (H-1A-H4)

16. Construct a narrative summary of an historical speech or address (H-1A-H5)

17. Conduct historical research using a variety of resources to answer historical questions related to U.S. history and present that research in appropriate format(s) (visual, electronic, written) (H-1A-H5)

18. Analyze causes and effects in historical and contemporary U.S. events, using a variety of resources (H-1A-H6)

United States History

19. Examine the causes of industrialization and analyze its impact on production, business structures, the work force, and society in the United States (H-1B-H6)

20. Describe the emergence of big business and analyze how it changed American society in the late nineteenth century (H-1B-H6)

21. Analyze the changing relationship between the federal government and private industry (H-1B-H6)

22. Describe the phases, geographic origins, and motivations behind mass migration to and within the United States (H-1B-H7)

23. Explain the causes of the late nineteenth-century urbanization of the United States, including immigration and migration from rural areas, and discuss its impact in such areas as housing, political structures, and public health (H-1B-H7)

24. Explain the impact of legislation, federal Indian and land policies, technological developments, and economic policies on established social and migratory groups in the settlement of the western United States (e.g., Dawes Act, Chinese Exclusion Act) (H-1B-H7)

25. Analyze the role of the media, political leaders, and intellectuals in raising awareness of social problems among Americans in the United States (e.g., Muckrakers, Presidents Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson, Jane Adams) (H-1B-H8)

26. Evaluate the Progressive movement in terms of its goals and resulting accomplishments (e.g., Sixteenth through Nineteenth Amendments, Pure Food and Drug Act, advances in land conservation) (H-1B-H8)

27. Describe problems facing farmers and laborers, the ways they sought to enact change, and the responses of the government and business community (e.g., populism, share-croppers, rise of labor unions) (H-1B-H9)

28. Locate on a world map the territories acquired by the United States during its emergence as an imperial power in the world and explain how these territories were acquired (H-1B-H10)

29. Explain the U.S. policy of imperialism and how it increased U.S. involvement in world affairs (H-1B-H10)

30. Identify causes of World War I (H-1B-H10)

31. Describe the events that led to U.S. involvement in World War I (H-1B-H10)

32. Identify and describe significant events and issues during World War I (H-1B-H10)

33. Identify and explain the consequences of World War I, in terms of changes in U.S foreign and domestic policies during the 1920s (e.g., Treaty of Versailles, Wilson’s Fourteen Points, League of Nations) (H-1B-H11)

34. Identify the characteristics of the 1920s and describe the cultural changes that resulted (e.g., Harlem Renaissance, prohibition, women’s suffrage) (H-1B-H11)

35. Analyze the international and domestic events, interests, and philosophies that prompted threats to civil liberties in the aftermath of World War I (H-1B-H11)

36. Identify the causes of the Great Depression (e.g., over speculation, Stock Market Crash of 1929) and analyze its impact on American society (H-1B-H12)

37. Explain the expanding role of government as a result of the Great Depression and the New Deal and analyze the effects of the New Deal legislation (H-1B-H12)

38. Describe the conditions that led to the outbreak of World War II (H-1B-H13)

39. Describe the events that led the United States into World War II (H-1B-H13)

40. Describe the course of World War II, including major turning points and key strategic decisions (H-1B-H13)

41. Describe the effects of World War II on the U.S. home front and Europe, including the Holocaust (H-1B-H13)

42. Explain the consequences and impact of World War II (e.g., Cold War, United Nations, Baby Boom) (H-1B-H13)

43. Analyze the spread of Communism after World War II and its impact on U.S. foreign policy (H-1B-H14)

44. Analyze the conflicts that resulted from Cold War tensions (e.g., Vietnam War, Korean War) (H-1B-H14)

45. Describe the impact of the Cold War on American society and domestic policy (e.g., McCarthyism, Space Race) (H-1B-H14)

46. Analyze the reasons for the end of the Cold War and its impact on the world today (H-1B-H14)

47. Explain the impact of post-World War II domestic policies on life in the United States (e.g., the Great Society) (H-1B-H15)

48. Identify the primary leaders of the Civil Rights Movement and describe major issues and accomplishments (H-1B-H15)

49. Describe the effects of Watergate on the United States and its political system (H-1B-H15)

50. Identify and describe the social and cultural changes from the 1960s to the present (e.g., Women’s Movement) (H-1B-H15)

51. Evaluate various means of achieving equality of political rights (e.g., civil disobedience vs. violent protest) (H-1B-H15)

52. Evaluate the effects of the mass media on American society (H-1B-H16)

53. Describe the impact of technology on American society (H-1B-H16)

54. Analyze contemporary issues in American society and suggest alternative solutions (H-1B-H17)

55. Identify recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions and describe how they impact political and social institutions (e.g., presidential election of 2000) (H-1B-H17)

56. Describe the relationship of the United States and nations of the world in the post-Cold War era (e.g., Middle East conflicts, U.S. peace keeping) (H-1B-H18)

57. Identify recent trends in the U.S. economy and explain shifts in government policy designed to address them (e.g., NAFTA, global economy) (H-1B-H18)

58. Identify and explain recent domestic issues and reform movements (e.g., terrorism, energy, environment, war on drugs, education) (H-1B-H18)