Mrs. Fleming
Syllabus
Advanced Placement United States History ll
Course Objectives
The second year of Advanced Placement United States History continues to challenge you to understand both the
great public events and the political, economic, social and cultural forces that underlay those events from the
nation’s acquisition of an overseas empire (text chapter 20) to the present. While you are required to master a broad
body of knowledge, it is necessary to strike a balance in teaching an AP course so that you focus on critical analysis
of major events and historical categorizations or themes.
The themes are woven throughout chapter discussions and include American diversity, the development of a distinct
American identity, economic transformations, the development of political institutions and citizenship, the recurring
calls for both political and social reforms, demographic changes, war and diplomacy, religion, the environment and
the emergence of the U.S. as a global force.
Course Procedures
Assignment Sheets: These are given at the beginning of each new chapter and contain the important themes we will
discuss, key discussion topics, your reading schedule as well dates for assignments tests, essays, and projects.
Reading: Students will be required to read every night. This will include material from the course textbook,
primary documents, and handouts.
Notebooks: You need to bring a notebook and a pen/ pencil to every
Chapter outlines are due the day of the test or essay. Notebooks will be collected at the beginning of every chapter
test. You may pick them up at the end of the day.
Writing: Students will be given practice to refine analytical writings skills. Document Based Questions or Free
Response Questions are required for almost every unit, approximately every other week. ( Three units require
different forms of essays.) Continuous improvement in writing is critical to success in this course.
Quizzes: MAY be unannounced Will be based on daily text assignments, supplemental readings and maps.
Tests: Multiple choice questions taken from the text and previous AP exams.
Daily lessons includes teacher lectures /powerpoints, class discussions, video clips, student
simulations, debates, presentations and skills development.
APUSH II Section 1
Period 2
Summer Test
9/10
Unit: 1 Imperialism
Essential Question: Why did the United States move from an isolated nation to a
colonial empire?
Themes:
1. American Identity: How belief in American exceptionalism influenced the
debate over the acquisition of overseas territory.
2. Globalization: How pressure to develop overseas markets, sources of raw
materials and desire to rank as a world power affected American foreign policy.
3. Economic Transformations: Improvements in technology lead to growth in
manufacturing capacity and access to world markets.
4. War and Diplomacy: America emerges as a world power
Topics for Discussion/Content
- Why the United States turned from the old continental concept of Manifest Destiny
to a new, worldwide expansionism. Discuss first acquisitions
- Acquisition of Alaska and Hawaii
- How the Spanish American War served as a catalyst to empire.
- Relationship of American economic interests to foreign policy
- Impact of technology on foreign policy
- Examine the role of media in forming public opinion and policy
- Role of President in forming policy
- Can a republic have an empire?
- Role of religion in imperialism debate
- Social, economic and political impact of acquiring an overseas empire
- Philippine Annexation debate: Imperialist vs. anti Imperialist Arguments
- Alfred Thayer Mahan, Theodore Roosevelt and foreign policy goals in Latin America
and Asia
Assignments:
Text – Brinkley, Section 1 Stirrings of Imperialism (pp544-549)
Examine map p 545
Section 2 War With Spain
(pp549-558)
Section 3 The Republic as Empire (pp558-562)
by
9/12
by
by
9/13
9/ 14
Simulation - Should the U.S. annex the Philippines?
Complete reading handouts by
9/14
Test: Brinkley ****
9/18
tentative
Syllabus
Mrs. Fleming
APUSH II Section 1
Period 2
Chapter 21
Progressive Era
Major Themes
1. Reform: How progressivism was a reaction to the rapid industrialization and
urbanization of the United States in the late nineteenth century
Progressive Era agenda: living and working conditions, political
reforms, antimonopoly, temperance, women’s rights, conservation
2. Economic Transformations: Growth of corporate power, struggle of labor
Impact of technology - communications and transportation revolutions
3. Demographic Changes: Urbanization and immigration
4. Politics and Citizenship: Expansion of democracy, expansion of government
at municipal, state and national levels, African-American strategies for
attaining civil rights
5. Environment: Conservation of natural resources emerges as national concern.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Compare Populists and the Progressives using the following categories: origins,
political impact, supporters, platforms, success.
To what extent was progressivism a “grass roots” bottom-up movement?
To what extent was progressivism related to Jeffersonianism and Jacksonianism?
One key to understanding the nature of reform movements is what they seek to
preserve. Would this apply to the Progressives?
