US/VA HISTORY PACING GUIDE
Adapted from Joseph Savel of Stafford County Schools
2009-2010
UNITS
CLASSROOM PROCEDURES
1. Colonial America
Age of Discovery, Columbian Exchange, European
Settlement of the Americas, 13 Colonies
2. The Revolution
French and Indian War, Causes, Social Contract Theory,
Key Leaders, Battles, Turning Points, Results
3. Constitutional Period
Articles of Confederation, Founding Fathers,
Constitutional Convention, Ratification, Bill of Rights
4. The National Period
Early Presidencies, Louisiana Purchase, Manifest
Destiny, Industrial Revolution, War of 1812, Monroe
Doctrine, Marshall Court
5. Civil War and Reconstruction
Slavery and Abolition, Mexican War, Compromises,
Events Leading to Civil War, Dred Scott Decision, Key
Leaders, Battles, Reconstruction
6. Industrialization, Immigration, & Progressive Era
Major Industries, Inventions, Ellis Island, Urbanization,
Segregation and Plessy v. Ferguson, Labor Movement,
Progressive Legislation and Amendments.
7. America Enters the World Stage
Imperialism, Spanish-American War, Roosevelt
Corollary, Gunboat and Dollar Diplomacy, WWI,
League of Nations
8. The Great Depression
1920s Economics, Causes, Stock Market Crash, Hoover,
FDR and The New Deal
9. WWII
Rise of Totalitarianism, Key Leaders, Battles,
Holocaust, Home Front, Geneva Convention
DATES
SOL CRITERIA
TEXT
SOL REFLECTIONS
One Week
1.5 Weeks
VUS.2
Ch.
1.5 Weeks
VUS.4
Ch.
More emphasis on French and
Indian War.
1 Week
VUS.5
Ch.
Hamilton’s Economic Plan
1.5 Weeks
VUS.6
Ch.
Emphasize Westward Expansion
and Geography
Emphasize Bank of US
1.5 Weeks
VUS.7
Ch.
Use of Income Tax and National
Currency
1.5-2 Weeks
VUS.8
Ch.
Emphasize Progressive
Amendments:16-19 and
economic concepts.
1 Week
VUS.9
Ch.
Global Trade - Dollar
Diplomacy and Open Door
Policy
2-3 Days
VUS.9
Ch.
1 Week
VUS.10 and 11
Ch
Emphasize economic concepts of
stock market, supply and
demand. Keynes
Be sure to conclude unit with
Nuremberg Trials, Geneva
Convention, and Japanese
10. The Cold War
United Nations, Marshall Plan, Containment,
McCarthyism, Arms and Space Race, Korea and
Vietnam, Détente, Berlin Wall, Reagan/Gorbachev
11. Civil Rights
Segregation, Brown v. Board, Key Leaders, Passive
Resistance, Black Militancy, Legislation and
Amendments
12. Contemporary America
Middle-East Policy, Watergate, Technology and
Information, Women in the Workplace, Reagan
Revolution, End of Cold War, Globalization, War on
Terrorism
SOL REVIEW
Occupation.
Capitalism, Socialism, and
Communism as competing
economic theories
1 Week
VUS.12
Ch.
3 Days
VUS.13
Ch.
Be sure to emphasize VA’s role in
the Movement. (i.e. Oliver Hill)
1 Day
VUS.14
Ch.
Reaganomics, Globalization,
Internet
1.5 Weeks
VUS.1 – VUS.14
Emphasis on Geography,
Economics, and Modern
America (1877-1945)
HISTORY ENRICHMENT PROJECTS
Varied
END OF THE SEMESTER EXAM
1 Day
VUS.1- VUS.14
SEMESTER-LONG THEMES AND SKILL-BUILDING
 Analysis of Primary and Secondary Sources including famous documents, photographs, and political cartoons – VUS.1
 Interpretation of Maps, Charts, and Graphs - VUS.1
 SOL was strong on having students interpret
 Physical Geography and Growth of the United States – VUS.1 & VUS.6
maps, charts, graphs, pictures, and timelines
 Democracy, Citizenship, and Group Cooperation – VUS.4 & VUS.5
for multiple-choice questions.
 Formation and Evolution of Political Parties – VUS.6 – VUS.14
 Development of US Foreign Policy – VUS.6 – VUS.14
 Need to strengthen critical thinking skills
 Contribution of Women and Minorities – VUS.2 – VUS14
versus memorization
 Role of Virginia and Stafford County in the Events of American History
 Thesis and Persuasive Essay Writing – VUS.1
 Continue to use primary sources to emphasize
 Note-taking, Reading for Comprehension, and Study Skills
critical thinking and analysis skills.
 Multiple-choice Testing Strategies