United States History and Constitution
James F. Byrnes High School
Teacher
Christina Paxton
Phone: 864-949-2355 ex. 7403
Room
403
Fax:
Help Time Upon Request
864-949-2362
Email: christina.paxton@spart5.net
I. Text:
McDougal Little: The Americans
II. Description:
The focus of United States History and the Constitution is the story of the American people from the period of
the Mesoamerica civilizations to the present day—a span that includes the early Native Americans, the
establishment of various European colonies, the creation of the United States as a new nation during the
American Revolution, the territorial expansion to the West, the American Civil War and Reconstruction, the
industrialization and immigration of the late nineteenth century, and the nation’s developing role in world
affairs in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
III. Standards:
USHC – 1: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the conflicts between regional and national
interest in development of democracy in the United States.
USHC – 2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of how economic developments and the westward
movement impacted regional differences and democracy in the early nineteenth century.
USHC – 3: The student will demonstrate an understanding of how regional and ideological differences led to
the Civil War and an understanding of the impact of the Civil War and Reconstruction on democracy
in America.
USHC – 4: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the industrial development and the consequences
of that development on society and politics during the second half of the nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries.
USHC – 5: The student will demonstrate an understanding of domestic and foreign developments that
contributed to the emergence of the United States as a world power in the twentieth century.
USHC – 6: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the conflict between traditionalism and
progressivism in the 1920s and the economic collapse and the political response to the economic crisis
in the 1930s.
USHC – 7: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the impact of World War II on the United States
and the nation’s subsequent role in the world.
USHC – 8: The student will demonstrate an understanding of social, economic, and political issues in
contemporary America.
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IV. Behavioral Expectations:
 Each student is required to observe the rules stated in the J.F. Byrnes High School handbook.
 Appropriate consequences will be provided based on the violation, and the behavioral record of the
student.
 Detention will be served in the teacher’s classroom before or after school. An assignment will be given
upon arrival.
 Mutual respect by everyone in the classroom is expected.
 Other unacceptable behavior will be addressed as necessary.
V. Classroom Procedures:
 Tardies: Come to class on time. Standing outside the door and rushing in after the bell has begun to
ring will constitute a tardy. You must be INSIDE the door when it begins ringing to be counted on time.
You must sign in on the “Tardy Sheet” upon late arrival to class.
o 1st Offense: Warning
o 2nd Offense: Parent Contact
o 3rd Offense: Parent Contact and teacher detention
o 4th Offense: Referral to administrator
 Labeling Papers: Every paper you use for my class should be labeled properly.
o If you are turning in an assignment that is on paper/poster board etc. not provided for you by the
teacher- Your NAME, DATE, CLASS PERIOD, and the STANDARD, must be on all papers
you turn in.
o If you are turning in an assignment that is on teacher provided paper- Your NAME, DATE, and
CLASS PERIOD, should be on all worksheets or teacher provided sheets.
o Notes- I strongly recommend putting your NAME, DATE, and STANDARD on daily notes.
This will help with review.
 Turning in Assignments: You are responsible for turning in assignments on time and in the proper
location. There will be a specified basket for your class period to turn in assignments. IF YOUR
WORK IS NOT IN THE BASKET WHEN WORK IS COLLECTED, IT WILL BE LATE.
o Homework will be graded at the beginning of each class period. Homework will then be
reviewed for 5 minutes at the beginning of class. An entire week’s worth of homework will
consist of 1 homework grade. Homework will be recorded in the gradebook every Friday.
Homework must be turned in the day it is due for credit. NO LATE HOMEWORK WILL BE
ACCEPTED.
 Using Class Resources:
o You are welcome to read any of the books/magazines located in my classroom.
o Student Supplies- Supplies boxes will be assigned to each student. The boxes contain crayons, a
ruler, highlighter, glue stick, and scissors. You may only use the supply boxes when need for
classroom activities.
o Borrowing Pens/Pencils etc. - You must provide some sort of collateral when borrowing supplies
from the teacher. School IDs work best!
o Borrowing Pens/Pencils etc. - You must provide some sort of collateral when borrowing supplies
from the teacher. School IDs work best!
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Leaving the Room:
o Restroom/Nurse/Office/Media Center etc- You must have a pass signed by the teacher to leave
the classroom. You are responsible for your actions when you leave my classroom.
o Fire Drills/Assemblies etc- You are to stay close to the teacher at all times. I will have a bright
orange paper with PAXTON RM 403 printed on it. You should be present for roll call and head
counts. If you are not present, it will constitute cutting class.
Make Up Work:
o It is your responsibility to make-up work you miss while you are out. I WILL NOT seek you
out. I am available by appointment to make up missed assignments or for extra help. Make-up
work and missed notes will be placed in the “While You Were Out” folder at the front of the
classroom. Any work not collected or made up within 5 days will remain a zero. Per the student
handbook, “only lawful (excused) or out-of-school suspension cases will students be allowed to
make up missed work within a five day period. All other absences will result in zeros for missed
work.”