Optimism of progressives and faith that active government could solve
problems and create an efficient, ordered society.
Analyze crusade like aspects of temperance, immigration restriction, and women’s
suffrage movements.
Assignments:
Text – Brinkley,
Read – Section 1 p564
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Sections 5/6
Progressive Impulse
by
Women and Reform
Assault on the Parties
Sources of Progressive Reform
Crusade for Reform/
Challenging the Capitalist Order
9/19
9/20
9//24
9/25
9/28
American Spirit Chapter 28 “Progressivism and the Republican
Roosevelt” Primary Documents Readings
p. 198 B2 Honest Graft
Test:
Tentative
p 201 picture
October 2
p 202 C1 &2
Essay: October 4
Syllabus
Mrs. Fleming
APUSH II Section 1
Period 2
CHAPTER 22: Battle for National Reform
This chapter deals with Progressive Reforms on a national level.
Themes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Reform: Progressive era agenda: living and working conditions, political
reforms, antimonopoly, temperance, women’s rights, conservation
Economic Transformations: Growth of corporate power, struggle of labor
Demographic Changes: Urbanization and immigration
Politics and Citizenship: Expansion of democracy, expansion of government at
municipal, state and national levels, African-American strategies for attaining civil
rights
Environment: Conservation of natural resources emerges as national
concern.
Globalization: U.S. deepens involvement in Latin America
Topics for Discussion
- How the 17th and 19th amendments to the constitution expanded democracy, granting more
voting power to the people.
- Role of Presidents in leading reform
- Comparison of Populists and the Progressives using the following categories: origins,
political impact, supporters, platforms, success.
- How Theodore Roosevelt’s leadership expanded role for national government authority,
especially the presidency.
- How conservation is a significant legacy of Theodore Roosevelt
- Women: Temperance and Suffrage
- Municipal and State political reforms
- National political reforms:
 immigration restriction
 Labor conditions
 Antimonopoly
 Socialism
- Taft, tariff reform, conservation, split with progressives
- Wilson, tariff and banking reforms,
- Conservative and progressive features within the administrations of T. Roosevelt, Taft and
Wilson
- Theodore Roosevelt and the Panama Canal
- Did Progressives Succeed?
1. Analyze role of Theodore Roosevelt’s leadership in new expanded role for
government.
2. Compare William H. Taft’s administration to nation’s desire for more progressive
government.
3. Compare conservative and progressive features of Woodrow Wilson’s administration.
4. Compare programs, ideologies and administrations of T.R., Taft and
Wilson.
5. Environment: Conservation of natural resources emerges as national concern.
Assignments:
1. Text – Brinkley,
Read - Section 1 (592-598) Theodore Roosevelt and the Modern Presidency
Section 2 (598-601) Troubled Succession
Section 3 (601-603) Woodrow Wilson
Section 4 (604-609) “The Big Stick”: America &the World 1901-1917
2. The American Spirit:
Chapter 33 Wilsonian Progressivism at Home and Abroad, 1912-1916
Apparts page 223-225 Theodore Roosevelt Proposes Government Regulation
& page 208 Roosevelt Defends the Forests,
Test & Notebook
Tues.
Project on “Themes in U.S. History”
10/12
p. 214 Illustration
Essay 10/12
Due 10/15
by
by
by
by
10/5
10/9
10/9
10/11
Syllabus
Advanced Placement United States History ll
Mrs. Fleming
Period 2
CHAPTER 23: The United States in the Great War
Major Themes
1.War and Diplomacy: U.S. material and military intervention provides pivotal
edge for Allies and America emerges as stronger world power.
2. Economic Transformations: Central role of government in directing war
production, changes in warfare due to technology, role of women and
minorities in workforce
3. Politics and Citizenship: Curtailment of civil liberties, support
for women’s suffrage
4.Globalization: Emergence of the U.S. as military, economic and diplomatic world
Power
Discussion Topics:
1. Trace the path of the United States into war.
2. That United States intervention provided boost needed to secure Allied victory.
3. Analyze the Wilson administration’s financing of war, management of economy and
mustering of public support.
4. That Wilson tried to apply his lofty war aims to realities of world politics and that he
substantially failed.
5. Analyze profound economic, social and racial significance of American war effort at
home and on soldiers who fought “over there”.
