AP U.S History
Semester 2 Syllabus
Unit 8 The Gilded Age Chapters 23-26 (12 Days)
Day 1 Chapter 23 Political Paralysis in the Gilded Age Text 538-564
Objective Explain the political faults and reasons for corruption in the Grant
administration
Reading: Wikispaces U.S. Grant Biography
Wikispaces Rutherford Hayes Biography
Day 2 Chapter 23 Public Service or Self Serving
Objective Explain how corruption and patronage gave politics and the period a black eye
Reading: Wikispaces James Garfield Biography
Wikispaces Chester Arthur Biography
Day 3 Chapter 23 Cleveland finds the going tough
Objective Explain the importance of the Tilden Compromise and the little reform Grover
Cleveland brought to the nation.
Reading: Wikispaces Grover Cleveland Biography
Day 4 Chapter 24 Industry Comes of Age Text 563-594
Objective Explain the steps in creating a continental economy and how America took the
necessary steps to build the transportation/communication network that linked the
country.
Reading: Wikispaces “The Last Spike”
Portrait of America Vol. II Master of Steel: Andrew Carnegie Written
Summary
Day 5 Chapter 24 Power with a philosophy
Objective Define Monopoly. Analyze how Carnegie and Rockefeller built a blue print
for trusts.
Reading: Wikispaces Benjamin Harrison Biography
Wikispaces “The Haymarket Riot”
Day 6 Chapter 24 Power with an Organization
Objective Examine the failures of labor to organize and to keep up with the
consolidations of monopolies.
Reading: Portrait of America Vol. II The Lady Vs. Goliath: Ida Tarbell Takes on
Standard Oil Co.
Day 7 Chapter 25 America Moves to the City Text pages 595-632
Objective Explain urbanization and immigration during the industrial era. Discuss how
Nativists reacted to the “New” immigrants
Reading: After the Fact A Mirror With A Memory
Day 8 Chapter 25 Religion rivaled, reform unresolved.
Objective Discuss the need for reform in city life. Analyze the Temperance Movement
of the late 19th century.
Reading: Wikispaces “Carrie Nation”
Day 9 Chapter 26 The Great West and the Agricultural Revolution Text pages 633-668
Objective Analyze the demise of the Native American culture
Reading: Wikispaces “Massacre At Wounded Knee”
Day 10 Chapter 26 Sodbusters and the Agricultural Revolution
Objective Examine the rise of agriculture as big business. Analyze how problems of the
American farmer led to a third political party.
Reading
Day 11 Unit 8 Exam Essay and Historical Significance
Day 12 Unit 8 Exam Multiple Choice
UNIT 9 A New World Frontier and the Emergence of America
as a World Power
Chapters 27-28 (8 Days)
Day1 Chapter 27 Empire and Expansion Text pages 669-699
Objective Analyze the importance of expansion of an empire and the justification of
imperialism.
Reading Wikispaces William McKinley Biography
Day 2 Chapter 27 The Causes of War with Spain
Objective Critique the reasons for going to war with Spain. How did the press push
America to war?
Reading Wikispaces “The Rough Riders Charge San Juan Hill”
Day 3 Chapter 27 Troubles with a New Empire
Objective Analyze the treaty with Spain and the “Benevolent Imperialism” of McKinley
Reading Portrait of America Vol. II America’s First Southeast Asian War: The
Philippine Insurrection
Day 4 Chapter 27 Roosevelt’s Big Stick Diplomacy
Examine Roosevelt’s use of the Monroe Doctrine and the building of the Panama Canal
Reading Wikispaces Theodore Roosevelt Biography
Wikispaces “Building the Panama Canal”
Day 5 Chapter 28 Progressivism and the Republican Roosevelt Text Pages 702-727
Objective Examine the roots of the Progressive movement and Roosevelt’s Square Deal
Reading Portrait of America Vol. II Theodore Roosevelt: President Written Summary
Day 5 Chapter 28 Roosevelt the Trust Buster
Objective Examine Roosevelt’s use of the federal government in ending trusts.
Discuss the impact of the Muckrakers.
