American Military History
Course Syllabus
Title:
Military History
Course Info:
Full Year
Contact/Instructor: Mr. Ventriglia
james.ventriglia@marlboroschools.org
Grade Level:
9th-12th Grade
Pre-Requisites:
None
Course Essential Question: “How Warfare Has Shaped American History”
Objective: Examine the role of the military and conflict on both the ancient and modern
world. Students will research and analyze the strategic, technological, cultural, and
political influence of warfare on human history and the development of civilizations from
Ancient Greece to the war in Afghanistan. Additionally, this course will debate the many
reasons why Military History is the most common theme of modern popular history.
Course Goals:
 Demonstrate an understanding of basic military historiography.
 Demonstrate the ability to analyze primary and secondary source information.
 Understand the difference between strategic and tactical military planning.
 Demonstrate skills and researching and writing about a topic.
 Demonstrate the ability to critique various forms of popular history.
 Understand the role of technology in military history.
 Understand the influence of societal and cultural views on warfare.
Course Description:
This course examines America’s military history beginning with the Indian Wars of the
early 17th century colonial period, through the major wars and conflicts during the 18th,
19th and 20th century, to the current escalating military interventions and peace
enforcement operations of the early 21st century.
The course analyzes the evolution, and development of US military strategy, operations,
and tactics; examines the changes and improvements in military organization and
command and control, and operational planning and logistics support; and assesses the
major technological advances in America’s weapons, communications, and intelligence
gathering capabilities.
The course examines America’s wars and major conflicts, including the War of
Independence, Mexican War, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I &
II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Persian Gulf Wars. It will also examine
selected conventional and special military operations conducted during the Cold War
as applied in pursuit of US national security objectives, to include certain intelligence
gathering, clandestine and low visibility operations, and covert actions.
The course will conclude with examination and assessment of recent US efforts to project
military power and maintain peace in an international environment of growing regional
instability and crises, ethnic conflict, and global terrorism.
Assignments/Grading:
Student grades in this course will be determined as follows:
 Daily Assignments: 15%
 Mid-term Exam: 10%
 Final Exam: 10%
 Discussion Responses/Class Reflections: 15%
 Source Critique (1-2 pages):15%
 Film Critique (2-3 pages): 15%
 Final Research Paper/Project: 20%
Make-up/Late Assignment Policy:
Students are responsible for turning in all assignments on time and completed. If a
student has missed an assignment due to absences, extra-curricular activities, etc., they
must ask for their make-up work on the following class day. Late assignments and makeup work must be turned in within 1 week of the original due date. Any students who fail
to turn in make-up work or late assignments will receive an Incomplete in the course until
all work has been submitted. FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION.