United States History through Film
Mrs. Martin - Room 228
M – F Period 8
Semesters 1 & 2
Course Description:
United States History through Film is a two semester elective course. The objective of
this course is to enhance your knowledge of significant events in United States history.
You will examine major events in United States history through various types of films
which will include Hollywood contemporary films, documentaries and American
classics. You will view an estimated 21 films this year, each will deal with a specific
time period and topic concerning the United States. Before viewing each film we will
examine the significance of the time period and/or event and its impact on the United
States. We will also look at various primary source accounts, newspaper and magazine
articles, and U.S. History text books to assess how these events have been covered by
other sources besides film. Each time period covered in this course will be broken into
three phases:



Phase 1 - Pre-film in which we gather background information on the time period
through lecture, discussion, articles and research.
Phase 2 - Viewing the film and
Phase 3 – a post film activity which will take the form of a project, debate, class
discussion, essay or quiz.
Listed below are the films and time periods that will be covered.
Film
1. The Crucible
Time Period/Event
Puritan New England/Salem Witch Trials
2. 1776
American Revolution
3. Gangs of New York
Antebellum/ Civil War/Immigration - North
4. Gone With the Wind
Antebellum/Civil War/Reconstruction - South
5. Dances with Wolves
Westward Expansion/ The American Frontier
6. The Godfather I and II
“New” Immigrant Experience/
Rise of Organized Crime
7. The Rough Riders
Spanish American War
8. The Lost Battalion
WWI
9. Iron Jawed Angels
Women’s Suffrage
10. Grapes of Wrath
Great Depression
11. Warm Springs
Life of FDR
12. Casablanca
American Neutrality/ WWII/Vichy France
13. Patton
WWII
14. Hiroshima
WWII/Use of the Atomic Bomb
15. Thirteen Days
Cuban Missile Crisis/ Kennedy Administration
16. Full Metal Jacket
Vietnam War
17. Malcolm X
Civil Rights
18. Remember the Titans
Civil Rights/Integration
19. All the President’s Men
Watergate Scandal/ Nixon Administration
20. Frost Nixon
1970s Watergate Aftermath
21. Charlie Wilson’s War
Late 20th Century – U.S- Afghanistan Relations
Course Requirements:
1) Attendance is required in each class.
2) Participation is required.
3) View all films the days they are shown in class or rent them to view at home. (In
some cases borrow the film from me to view at home).
4) Valid user name, password and authorization to access the internet is required for
this class.
5) Notebook or binder with loose-leaf paper and folder for storing handouts.
6) All work should be turned in on the date indicated on the assignment. Late work
will be penalized. After one week – late work will not be accepted.
7) If absent (with excuse), make up work should be done within 4 days.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United States History through Film
Please read the course description and requirements carefully. If you agree to the
requirements, structure and content of this course and wish to participate in this class,
both student and parent sign on the lines below. This slip should be detached and
returned no later than Friday September 6th.
Student’s signature: _______________________________________________
Parent’s signature: ________________________________________________