American History I
Topic outline
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Course Introduction
This course will survey American history from its colonial origins to the end of the Civil War in 1865. Students are encouraged to think critically about events, people, and developments covered during the course of the semester. The course is designed to meet the general education goals listed in the catalog. Students will learn how to think critically, research, analyze documents, communicate effectively, and improve their information literacy, all skills that can be applied in a variety of careers.
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to achieve the following Course Level Objectives (hereafter referred to as CO throughout the rest of the course):
- Demonstrate knowledge of important historical events and people in early American history up to 1865;
- Locate, retrieve, and analyze historical data relevant to the peoples, events, movements and institutions covered in the course material and answer questions based on that retrieval;
- Compose essays examining important historical events/topics that are clearly stated, factually precise, and complete in form
- Choose and defend a position about a historical topic on a discussion board.
Navigating the Course
Adopting institution should provide learners information on how to navigate the course. Consider adding an introductory navigation video. Text description could include, for example:This course is set up in Modules covering various topics which may be accessed from the course navigation menu on the left or by scrolling below. Modules may be collapsed in the menu and it the body of the course to minimize scrolling. Each module includes the relevant chapters followed by various activities, which may include discussion forums, listening activities and quizzes, practice quizzes, module tests, and other relevant activities as appropriate for each module. Many items are required and may be marked as completed automatically when the activity has been submitted (the broken check box), but others will marked as done by the student (the solid check box).Please move through the items below and continue through the Learner Support and Getting Started modules before moving on to Module 1. Be sure to check for announcements and due dates to stay on track.
This course and its contents are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network, except where otherwise noted. -
Chapter 1: The Americas, Europe, and Africa Before 1492
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This module contains all the items you should review and complete before you begin Module 1. Before moving on, be sure to:
- Read the Course Syllabus
- Introduce yourself to the class
- Familiarize yourself with the News and Announcements Forum
- Read the instructions for the Q & A Forum
Good luck in the course!-
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Students mustMark as done
Use this forum to tell us a little about yourself and your interests. Some topic ideas:
- What is your field of study/research interest or concentration?
- What are you most interested in learning about in this class and why?
- Have you ever taken an online class before?
- Any other information you would like to share with your classmates, such as special interests or activities.
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This forum contains general news and announcements. You can find all announcements listed in the "Latest News" block in Course Tools within this course or on your My Courses page.
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Students mustMark as done
Use this forum to ask your instructor any questions you have about the course. You may post at any time, and your instructor will respond here. Be as specific as possible.
Please keep in mind that others can see your posts, so do not post any personal information. If you have questions about your grade, please email your instructor directly. You can expect a response to posts and emails within 24 hours.
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Students mustMark as done
Use this forum to tell us a little about yourself and your interests. Some topic ideas:
- What is your field of study/research interest or concentration?
- What are you most interested in learning about in this class and why?
- Have you ever taken an online class before?
- Any other information you would like to share with your classmates, such as special interests or activities.
-
This forum contains general news and announcements. You can find all announcements listed in the "Latest News" block in Course Tools within this course or on your My Courses page.
-
Students mustMark as done
Use this forum to ask your instructor any questions you have about the course. You may post at any time, and your instructor will respond here. Be as specific as possible.
Please keep in mind that others can see your posts, so do not post any personal information. If you have questions about your grade, please email your instructor directly. You can expect a response to posts and emails within 24 hours.
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Use the information in this module to customize the template to your needs. This module is currently hidden from students, and available for you to refer to throughout the semester.
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Image from Chapter 1 of U.S. History (opens in new window) from OpenStax, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution License v4.0 with the image information: This 1507 map by cartographers Martin Waldseemüller and Matthais Ringmann is credited as the first to incorporate the word "America." Little was known about the continent at the time, as the land masses on the far left of the map reveal. But the New World offered opportunity that the Old World would exploit.This week you will be learning about early America and the origins of European Exploration and its consequences. Some highlights include a discussion of the first inhabitants, mistakenly called Indians by the Europeans when they first arrived, the economic and religious reasons for European expansion, and the emergence of the Columbian exchange, which had major implications for Europe, the Americas, and Africa. You will also learn about the start of the Atlantic slave trade. To be an informed American citizen, one must understand the complex origins of the nation. The first chapter does a good job of explaining them.
Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:1. Demonstrate knowledge of some of the major Native American civilizations before the arrival of the Spanish. (CO 1 and 2)
2. Identify key aspects of the European societies that engaged in conversion, conquest, commerce, and exploration (CO 1 and 2)
3. Recognize the important roles of Islam and Europe in West Africa and the slave trade. (CO 1 and 2)
4. (Assignment Only): Analyze a primary source and discuss the reasons for European Exploration. (CO 1, 2, and 3)
To achieve these objectives:
- Read the Module 1 Introduction above.