6. Account for the failure of the Senate to pass the Treaty of Versailles.
7. Analyze the British policy in the Middle East during & post WWI
with regard to today’s crisis. ***
8. Analyze impact of regime changes caused by WWI.
Assignments:
1. American Pageant
Handout
Chapter 30
p.746 to p. 751 (up to Workers in Wartime)
by
p.751 to p. 758 ( up to America Helps Hammer… ) by
p.758 through p. 767
by
2.
How the Middle East Got that Way
Handout
by
Thurs. Oct 18
Fri.
Oct. 19
Tues. Oct 23
Tues. Oct. 22
Themes Project Due 10/18
Test
Essay
Wed. Oct. 24
Thurs. Oct. 25
Syllabus
Advanced Placement United States History ll
Mrs. Fleming
Period 2
CHAPTER 24: The Twenties: “The New Era”
Themes:
1. Economic Transformations: - Impact of technology; the automobile
boom, growth of communications, film and radio and rise of
consumerism as causes of economic expansion of the 1920’s.
2. American Diversity: How 1920s reflected tension between groups; nativist vs.
immigrant, rural vs. urban, modern vs. traditional, black vs. white and the changing
role of women.
3. American Identity: Struggle between rural and urban values.
4. Culture: Influence of jazz , literature, film, dance and art on popular culture.
5. Religion: conflict between modern and fundamentalist approaches, conflict with
immigrant religion
Topics for Discussion/Content
- That most workers and farmers failed to share equitably in the decade’s prosperity.
- Analyze how a new consumer culture began to shape society and how the new woman
emerged.
- Analyze how the changing society disenchanted some artists and intellectuals and led to
broad cultural conflict over ethnic and religious concerns.
- That was impact of cultural conflict on immigration?
- Analyze pro-business stance of both Presidents Warren Harding and Coolidge.
- Did the decade represent a conflict between rural and urban values?
- Economic Organization and Labor
- Women and Minorities in the Work Force
- “Plight of the Farmer”
- Consumerism
- Religion: Modern vs. Fundamentalism, Protestants and Catholics
- Role of Women: Changing families, professions, flappers
- Artists and Intellectuals
- Harlem Renaissance
- Prohibition
- Nativism and the KKK
- Harding and Coolidge Administrations
- Local impact of economic growth
Assignments:
1. Text – Brinkley, Read
Section 1 New Economy
Section 2. New Culture
Section 3 Conflicting Cultures
Section 4 Republican Government
Test 11/14 (tentative)
Project: Due 11/16
by
by
by
by
11/6
11/8
11/9
11/12
Syllabus
Advanced Placement United States History ll
Period 2
CHAPTER 25: The Great Depression
Major Themes:
1. Analyze how weaknesses underlying the apparent prosperity of the 1920’s
led to the Great Depression.
2. Analyze theories as to causes and duration of the depression.
3. That neither the efforts of local and private relief services nor the early volunteerism of
Herbert Hoover was able to halt the spiral of rising unemployment and declining prices.
4. Assess how the economics of the Depression affected the American people.
5. Was it a failure of capitalism?
6. Distinguish between the monetarist and under consumption theories and why they are
important.
Assignment:
1. Text – Brinkley, p. read overview
 Coming of Great Depression p.666-671 by 11/27
Be sure to read “Where Historians Disagree”, very important for understanding
current government economic policy debate.

American People in Hard Times p.672-678 11/29
Be sure to read “The Global Depression”. Shows how interconnected the economies
were, even in the 1930s.

Depression and American Culture p.678-685

Ordeal of Herbert Hoover p.685-689
11/30
11/30
2. The American Spirit: Ch.36 The Politics of Boom and Bust
Twenties Invitation Rationales
due 12/3
Stock Tracking Activity
Stock Research Form due date 11/30
12/20 online results
Stock Market Terms Quiz: 11/29
Test : 12/3
Syllabus
Advanced Placement United States History ll
PERIOD
2
CHAPTER 26: The New Deal
Major Themes:
1. Franklin Roosevelt’s programs of economic planning: relief, recovery, reform .
2. Analyze how protests from the left and right inspired Roosevelt to launch
Second new Deal.
3. That despite winning landslide in 1936, the New Deal was stalled by
1938, due to increasing conservative opposition, his own political
blunders and continuing hard times.
4. How new was the New Deal? In what ways was the New Deal an
extension of Jeffersonian-Jacksonian Democracy, populism and
progressivism? In what ways was it a departure from these traditions?
(Think in terms of the “Role of Government in the Economy”
continuum.)
