Whether it’s world history or the American Revolution, history is dynamic and inconstant – meaning it changes with time as new information comes.
Learning the history of the land you live on is empowering. Not only can it help you ace your AP History exam, but it will also enable you to find out more about your country, your reality, and your family even.
American history is amusing; it led to the creation of the United States of America. It’s a government of the people, for the people, by the people.
American history provides us with a comprehensive picture of how our current government, society, technology, and race have evolved to become what we have now.
Every history has its foundation; that foundation is a story. The history of America is filled with political, economic, and social events and people who have impacted the progress of the United States of America.
And as a citizen of the United States of America, it’s incredibly vital to know American history from 1920 to present times. So this article will thoroughly explain what is taught in high school history classes.
Benefits Of Learning History
Do you know having knowledge about a nation’s history makes a considerable contribution to making an informed citizen who can be attained in no other way?
Acquaintance with your own history is essential to becoming a contributing stand-up American. The reason behind this belief can be reviewed under four main factors:
- History cultivates a sense of patriotism and loyalty within citizens because of their ancestors’ memories, struggles, and sacrifices
- Knowledge of history is power – it encourages citizens to foster productive neighborly relationships because it teaches appreciation of diverse interests and tolerance of individual differences
- History education is the most critical socio-economic factor that affects voter decisions. The more educated a citizen is about their nation, the better-informed their vote
- History teaches the primary role of democracy, principles of political, economic, and social issues a country faces, equal rights, discrimination, and the importance of national resolution and peace
- As a citizen of America, knowing its history helps have a better understanding of the pattern of society
The American History Lessons Taught in High School
It may not have been crucial for our ancestors to know the history of the Far East, but it sure has the most significant importance for us to know about it today.
The shared experiences, events, objectives, and aspirations make a nation – these aspects can easily be understood through high school history lessons.
Those who do not know their nation’s history would never understand their community. You wonder how? Because they would not know how and what has influenced their society over time.
The history of America is more significant than our personal experiences, and its magnitude can be understood by knowing the deeds, events, and hopes of fellow Americans.
With that said, these are the most prominent eras/events in the history of America:
1. The Pre-Columbian Era
The pre-Columbian era includes all the periods in American history before the effects of European influence.
The periods start from the original settlement in the Upper Paleolithic period to the European colonization in the early modern period.
Though it mentions the native people of America, the phrase doesn’t exactly mean any known sophisticated cultures that have prospered in America (such as; Aztec, Maya, or Inka).
Instead, it refers to the European explorer; hence, the term pre-Columbian is quite complicated, to say the least.
This is why it is also crucial for students to understand European history.
2. Colonial Settlement (1600 – 1783)
During the 1600s, England pursued rivaling the other European powers by establishing different colonies in North America.
The English, Dutch, Spanish, and French immigrants established their colonies on the Atlantic coast. And the first colony established by English people was at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607.
The goal of colonists and their supporters was to bolster England’s territorial domination.
3. The American Revolution
The American Revolution includes the events where British colonists in America decided to rebel against the rule of Great Britain.
The colonies and their leaders fought many battles to gain their freedom and successfully became an independent country of the United States.
This revolution played a significant role in unleashing powerful political, economic, and social forces that later transformed into large political parties and social communities.
The American Revolutionary War lasted from 1773 until 1783. Finally, the British and Americans agreed on November 30, 1782.
They signed a final treaty called the Peace of Paris on September 10, 1783. And this agreement was quite favorable to the United States.
4. The New Nation (1783 – 1615)
The leaders miraculously pulled off the impossible and won their war against the British, securing a favorable national boundary in the peace treaty of 1783.
These troubles surfaced the new nation, and the country seemed to collapse as quickly as it had been established.
The government was too weak to control the powerful state, unable to pay taxes, the constitution lacked its revenue, and couldn’t after an army or navy.
During this time, the Americans had two parties - the Republicans and the Federalists.
The Republicans
The leader of the Republicans was Alexander Hamilton. And the rest of the republicans favored the states’ rights and wanted to execute the strict interpretation of the constitution.
The Federalists
The leader of the Federalists was Thomas Jefferson. This political team encouraged manufacturing and commerce.
However, the Federalists had a strong interest in a powerful central government and wanted to execute a loose interpretation of the constitution.
5. National Expansion and Reform
A small republic established by George Washington’s generation became the world’s largest democracy. The national expansion and reform led the Americans to feel optimistic about the future.
Moreover, the political power reinforced by religious revivals led by American citizens supported the national development and social reforms.
The reforms included improving the treatment of the poor, the insane, prisoners, abolishing slavery, promoting temperance, attaining equal rights for women, and creating public school systems.
However, this national expansion and reform declined in the 1850s due to a conflict between the North and South over the slavery aspect.
Role Of American History In High School
Other subjects such as high school social studies, geography, and civics also help develop intelligent and loyal citizens.
Specifically, the subject of art aids in creating sympathetic and well-rounded individuals. Hence, each subject taught in high school has a definite place in the curriculum.
With that said, here are some specifics about high school American history:
Provides A Realistic Outlook Of Life
The importance of history is not based on its ideas but its material and methods. American history relates to its people’s social and political experiences in a realistic and detailed view.
Instead of dealing with specific events and objectives, American history focuses on the experiences of communities and the achievements of ordinary individuals.
Is Taught Like A Story: Helps Students Relate
History might sound boring to most students because the materials, events, and goals of American history are arranged in chronological order.
It leads to stress in understanding the concepts, development, and continuity. Unlike other subjects, high school history lessons present the facts of social and political experiences in the same order and tone in which it has occurred.
Prepares Responsible Thinkers And Decision Makers
The value of American history in preparing future citizens and voters for intellectual participation in economics and politics is vital.
A citizen with ample history knowledge makes an intelligent decision and votes as he is well-aware of the nation’s policies and its results.
More important than knowing specific events and facts, studying American history enables students to think about historical development.
A student acquainted with the history of America would realize the gradualness and certainty of a change.
Develops Critical Thinking Skills
Students would develop the critical thinking ability to understand the simplest social problems or the usefulness of a simple solution.
The students may not all become historians or even forget the legendary events in a year, but they become more disciplined, considered, and rigorous thinkers through American history.
In addition, American high school history lessons train students to avoid extreme optimism, keeping men from identifying a problem.
Therefore, learning history deepens and improves one’s ability to think. We all use history in making both individual and group decisions.
Knowing American history is essential to every citizen as it greatly influences the life of the society and community we live in.
Ready to Become a Well-Informed Citizen?
American history courses are a comprehensive guide offering a true picture of American society, emphasizing social communities instead of individuals and solutions instead of problems.
The high school history classes allow students to explore the record of human decisions and experiences.
We, as a citizen, must know our history if we want to understand our nation and deal with its problems. And to learn American history in your time, there is no better platform than Superprof.
With over 800+ professional history tutors, the American history course offered by Superprof can be a standalone curriculum.
Learn all about the history of the United States of America and its evolution of civilizations, politic, culture, art, and literature through time.
Sign up for an online history course to start a fulfilling path of educational enrichment and a successful career.
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