Honors US II
Themes Project 2012
Description:
US II Historical theme projects are designed to provide the student with analytic skills and factual
knowledge necessary to deal critically with problems in American history related to the study of US
government & economics. The study of a variety of topics in fields such as economic history, social
history, political history, and diplomatic history tied to the study of political science gives the student the
skills necessary to arrive at informed conclusions based on past & present reason.
Objectives:
1. To give students a grounding in the subject matter of history.
2. To enable students to use these series of historical problems or topics to analyze current
political problems and issues.
3. To give students practical experience in striking a balance between factual knowledge and
critical analysis.
4. To develop critical thinking skills through encouraging students to think conceptually about the
American past and then use systematic, analytical decision making skills to discus and solve
present political problems.
5. To compare the historical time period with the concepts of political science and intertwine
economic precepts into the thesis development of projects.
Method of Presentation: Each month students will be presented with a specific time period. Students
will spend the entire month studying, researching Themes within the time period and compiling the
information in an Essay.
February- Industrialism 1870-1890
March– Expansion 1870-1910
Monthly Themes could include:
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Change/ Transformation
Political/Presidential Election
Reform
Religion
War & Diplomacy
Industrialism 1870-1890
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Transportation revolution-Railroads
Effects of technological development Market economy
National politics and the influence of corporate power
Social & Class Structure changes-workers and the work place
Immigration & migration-the changing face of America
Labor & Unions
Social Darwinism-Social Gospel
Urbanization-the lure of the city
City problems and machine politics
Intellectual & cultural movements
Utopian communities
Popular entertainment
Presidential Elections
Social & Class Structure
Origins of the ‘New South’
Expansionism 1880 -1910
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Development of the West
Expansion of Western Railroads
Competitors for the West: miners, ranchers, homesteaders, and Native Americans
Government policy toward American Indians
Indian Wars & treaties
Gender, race & Ethnicity in the far West
Spanish American War & Diplomacy
Political & economic Expansion
Latin American Relations-central America
US emergence as a World Power- sail of the Great White Fleet
Open Door Policy in China