- Read and view the materials in Chapter 1 (click below)
- View the Chapter 1 PowerPoint below.
- Complete Module 1 quizzes/assignments/discussion boards based on chapter/document reading.
Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities
You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.
- Read the Module 1 Introduction above.
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Image from Chapter 2 of U.S. History (opens in new window) from OpenStax, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution License v4.0 with the image information: After Christopher Columbus “discovered” the New World, he sent letters home to Spain describing the wonders he beheld. These letters were quickly circulated throughout Europe and translated into Italian, German, and Latin. This woodcut is from the first Italian verse translation of the letter Columbus sent to the Spanish court after his first voyage, Lettera delle isole novamente trovata by Giuliano Dati.This week you will be building on the knowledge from last week as you learn about early Portuguese and Spanish exploration, the emergence of the Protestant Reformation and its impact on Europe and the colonization of the Americas, the rise of challengers to Spain's supremacy like England, and the start of forced labor of Native Americans and millions of African slaves. You will also be required to hone your critical thinking skills by discerning the differences between multiple historical sources.
Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:- Recognize the importance of Portuguese and Spanish exploration and the impact on Native Americans. (CO 1 and 2)
- Demonstrate knowledge of the changes brought by the Protestant Reformation and Spain’s response to it. (CO 1 and 2)
- Identify unique aspects of the early English, French, and Dutch colonies. (CO 1 and 2)
- Show an understanding of some of the key aspects of labor and commerce in Europe and the New World. (CO 1 and 2)
- (Assignment Only): Compare and contrast a video presentation of Spanish treatment of the Natives with the textbook's treatment of the same topic. (CO 1 and 2)
To achieve these objectives:
- Read the Module 2 Introduction above
- Read and view the materials in the Chapter 2 Pressbooks book below.
- View the Chapter 2 PowerPoint below
- Complete Module 2 quizzes/assignments/discussion boards based on chapter reading, PowerPoint, and video.
Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities
You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.
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Image from Chapter 3 of U.S. History (opens in new window) from OpenStax, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution License v4.0 with the image information: John Smith’s famous map of Virginia (1622) illustrates many geopolitical features of early colonization. In the upper left, Powhatan, who governed a powerful local confederation of Algonquian communities, sits above other local leaders, denoting his authority. Another native figure, Susquehannock, who appears in the upper right, visually reinforces the message that the English did not control the land beyond a few outposts along the Chesapeake.Last week, you learned about early European exploration and colonization especially by the Spanish. This module will explore the expansion of Spanish colonial settlements throughout the Americas, Dutch and English colonial challenges to the Spanish in North America, England's first attempts at settlement in America including Jamestown, the impact of colonization on America. Students will get their first exposure to the earliest permanent English settlements, which eventually became the foundation of the 13 original British colonies and ultimately, the United States of America.
Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of the main Spanish American colonial settlements of the 1500s and 1600s. (CO 1 and 2)
2. Identify some of the key aspects of the Dutch and French colonies in North America. (CO 1 and 2)
3. Recall some of the most significant details about the first English settlements in America. (CO 1 and 2)
4. Recognize some of the most important effects of colonization such as the rise of slavery, changes to Indian life, and/or environmental changes.(CO 1 and 2)
5. (ASSIGNMENT ONLY): Discuss some of the problems facing the English as they tried to settle Jamestown based on the reading of a primary source. (CO 1, 2 and 3)To achieve these objectives:
- Read the Module 3 Introduction above
- Read and view the materials in the Chapter 3 Pressbooks book below.
- View the Chapter 3 PowerPoint below
- Complete Module 3 quizzes/assignments/discussion boards based on chapter reading, PowerPoint, and primary source
Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities
You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.
- Read the Module 3 Introduction above
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Image from Chapter 4 of U.S. History (opens in new window) from OpenStax, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution License v4.0 with the image information: Isaac Royall and his family, seen here in a 1741 portrait by Robert Feke (modified), moved to Medford, Massachusetts, from the West Indian island of Antigua, bringing enslaved people with them. They were an affluent British colonial family, proud of their success and the success of the British Empire.Last module, you learned about the establishment of the Chesapeake Bay and New England colonies. In this module, you will read about the rest of the thirteen original colonies including the Restoration colonies. You will also learn about England's intervention into American trade using the Navigation Acts, the Glorious Revolution's legacy to the concept of liberty, a consumer revolution in the 18th century, a religious revival known as the Great Awakening, and a number of wars for empire that will set the stage for the American Revolution. Students will gain an appreciation of how American history fits into a larger global context.
Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:- Recall some of the causes and/or consequences of the Restoration period (CO 1 and 2).
- Demonstrate knowledge of the causes and/or outcomes of the Glorious Revolution (CO 1 and 2).
- Recognize the impact of slavery and the consumer revolution (CO 1 and 2).
- Identify some of the most important aspects of the Great Awakening and/or the Enlightenment (CO 1 and 2).
- Recall some of the most important facts about the wars for empire (CO 1 and 2)
- (Sources Assignment only) Analyze primary sources from the chapter (CO 1-3).
To achieve these objectives::
- Read the Module 4 Introduction above
- Read and view the materials in the Chapter 4 Pressbooks book below.
- View the Chapter 4 PowerPoint below
- Complete Module 4 quizzes/assignments/discussion boards based on chapter reading and PowerPoint.
Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities
You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.
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Image from Chapter 5 of U.S. History (opens in new window) from OpenStax, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution License v4.0 with the image information: The Bostonians Paying the Excise-man, or Tarring and Feathering (1774), attributed to Philip Dawe (modified), depicts the most publicized tarring and feathering incident of the American Revolution. The victim is John Malcolm, a customs official loyal to the British crown. At the end of the last chapter in Module 4, you learned about some wars for empire that set the stage for the American Revolution, none more important than the Seven Years War, which started as the French and Indian War in America. This week you will learn how that war, in particular, exacerbated Britain's debt problem, which made them devise a number of new acts and taxes that Americans would see as violations of their traditional English liberties. The Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, and Tea act would all be met with colonial boycotts and resistance culminating with the Boston Tea Party and Coercive Acts. In response, the colonists called the First Continental Congress together, which signified a direct challenge to British authority and a major step towards the call for revolution. Students will begin to understand how taxes and representation have always been hot-button issues in American history.
Upon completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of Great Britain’s North American colonies after the French and Indian War. (CO 1 and 2)
- Identify key aspects of the 1765 Stamp Act and/or colonial responses to it. (CO 1-3)
- Recognize the importance of the 1767 Townshend Acts and/or the resulting colonial protests and their consequences. (CO 1-3)
- Show knowledge of the purposes of and/or reactions to the Tea Act of 1773 and the Coercive Acts. (CO 1 and 2)
- Recall important facts surrounding the calling, proceedings, and consequences of the First Continental Congress. (CO 1 and 2)
- (ASSIGNMENT ONLY): Write an essay on the difference between colonial reaction to the Stamp Act vs. the Sugar Act. (CO 1-3)
To achieve these objectives:
- Read the Module 5 Introduction above
- Read and view the materials in the Chapter 5 Pressbooks book below.
- View the Chapter 5 PowerPoint below
- Complete Module 5 quizzes/assignments/discussion boards based on chapter reading and PowerPoint.
Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities
You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.
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Image from Chapter 6 of U.S. History (opens in new window) from OpenStax, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution License v4.0 with the image information: This famous 1819 painting by John Trumbull shows members of the committee entrusted with drafting the Declaration of Independence presenting their work to the Continental Congress in 1776. Note the British flags on the wall. Separating from the British Empire proved to be very difficult as the colonies and the Empire were linked with strong cultural, historical, and economic bonds forged over several generations.After the Coercive Acts, which you learned about in the last module, Americans began to see the British as a threat to their fundamental liberties. Colonial militias began to prepare for conflict, and they would engage in the first real shooting of the American Revolution in Lexington and Concord, which will be discussed in the reading for this week. You will also learn about the Declaration of Independence and its historical significance, the course of the American Revolution including some of the more important battles like Saratoga, the vital role of France's aid to the Americans, and the role of loyalists and patriots throughout the American Revolution.
Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:- Demonstrate knowledge of the events/facts surrounding the beginning stages of the American Revolution. (CO 1 and 2)
- Identify some aspects of the British and American strategies and/or the key battles from 1776 through 1778. (CO 1 and 2)
- Recall important factors which led to the British southern strategy and/or the end of the Revolution and key facts about the Treaty of Paris. (CO 1 and 2)
- Recognize important details about the different groups (Loyalists and Patriots) who participated in the Revolutionary War. (CO 1 and 2)
- (ASSIGNMENT ONLY): Locate and retrieve a primary source (the Declaration of Independence). (CO 1-3)
- (ASSIGNMENT ONLY): Analyze, discuss, and explain parts of the Declaration of Independence. (CO 1-3)
To achieve these objectives:
- Read the Module 6 Introduction above.
- Read and view the materials in the Chapter 6 Pressbooks book below.
- View Chapter 6 PowerPoint below.
- Complete Module 6 quizzes/assignments/discussion boards based on chapter and primary source reading.
Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities
You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.