Reading After The Fact USDA Government Inspected
Day 6 Chapter 28 The Taft-Roosevelt Rupture
Objective Critique the Taft presidency and how he failed the progressive cause
Reading Wikispaces William Taft Biography
Day 7 Unit 9 Exam Essay and Historical Significance
Day 8 Unit 9 Exam Multiple Choice
Unit 10 Wilson, War, and The Roaring Twenties
Chapters 29-31 ( 12 Days)
Day 1 Chapter 29 Wilsonian Progressivism at Home and Abroad Text Pages 728-745
Objective Analyze the importance of the 1912 election. Critique the Wilson
administration and his success in achieving his agenda.
Reading Wikispace Woodrow Wilson Biography
Day 2 Chapter 29 Moral Principles in Foreign Policy
Objective Compare and contrast the moral and big bank policies and evaluate the
effectiveness of each. Defend or criticize Wilson’s action in Mexico.
Reading
Day 3 Chapter 29 Wilson’s Neutrality
Objective Analyze Wilson’s decision to remain neutral and how the Central Powers
made that impossible
Reading Wikispaces “Sinking the Lusitania”
Day 4 Chapter 30 The War to End War Text pages 748-769
Objective Analyze how Americans prepared for the war effort and critique the
government’s loyalty efforts.
Reading Wikispaces “War in the Air”
Wikispaces “Americans Join the War in Europe”
Day 5 Chapter 30 America at War Over There
Objective Analyze the American war effort in Europe. How did America turn the tide?
Reading Portrait of America Vol. II Hell Cannot Be So Terrible: Trench Warfare on the
Western Front
Day 6 Chapter 30 It’s Over. The end of the fighting in Europe
Objective analyze the Treaty of Versailles. How did it set the stage for World War II?
Reading Portrait of America Vol. II Woodrow Wilson Wouldn’t Yield Written
Summary
Day 7 Chapter 31 American Life in the Roaring Twenties Text Pages 770-797
Objective Analyze the Red Scare and how conformity/intolerance led to anti-immigrant
feelings. Examine the factors that lead to prohibition.
Reading After the Fact Sacco and Vanzetti
Day 8 Chapter 31 The Twenties and the Rise in Prosperity
Objective Explain the prosperity and its connection to productivity. Analyze the effects
of the radio and the automobile are felt by Americans.
Reading Wikispaces “Radio and its Evils Arrive”
Day 9 Chapter 31 Prohibition and The Era of The Gangster
Objective Examine the issue of prohibition and the 18th Amendment. How did this act
cause the growth of organized crime in America?
Reading Wikispaces “The Flapper”
Wikispaces “ Lindbergh Crosses the Atlantic”
Wikispaces “Al Capone, Patriot”
Wikispaces “Prohibition”
Day 10 Chapter 31 The Culture of the Twenties
Objective Analyze the cultural activities that were popular in America during the
Roaring Twenties.
Reading Portrait of America Vol. II Flappers, Freudians, and All That Jazz
Day 11 Unit 10 Exam Essay and Historical Significance
Day 12 Unit 10 Exam Multiple Choice
UNIT 11 The Bull Market, The Crash, and The Aftermath
Chapters 32-33 ( 8 Days)
Day 1 Chapter 32 The Politics of Boom and Bust Text Pages 798-822
Objective Analyze the Harding administration, What were the shortcomings of his
presidency?
Reading Wikispaces Warren Harding Biography
Day 2 Chapter 32 Stay Cool With Coolidge.
Objective Examine the Coolidge presidency. How did his Laissez Faire policies set the
stage for disaster?
Reading Wkispaces Calvin Coolidge Biography
Day 3 Chapter 32 The Great Crash of 1929
Objective Analyze the Hoover presidency and the events that led up to the stock market
crash of 1929. Discuss how Hoover reacted to these events.
Reading Wikispaces Herbert Hoover Biography
Wikispaces “Crash”
Portrait of America Vol. II Under Hoover, The Shame and Misery Deepened
Day 4 Chapter 33 The Great Depression and the New Deal Text Pages 823-852
Objective Examine the election of 1932. Compare and contrast how Hoover and Franklin
Roosevelt dealt with the Great Depression.
Reading Wikispaces Franklin Delano Roosevelt Biography
Day 5 Chapter 33 The New Deal Programs of FDR
Objective List and explain the many public works projects and administrations that the
Roosevelt administration enacted in the 1930’s.
Reading Wikispaces “Roosevelt’s New Deal”
Day 6 Chapter 33 The Political Challenges for FDR
Objective examine the difficulties that FDR faced in trying to enact his legislation. How
did FDR attempt to overcome the Supreme Court?
