American History Since 1865

The second half of a detailed two-year survey of the history of the United States, this course takes students from the end of the Civil War to the dawn of the twenty-first century. Lessons integrate topics in geography, civics, and economics. Students should have completed K¹² American History Before 1865 or have demonstrated familiarity with American history through Civil War times.

Building on the award-winning series from Oxford University Press, A History of US, American History Since 1865 will guide students through critical episodes in the story of post-Civil War America. Students will:

• Assess the success and failure of Reconstruction.
• Examine the impact of the settlement of the American West.
• Investigate the social, political, and economic changes that resulted from industrialization.
• Learn about the literary and artistic movements of the late 19th century.
• Explore the changing role of the US in international affairs from the late 19th century through the end of the Cold War.
• Study political and cultural changes from World War I through the 1920s and the Great Depression.
• Explore the causes of US involvement in World War II and the key figures, events, and results of the war.
• Trace major trends in the United States since 1945.

Standard Curriculum Items

• Wall Map Set
• Reconstruction and Reform by Joy Hakim (Oxford University Press, 2003)
• An Age of Extremes, Vol. 8 by Joy Hakim (Oxford University Press, 2003)
• War, Peace, and All That Jazz, Vol. 9 by Joy Hakim (Oxford University Press, 2003) 
• All the People, Vol. 10 by Joy Hakim (Oxford University Press, 2003)
• Inflatable Globe (3-6)

Total lessons: 180

Lesson time: 60 minutes

You might choose to split the lessons into smaller segments, for example, from 20 to 25 minutes. The K¹² online lesson tracking system allows you to pick up wherever you left off in any given lesson.