MAIN IDEA
• Focuses on the formation of
both American national
identity and group identities
in U.S. history. Student should
be able to explain how
various identities, cultures,
and values have been
preserved or changed in
different contexts of U.S.
history.
OVERARCHING QUESTIONS
• 1) How and why have
debates over American
national identity changed
over time?
• 2) How have gender, class,
ethnic, religious, regional,
and other group identities
changed over time?
MAIN IDEA
• Focuses on the development of
American economies based on
agriculture, commerce, and
manufacturing. Students should
examine ways that different
economic and labor systems,
technological innovations, and
government policies have
shaped American society.
• i.e., the relationships among
social class, racial, ethnic, and
gender groups
OVERARCHING QUESTIONS
• 1) How have changes in markets,
transportation, and technology
affected American society from
colonial time to the present day?
• 2) Why have different labor
systems developed in British NA
and the US, and how have the
affected US society.
• 3) How have debates over
economic values and the role of
government in the US economy
affected politics, society, the
economy, and the environment?
MAIN IDEA
• Focuses on why and how the
various people who move to,
from, and within the US
adapted to their new social and
physical environments…also
noting how borders affected
people.
• i.e., European arrival, slave
trade, waves of immigration,
urbanization, suburbanization,
etc…
OVERARCHING QUESTIONS
• 1) Why have people
migrated to, from, and within
North America?
• 2) How have changes in
migration and population
patterns affected American
life?
MAIN IDEA
• Focuses on ongoing debates
of the role of the state in
society and its potential as
an agent for change.
Including creating,
implementing, or limiting
political participation. Also
focuses on the changing
relationship between
branches of government.
OVERARCHING QUESTIONS
• 1) How and why have different
political and social groups
competed for influence over
society and government in what
would become the United
States?
• 2) How have Americans agreed
on or argued over the values
that guide the political systems
as well as who is a part of the
political process?
MAIN IDEA
• Focuses on the global context
in which the US originated
and developed as well as
the influence the US has on
world affairs. Particular focus
on American foreign policy.
OVERARCHING QUESTIONS
• 1) How have events in North
America and the US related to
contemporary developments in
the rest of the world?
• 2) How have different factors
influenced US military,
diplomatic, and economic
involvement in international
affairs and foreign conflicts,
both in North American and
overseas.
MAIN IDEA
• Focuses on the role of the
environment, geography, and
climate in both constraining
and shaping human actions.
How did Americans choose to
survive and thrive? Also
explore efforts to interpret,
preserve, manage, or exploit
natural and man-made
environments within particular
historical context.
OVERARCHING QUESTIONS
• 1) How did interactions with the
natural environment shape the
institutions and values of various
groups living on the North
American continent.
• 2) How did economic and
demographic changes affect
the environment and lead to
debates over use and control of
the environment and natural
resources.
MAIN IDEA
• Focuses on the roles that
ideas, beliefs, social mores,
and creative expression have
played in shaping the US.
OVERARCHING QUESTIONS
• 1) How and why have moral,
philosophical, and cultural
values changed in what
would become the US?
• 2) How and why have
changes in moral,
philosophical, and cultural
values affected US history?
• What insights have you gained about the
course and the study of history from these
themes?
• How will you approach your learning in
this course to understand these themes?
• C:\Users\BruninkKr\Desktop\7 Themes.pdf