VI. Course Topics and Tentative Schedule: United States History and Constitution
USHC – 1: Colonies, American Revolution, and New Nation- 10 Days- Test on September 4, 2013
USHC – 2: Sectionalism and Manifest Destiny- 5 Days- Test on September 11, 2013
USHC – 3: Sectionalism, The Civil War, and Reconstruction- 7 Days- Test on September 20, 2013
USHC – 4: 19th c. Industrialism, Politics, and Society- 10 Days- Test on October 4, 2013
USHC – 5: Isolationism, Imperialism, and World War I- 6 Days- Test on October 14, 2013
Midterm Review: 2 Days- October 15 and 16, 2013
Midterm Exam: 2 Days- Exam on October 17 or 18, 2013 (depending on class period)
USHC – 6: Traditionalism, Progressivism, Boom, and Bust- 7 Days- Test on October 30, 2013
USHC – 7: World War II and Post-War US- 9 Days- Test on November 13, 2013
USHC – 8: Contemporary Social, Economic, and Political Issues- 9 Days- Test on November 26, 2013
EOC Review: 9 Days- December 2-12, 2013
EOC Exam: 1 Day- December 13, 2013
VII. Evaluation:
Classwork/Daily Grades: Classwork will be assigned on a daily basis. Sufficient time will be given to
complete assignments. However, if the student does not complete the assigned classwork during the designated
time period, the assignment will need to be completed on the student’s own time.
Homework: Homework will be assigned Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (Fridays will be at the
teacher’s discretion.) United States History and Constitution is a rigorous course and will require out of school
assignment completion. Most homework assignments will consist of one or two workbook pages. Workbooks
will be provided by the teacher, may be written in by the student, and will be check by the teacher DAILY!
Quizzes: There will be both scheduled quizzes and pop quizzes in this class. Quizzes will consist of
information given in class, information found in the book, maps, graphs, key concept words, and other
resources used in class. Weekly Concept Quizzes will be given on Fridays.
Tests: Tests will be given at the end of each topic studied. Each test will consist of 50-65 EOC style multiple
choice questions and will gradually become cumulative as the semester goes on.
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Projects: Projects may be assigned throughout the semester. Sufficient time will be given to complete each
project/essay. However, if the student does not complete the assignment during the designated time period, the
assignment will need to be completed on the student’s own time. If any materials other than paper, pens and/or
pencils are needed to complete the assignment, those supplies will be issued to the students by the teacher.
Midterm: A comprehensive midterm will be given in this class. The content will include information from all
of the standards (1-5) studied up until that point, as well as, information given in class about geography, graphs,
etc. This midterm will consist of 50-65 EOC style multiple choice questions.
Final Exam: There will be a comprehensive End Of Course Exam given to all students enrolled in this course.
This test counts as 20% of the final grade. Students are not able to exempt this test.
Notebook Requirements: I suggest all United States History and Constitution students maintain a notebook
with notes, handouts, assignments, etc. I will not check the notebook for a grade, however, it will be beneficial
when preparing for the EOC.
Bell Ringer: I require all United States History and Constitution students to record and answer a daily bell
ringer. There will be a prompt on the board or screen each day as you arrive in class. It will either be a sample
EOC style question or a short answer that the student will have to research. It is your responsibility to write the
question, and the correct answer in the provided Bell Ringer chart.
Late Work: LATE WORK WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED FOR EXCUSED ABSENCES. (See policy in
handbook).
Extra Credit: Students will have two standing extra credit options: 1- “Trading Cards” are worth a possible 1
point for the 1st card, and 2 points each for the 2nd and 3rd cards. Students have the option of completing 1, 2, or
3 cards. (A total of 1 point for 1 card, 3 points for 2 cards, or 5 points for 3 cards will be given.) 2- “Tissue
Box” is worth a possible 6 points. Students will purchase their own box of tissues (rectangle) and use a major
theme in the class to fill in information (more info. given in class). Students may do either the trading cards OR
the tissue box, not both.
Achievement: In this class, failure is not an option. I believe each student deserves a chance at success. If a
student receives a grade of below 70 on a test (not exam), project, or quiz that student will have the opportunity
to make up the assignment until the grade of 70 is achieved. This excludes initial grades received as a result of
unacceptable conduct, such as, cheating or insubordination. The student must submit a written request to the
teacher during the same class period in which he/she received the grade in question. All Achievement work
must be completed within 5 school days of the original assignment before or after school.
Semester Percentages: Q1 is worth 40% of the overall grade. Q2 is worth 40% of the overall grade. Exam
(EOC) is worth 20% of the overall grade. 100% total
Course Percentages: Homework and Classwork are worth 20% (combined). Quizzes are worth 30%.
Tests/Projects are worth 50%. 100% total.
Disclaimer:
The policies and schedule provided are subject to change without notice.
I recommend each student keep this syllabus in their notebooks at all times.
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