5. F.D.R. and the New Deal : Revolutionary or conservative? Did the New
Deal totally remake the system or did it preserve the old one?
6. Was the New Deal a success or failure?
Topics for Discussion/Content
- How Roosevelt pushed through programs of economic planning, relief and recovery, despite
his basically traditional economic views.
- How the New Deal aided the power of organized labor
- How popular protests against New Deal policies from the right, left and others who defied
classification inspired Roosevelt to launch the Second New Deal
- How, despite landslide of 1936, New Deal almost moribund by 1938 due to increasing
conservative opposition, his own political blunders and continuing hard times
- Why the distinction between the monetarist and under consumption theories and are
important.
- How did the New Deal expand the role of government as a whole and the executive branch in
particular?
- What specific programs and general approaches formed the legacy of the New Deal?
- Why was the Court Fight such an important aspect of FDR’s administration?
- Limits and Legacies of the New Deal
Assignment:
1. Text – Brinkley,
I. Launching the New Deal - p. 694-698
by
Fri.
12/7
II. New Deal in Transition p. 699-703
(From Social Security)
p.704- 707
III. New Deal in Disarray p. 707-709
IV. Limits and Legacies of New Deal p.709-715
Test
Essay
Mrs. Fleming
Mon.
Tues.
12/ 17 tentative
12/18
by
by
by
by
Mon.
Wed.
Wed.
Thurs.
12/11
12/12
12/12
12/13
Syllabus
Advanced Placement United States History ll
CHAPTER 27:The Global Crisis, 1921-1941
Major Themes:
1.
That in the 1920’s the United States tried to increase its role in world
affairs, especially economically, while avoiding commitments.
2.
How America, in the face of growing world crises in the 1930’s,
turned increasingly inward toward isolationism and legislated neutrality.
3.
How war in Asia and America gradually drew the United States closer
and closer to war, until the attack on Pearl Harbor finally sparked
American entry into WWII.
4.
5.
What is the proper role of the United States in the world?
What were the major Causes of World War II?
Assignment:
1. Text – Brinkley, Sec I Diplomacy of New Era
Sec II Isolationism and Internationalism
Sec III From Neutrality to Intervention
The American Spirit: Ch.38 F.D.R. and the Shadow of War 19331939
Test 1/3
by 12/ 19
by 12/21
by 1/2
.
Syllabus
Advanced Placement United States History ll
PERIOD
2
*********MP 2 QBA Thursday 1/24**********
Work on Extra Credit Flash Cards – Due Feb. 11
CHAPTER 29: The Cold War
Major Themes:
1. Analyze how legacy of mistrust between the United States and the
Soviet Union combined with events of W.W. II to cause the Cold War.
2. What were the origins of the arms race?
3. Analyze how the policy of containment led to an increasing U.S
involvement around the world, especially Latin America, Asia and
Africa .
4. Analyze how World War II ended the depression and ushered in an era
of enormous economic growth.
5. Analyze post-war anticommunist hysteria.
6. How were Cold War fears reflected in popular culture?
6. What was the significance of the Korean War?
Assignment:
1. Text – Brinkley, Section
I
Origins of the Cold War
(Include Where Historians Disagree)
II
Collapse of the Peace
III
American Society & Politics after the War
IV
Korean War
V
Crusade Against Subversion
3. The American Spirit: Ch 40 The Cold War Begins, 1945-1952
Quiz: Capitalism /Communism
Project: Illustrated Timeline
Test
Brinkley
1/25
1/31
1/31
p.767-771
by 1/24
p.770-775
p.775-779
p.779-782
by 1/25
by 1/28
by 1/30
p. 782-786
by 1/30
Period 5
A.P.U.S.H.II
Mrs. Fleming
CHAPTER 30: The Affluent Society
Major Themes
1. Analyze growth of the middle class and suburbs along with a consumer oriented
society in the 1950’s.
2. That the Brown v. Board of Education decision of 1954 marked the
beginning of a civil rights revolution for American blacks.
3. Analyze how President Dwight Eisenhower’s business oriented “dynamic
conservatism” resisted most new reforms but did not roll back activist
government programs from the 1930’s.
4. Analyze how Eisenhower continued containment by building
alliances, supporting anticommunist regimes, maintaining the arms race
and conducting limited interventions. He also showed awareness of
American limitations and resisted further commitments.
6. Analyze impact of technology; computers, television, “space race”.
7. Analyze connection between domestic economic development and growth of U.S.
dependence on foreign oil sources.
