APUSH Syllabus

AP US HISTORY (APUSH)

Mr. Eldridge

Introduction to the Course:

Advanced Placement United States History is a challenging course that is meant to be the equivalent of a freshman college History course and can earn college credit. It is a two-semester survey of American History from the migration of Native Americans across the Beringia to the current day. Solid reading and writing skills, along with a willingness to devote considerable time to homework and study, are necessary to succeed. Emphasis is placed on critical and analytical thinking skills, essay writing, and the interpretation of primary and secondary sources.

Texts of Reference:

Kennedy, David M. author. The American Pageant: a History of the American People. Boston, Massachusetts: Cengage Learning, 2016.

Units of Study:

Unit One: 1491-1607---In this unit, the focus is on three areas: characteristics of pre-Columbian Native American societies; the Columbian Exchange; and how European, Native American, and African societies changed as cultures converged.
Unit Two: 1607-1754---This unit focuses on conflict and compromise between European colonizers and American Indians, the differences between the three colonial regions, and reasons for the institutionalization of slavery.
Unit Three: 1754-1800---In this unit, students focus on the tightening of British imperial control through new laws and restrictive measures, colonial reactions to this tightening, and the British reaction to the colonial reaction (which resulted in war and the birth of a new nation with a separate national identity).
Unit Four: 1800-1848---This unit focuses on westward migration; the growth and development of American democracy; and the accompanying economic, territorial, demographic, and cultural changes.
Unit Five: 1844-1877---This unit continues westward expansion and focuses on the conflicts resulting from domestic and international migration during this period. Students will learn about the similarities and differences between the North and the South, learn the arguments for and against slavery, and evaluate proposals to resolve the issue of the expansion of slavery in the territories.
Unit Six: 1865-1898---This unit covers the transformation of America from a predominantly rural, agricultural society to an urban, industrial society — a transformation that led to economic, political, diplomatic, social, environmental, and cultural changes. It deals with the rise of big business and organized labor, domestic and foreign migrations, and the agricultural revolution that accompanied the industrial revolution.
Unit Seven: 1890-1845---This unit focuses on how an increasingly ethnically diverse the United States began its rise to world power status and, along the way, dealt with the expansion of federal power to meet the challenges of a new century (Progressivism), World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. During this time period, American society was greatly transformed
Unit Eight: 1945-1980---The United States became a superpower after World War II, and this new status led to changing political and economic responsibilities at home and abroad and a changing social climate in the United States Topics covered include the Cold War and its impact on domestic and foreign affairs; causes of conflict in the Middle East; the civil rights movement; and the rapid economic, demographic, and technological changes that led to significant political and moral debates.
Unit Nine: 1980-Current Day---This unit covers the rise of the conservative movement and the impact of globalization. Students will also look at the foreign policy of presidents from Ronald Reagan to the present and the impact of the “war on terror."

Teacher Procedures/Expectations:

You are expected to be in class every day. The APUSH content is extensive and requires in-class attendance for success.
Keep the classroom clean and put classroom supplies back where you found them.
Please use the restroom during class changes. It is a distraction for you, other students, and the teacher to leave class for the restroom.
If the teacher has made you aware of a test, which is scheduled on a day you are absent, you have the responsibility to make arrangements the following day after school or during an open time to make the missed test up.

Grading:

90% - 100% = A 80% - 89% = B 70% - 79% = C 60% - 69% = D

Below 60% = See me regarding makeup work and tests - but not at the end of the semester!

Advanced Placement US History Test:

The APUSH test will be 3 hours and 55 minutes assessment, to include two different sections. Section 1 is a multiple-choice section with short-answer questions and Section 2 is a Free Response (DBQ/LEQ Essay) section. Respondents will be scored based upon a scale from 1-5. In most schools across the country, a score of a 3 will give the student 3-6 hours of college credit, based upon the school's AP Credit Policy.

https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/creditandplacement/search-credit-policies

Evaluations:

Content Quizzes = 50 points per assessment
Unit Tests=200 points per test
Random Composition Book Checks=100 points per check
Projects, Class Participation & Daily Assignments= Grade will vary upon assignment (10-200 points)

Makeup Work:

At the beginning of class on the day you return, you will be expected to turn in any assignments that were collected while you were out. At the end of class, check with me to see what you missed and to pick up handouts, arrange to make up tests, quizzes, etc. Turn in any missed assignments in the next class session. This is your responsibility. Tests and Quizzes will be made up during lunch on the day the teacher assigns.

***If the student does not contact the teacher for his/her missing work in the time permitted, the student will not receive credit for said assignment. For example: if the child misses two days he/she will have two days to receive make-up work.***

Classroom Rules

Be courteous and respectful to those around you. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.
Be on time for class. Tardiness is very disruptive for you, me, and the other students.
Bring all needed materials (folder, composition book, paper, pen, and assignments) to class every day!

Consequences

All classroom rules, expectations, policies, and procedures must be followed at all times. Failure to follow these rules, expectations, policies, and procedures are followed by the following consequences:

1^st offense-VERBAL WARNING

2^nd offense-PARENT/GUARDIAN NOTIFICATION

3^rd offense-REFERRAL TO ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Remind App

I use the Remind application for reminders on homework, assessments, projects, upcoming dates, and other pertinent information for the class. If you would like to receive alerts for APUSH, via text messages, send a text message to 81010. The message should say @cmsapush and that will get you set up.