U.S. history—Bringing it all together One of the main goals of the history experience is to see how many events, trends, and ideas of US History blend together. To demonstrate your understanding that topics are related, you will spend the next few days researching a topic of your choice and relating it to bigger themes within American History. Here’s what you are to do;
1. Select a topic from American History that you would like to learn more about. Possible topics are shown below. To help you get started, here are a few time periods that we have discussed throughout the year; Native American/Pre-Columbus Exploration and Colonial Period Revolutionary America Expansion of America Industrialization Civil War Reconstruction Progressive Era World War I Great Depression World War II Cold War Modern America
2. Using the computers, class textbooks, and encyclopedias, spend about 10 minutes learning more about your topic while answering the questions on the accompanying question sheet. (Will take about 25 minutes total; if you find you get done too quickly, you can always go into more depth with your responses!)
3. Once you are done with the front part of the sheet, move to the chart on the back. Part of this activity involves asking other students about their topics. Please be careful when moving about the room. (this will take about 15 minutes or so)
4. With a blank piece of paper, create a mind-map that demonstrates your understanding of the topic and how it connects to other topics that we have studied throughout the year. MAKE SURE YOU PUT YOUR NAME ON THE MIND MAP! (this will take about 10-15 minutes)
POSSIBLE TOPICS1. Technology and American History- This topic will explore how technology has influenced the way we live. It may be helpful to have a theme for your technological innovations; warfare development, agricultural technologies, communications, transportation, technology and culture, technology and lifestyle are just a few ideas.
2. Civil Rights in American History- Many wonderful freedoms and many tragedies in the rights of individuals and groups have occurred during our history. Select a few key developments or episodes in the struggle for Civil Rights.
3. Foreign Affairs- Explain the development of the Monroe Doctrine and Manifest Destiny and give examples of how they have brought us into, and kept us out of world events. Evaluate whether or not Americans view this doctrine as useful today. 4. Many People, One Nation- Explain how immigration has changed the face of the nation. Describe push and pull factors that have brought people to our shores, explain the difficulties they faced, and how they were treated by people who were already here.
5. The Arts and America- Our country has had very creative citizens. Give examples of how art, literature, music, and other forms of creativity have influenced us throughout our history. You may research how literature has changed the way we do things, how music has helped us through good times and bad, or how fashion has changed throughout the generations.
6. Expanding of Our Rights as Citizens- Using the Constitution as our guide, explain how our rights have been expanded. You may begin by discussing problems before the Revolutionary War and how the Bill of Rights set the foundation for things to come. As an example, many amendments to the Constitution have been vital in allowing more people the right to vote.
7. Geography and Our Nation- Describe physical geographical features of the United States and give examples of how they were important to the economic or social development of our country. Rivers, mountains, placement of cities, mineral deposits, farmland, and many other features make our country what it is today. 8. The American Spirit- We have always been adventurers. Describe groups or individuals that have made a difference in our country. Presidents, inventors, religious groups, and people searching for economic opportunity are just a few of the possibilities. It may help to have a common theme such as “overcoming adversity” or “creative thinkers”.
9. A More Perfect Union- Not everything our country has tried has succeeded. Select “mistakes” from American history and discuss what went wrong. Unfair laws, miscommunication through the press, poor working conditions for children, economic troubles, and military mistakes are just a few possible topics of discussion.
10. Food and History- Believe it or not, much of our time has been spent discussing food. We have talked about food and Native American culture, food and the Columbian Exchange, how taxes on certain types of food led, in part, to the Revolution, how we ate before the progressive era, and why the government would pay people to NOT grow food. In this essay, explain how food has played a part in American History.