Assignment:
Section1 Economic “Miracle”
Read
2 Explosion of Science & Technology
3 People of Plenty
4 The Other America
5 The Rise of the Civil Rights Movement
6 Eisenhower Republicanism
7 Eisenhower, Dulles and the Cold War
The American Spirit – Eisenhower Farewell Address
by
by
by
by
by
by
by
Wed.
Thurs.
Fri.
Mon.
Tues.
Wed.
Wed.
by 2/14
****** Flash Cards Extra Credit Due Mon. Feb 11.
Presentation Project
* Test Text
Brinkley
Mon.
Fri.
2/11
2/15
(tentative)
2/6
2/7
2/8
2/11
2/12
2/13
2/13
1. Demographic Changes: A bulging population migrated to the suburbs and sunbelt, leaving
cities increasingly to minorities and the poor.
2. Economic Transformations: America emerged from World War II as the world’s strongest
economic power and began a post war economic boom that lasted for two decades.
3. Politics and Citizenship: President Eisenhower and the majority of Americans held to
moderate political conservatism and cautious, family oriented perspectives on domestic
social questions.
4. Reform: An emerging civil rights movement demanded political action to address issues
of social justice.
5. Culture: Influence of popular music; Role of television in both reinforcing and
undermining consensus of 1950s;
Topics for Discussion/Content
- Cause and effect: Growth of the baby boom, middle class and suburbs along with
a consumer oriented economy and culture in the 1950’s.
- Urban decline, decline of small farms
- Brown v. Board of Education decision of 1954 marked the beginning of a civil
rights revolution for American blacks.
- Analyze President Eisenhower’s business oriented “dynamic conservatism”,
government spending and the economy
- Analyze Eisenhower’s foreign policy
- Analyze connection between domestic economic development and growth of U.S.
dependence on foreign oil sources.
- Analyze impact of technology; television “I Like Ike ,but I Love Lucy”,
automobiles, computers, sputnik and “space race”
- “The Other America”, extent of poverty amidst affluence of fifties Conformity
and rebellion in the 1950s
Period 2
APUSH II
Chapter 32
Mrs. Fleming
Crisis of Authority
CHAPTER 32: Crisis of Authority
Major Themes:
1. Analyze how movements by youth, ethnic minorities and women
challenged social norms.
2. Analyze United States rationale for entering Vietnam, our military
strategy and our exit strategy.(Go in, stay in, not win.)
3. Nixon-Kissinger foreign policy initiatives.
4. Analyze economic problem of “stagflation”.
5. Analyze Nixon and the Watergate scandal.
Assignments:
Chapter 31 Traumas of 1968
Chapter 32
Sec. I
Youth Culture
Sec. II Mobilization of Minorities
Sec. III
Sec. IV
New Feminism
Environmentalism
in a Turbulent Society
Sec. V. Nixon Kissinger and the War
Sec VI Nixon Kissinger and the World
843-846
by
Thurs
3/7
852- 856
857- 862
by
by
Fri .
Tues.
3/8
3/12
863 – 866
866 - 869
by
by
Tues.
Wed.
3/12
3/13
869 – 873
873
by
Wed.
Thurs
3/13
3/14
Sec. VII Politics and Economics Under Nixon 874- 878
Sec VIII Watergate
879 – 882
Brinkley Test
Essay
3/19
3/20
by
by
Mon
Mon.
3/15
3/18
AP U.S. History II
Mrs. Fleming
CHAPTER 33 APUSH: From “Age of Limits” to Reagan
Period 2
Major Themes:
1. Presidents Ford and Carter’s inability to handle our economic problems.
2. Analyze problems generated by the energy crisis.
Note related domestic and international issues.
3. America’s shift towards conservatism and Ronald Reagan
4. Examine Ronald Reagan’s presidency.
Note the economy and Cold War.
Assignments:
Section 1
Politics and Diplomacy After Watergate pp 886 - 889
by
Wed. Mar. 20
Section 2
Section 3
Rise of the New American Right
“Reagan” Revolution
pp 889-895
pp 895-901
by
by
Mon. Mar. 25
Mon . Mar. 25
Section 4
America and the Waning of the Cold War pp 901-907
by
Tues. Mar. 26
Note change in schedule
Essay – Chapter 32
Test–
Reminder
Friday
3/ 22
Wed 3/27
- Review outlines due - Monday, April 8