Reading
Day 7 Unit 11 Exam Essay and Historical Significance
Day 8 Unit 11 Exam Multiple Choice
Unit 12 The World At War……Again. Chapters 34-35
(10 Days)
Day 1 Chapter 34 Franklin Roosevelt and the Shadow of War Text Pages 853-874
Objective analyze America’s reaction to the rise of Dictators in the world.
Reading Portrait of America Vol. II Franklin and Eleanor: The Early Wartime White
House
Day 2 Chapter 34 Staying Under Cover
Objective Analyze the Neutrality Laws and how they prevented America from slowing
down Hitler and Mussolini as they advanced through Europe.
Reading
Day 3 Chapter 34 The Negatives of Neutrality
Objective Analyze America’s efforts to aid the Allies and whether America forced the
Japanese hand in the Pacific.
Reading
Day 4 Chapter 35 America In World War II Text Pages 875-907
Objective Examine the attack on Pearl Harbor and the immediate effects it had on the
American war effort. Discuss the early Naval battles in the Pacific.
Reading Wikispaces “Pearl Harbor”
Day 5 Chapter 35 Fighting the War in Europe
Objective Explain the “Europe First” strategy. Analyze the major battles of the
European campaign.
Reading
Day 6 Chapter 35 Winning the War in Europe
Objective Analyze the war in Europe from The D-Day to final German Surrender.
Reading Portrait of America Vol. II America and the Holocaust
Wikispaces “D-Day”
Day 7 Chapter 35 Island Hopping in the Pacific
Objective Examine the strategy used by America to fight the Japanese in the Pacific.
Reading Wikispaces “Iwo Jima”
Wikispaces “Dropping the Atom Bomb”
Day 8 Chapter 35 Winning the War in the Paciifc
Objective Analyze the march toward Tokyo. Discuss the decision to drop the atomic
bomb……twice.
Reading Portrait of America Vol. II The Biggest Decision: Why We Had To Drop The
Atomic Bomb”
Day 9 Unit 12 Exam Essay and Historical Significance
Day 10 Unit 12 Multiple Choice
Unit 13 The Cold War and America in the 1950’s
Chapters 36-37 ( 12 Days)
Day 1 Chapter 36 The Cold War Begins Text Pages 910-942
Objective analyze the differences and objectives of the world’s two superpowers
following World War II.
Reading
Day 2 Chapter 36 Containment and Fighting Communism
Objective Explain Kennan’s containment policy and how Truman implemented it with
his doctrine and the Marshall Plan.
Reading Wikispaces Harry Truman Biography
Day 3 Chapter 36 1949 and its Aftermath.
Objective analyze the importance of the events in 1949 including China and the Soviet
Union. Discuss how this will shape American policy.
Reading Portrait of America Vol. II Harry Truman: One Tough Son of a Bitch of a Man
Day 4 Chapter 36 The Korean Conflict
Objective examine the events that pulled the United States into the Korean War.
Reading Wikispaces “ North Korea Challenges the United Nations”
Day 5 Chapter 36 A Stalemate on the Peninsula
Objective analyze how the Korean War became a political issue for America. How did
the war end?.....or did it?
Reading Wikispaces “Firing MacArthur”
Day 6 Chapter 37 The Eisenhower Era Text pages 943-971
Objective Analyze the economic prosperity that developed in the 1950’s. Examine the
factors that contributed to this era of consumerism.
Reading Wikispaces Dwight Eisenhower Biography
Wikispaces “Elvis”
Day 7 Chapter 37 I Like Ike
Objective Analyze the appeal of Eisenhower. Contrst this with the negatives of Joseph
McCarthy.
Reading Wikispaces “McCarthy Meets His Match”
Day 8 Chapter 37 Civil rights in the Fifties
Objective Examine the life of African Americans in the deep south during the 1950’s.
Analyze the steps the Federal Government took, or did not take, to address the situation.
Reading Wikispaces “The Front of the Bus”
Wikispaces “First Day of School in Little Rock”
Day 9 Chapter 37 The Continuing Cold War
Objective Analyze Eisenhower’s “New Look” foreign policy. Discuss the rising
concerns in SE Asia.
Reading
Day 10 Chapter 37 The Rise of Kennedy
Objective Examine the presidential election of 1960. Discuss how the era of television
in presidential politics is born.
Reading Portrait of America Vol. II Eisenhower and Kennedy: Contrasting Presidents in
a Fearful World
Day 11 Unit 13 Exam Essay and Historical Significance
Day 12 Unit 13 Exam Multiple Choice
UNIT 14 THE STORMY SIXTIES AND THE
STALEMATED SEVENTIES Chapters 38-39 (12 DAYS)
Day 1 Chapter 38 The Stormy Sixties Text Pages 972-1001
Objective Examine the Kennedy administration. Was it really Camelot?
Reading Wikispaces John F. Kennedy Biography
Wikispaces “The Cuban Missile Crisis”
Day 2 Chapter 38 The Fight For Civil Rights Sixties Style
Objective Analyze the civil rights movement as it evolved in the sixties. Examine Dr.
Martin Luther King’s leadership.
Reading Portrait of America Vol. II Trumpet of Conscience: Martin Luther King Jr.
Written Summary
Wikispaces “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”
Day 3 Chapter 38 The Death of a President
Objective Examine the Kennedy assassination.
Reading Wikispaces “President Kennedy is Assassinated”
Day 4 Chapter 38 The Rise of the Great Society
Objective Analyze the Presidency of Lyndon Johnson from a domestic policy
perspective. Critique the Great Society initiative.
Reading Wikispaces Lyndon Johnson Biography
Wikispaces “The Vietnam War Begins”
Day 5 Chapter 38 A Place Called Vietnam
Objective Examine the causes and early events relating to the Vietnam War.
Reading Portrait of America Vol. II Trapped: Lyndon Johnson and the Nightmare of
Vietnam
Day 6 Chapter 38 Peace With Honor
Objective Analyze the Vietnam War from the Tet Offensive through the withdrawal.
Reading Wikispaces “The My Lai Massacre”
Wikispaces “Police Break-up a Student Protest”
Day 7 Chapter 39 The Stalemated Seventies Text Pages 1002-1030
Objective Examine the early years of the Richard Nixon Presidency. How did he open
up China?
Reading Wikispaces Richard Nixon Biography
Wikispaces “The Watergate Cover-up Begins”
Day 8 Chapter 39 Nixon’s Landslide of ‘72
Objective Examine Nixon’s reelection. Discuss the Watergate break-in.
Reading After The Fact Instant Watergate
Day 9 Chapter 39 Nixon Out Ford In
Objective Examine the Nixon resignation and how Gerald Ford became the President.
Identify Stagflation.
Reading Wikispaces Gerald Ford Biography
Day 10 Chapter 39 Carter Takes Over
Objective Examine the Presidency of Jimmy Carter. How did U.S. involvement in the
Middle East change under his leadership?
Reading Wikispaces Jimmy Carter Biography
Wikispaces “ The Iranian Hostage Crisis Week One”
Day 11 Unit 14 Exam Essay and Historical Significance
Day 12 Unit 14 Exam Multiple choice
UNIT 15 Ronald Reagan and The End of The Cold War
Chapter 40 (7 Days)
Day 1 Chapter 40 The Resurgence of Conservatism Text Pages 1031-1055
Objective Analyze the Election of Ronald Reagan in 1980. How did this symbolize a
shift in American political ideology?
Reading Wkispaces Ronald Reagan Biography
Wikispaces “Ronald Reagan In The White House”
Day 2 Chapter 40 Reagan’s Reelection of 1984
Objective Examine the rising tensions in the Middle East. Analyze the reelection
campaign of 1984.
Reading
Day 3 Chapter 40 Reaganomics 101
Objective Identify the economic philosophy followed by Reagan. What is Trickle Down
economics?
Reading
Day 4 Chapter 40 Reagan and the End of the Cold War
Objective Examine Reagan’s relationship with Soviet Premier Gorbachev. How did
Reagan’s actions lead to the end of the Cold War?
Reading Portrait of America Vol. II The Man Who Broke the Evil Empire
Day 5 Chapter 40 George H. W. Bush and The Persian Gulf War
Objective Analyze the election of President George H. W. Bush. What events led to the
Persian Gulf War?
Reading Wikispaces George H. W. Bush Biography
Day 6 Unit 15 Exam Essay and Historical Significance
Day 7 Unit 15 Exam Multiple Choice
PREPARATION FOR THE NATIONAL AP EXAM WILL BE CONDUCTED
AFTER UNIT 15. AFTER THE EXAM DATE STUDENTS WILL COMPLETE A
MODERN AMERICAN HISTORY UNIT AND THEN TAKE A FINAL EXAM.