United States History I with Jerry Israel, PhD

Course Content from McGraw-Hill
Course Number: USHIST101
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Are you interest in US History but stumped by questions like these?

  • What does July 4th celebrate?
  • What are the first three words of the Constitution?
  • Who sewed the first American flag? (and how many stripes are on it?)
  • When were all slaves freed?
You're not alone...

Learn these answers and more with Professor Israel!


This self-paced course focuses on the characteristics of societies existing in the Americas prior to 1861. Students learn about European exploration and colonization of the New World and they examine the impact on Europe, Africa, and the young United States all with help from Professor Jerry Israel, an award winning educator.

This course puts into perspective the historical implications of modern day news headlines and political battles like those over gun control, immigration, presidential power and more.

The emergence of political, religious, economic, and social institutions is covered. Specific causes of the American Revolution are examined, as is the resulting impact on politics, the economy, and society. Students learn how the Industrial Revolution and Western movement changed the lives of Americans, they examine the causes and events of the Civil War, and they evaluate how Reconstruction plans succeeded or failed.

A personal note from The Professor aka Jerry Israel or even better just Jerry:

"I love the interaction possible by use of lively discussion boards in our online learning setting. There are so many interesting issues and questions to explore on our own and together. You will be among the very few who figure out things concerning very important subjects about which most people have no idea such as: How was the Constitution ratified? How were slaves freed? Plus together we can discuss questions such as "was the American Revolution a struggle for home rule or rather who should rule at home" or whether "slavery caused the Civil War." Let's get started!"

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3
college credits
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Self Paced
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History
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Buy the course for only $109 and get a copy of "The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People" at no additional cost

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6 Reviews
Overall Rating
Content Rating
  • 10/28/14 by kevinroum
    This course was very interesting and not too difficult. The textbook is crucial. All the tests come more from the book than the course videos.
    Content Rating
    Overall Rating
  • 10/28/14 by kevinroum
    This course was very interesting and not too difficult. The textbook is crucial. All the tests come more from the book than the course videos.
    Content Rating
    Overall Rating
  • 9/1/14 by dominic.dixon95
    alot of work on your own
    Content Rating
    Overall Rating
  • 8/3/14 by chriswashington2010
    This was a really good important course.
    Content Rating
    Overall Rating
  • 3/8/14 by chriswashington2010
    This was a really good important course.
    Content Rating
    Overall Rating
  • 1/9/14 by dominic.dixon95
    alot of work on your own
    Content Rating
    Overall Rating
Jerry Israel, PhD|

Total students servedTotal Students Served: 90 and counting

Dr. Jerry Israel is the former president of the University of Indianapolis and Morningside College and a veteran higher education leader with a wide array of expertise. Prior to his college and university presidencies, Dr. Israel held multiple academic and administrative posts, from chair of the history department at Illinois Wesleyan University where he was awarded for Teaching Excellence to Academic Dean of that institution and Simpson College.

As president of the University of Indianapolis from 1998 to 2005, Dr. Israel successfully led the institutions first comprehensive strategic planning and fund-raising campaign efforts. Under his aegis, the University raised more than $100 million, supported by major eight-figure grants from the Lilly Endowment and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and introduced Centers of Excellence in both teacher education and health care. The Universitys enrollment, at both its home campus and international branches, doubled during his tenure as president. At Morningside from 1993 to 1998, Dr. Israel inherited a series of challenges resulting from compliance problems with athletic programs that he successfully resolved. By facing legal and NCAA issues head-on, Morningside, under Dr. Israels leadership, regained its prestige and advanced its enrollment and fund-raising opportunities. Dr. Israel used Morningsides 1994 Centennial to launch a comprehensive redesign of its physical campus.

He also has extensive experience with college and university accreditation issues have served for more than a decade as a peer evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.

His work now centers on sharing his expertise in presidential strategy, board relations and accreditation. He focuses, in particular, on effective board communications, institutional strategic planning, fundraising and alumni affairs, crisis communications and accreditation. Dr. Israel frequently helps new presidents map out their first and most critical 100 days, six months and first year in office, assisting them in developing an evaluation tool to ensure board relations are positive and effective.

Dr. Israel is a prolific writer and speaker on higher education issues, and has served on a host of education boards and commissions focusing on developing innovative and progressive approaches in higher education leadership.

Course Objectives

After completing this Online American History Course, you will be able to:

  • Apply historical research skills to major themes in American History to 1877.
  • Analyze the characteristics of societies existing in the Americas before 1492.
  • Detect the causes of European exploration and colonization in the New World and assess the impact of these activities on Europe, Africa, and the New World.
  • Describe how political, religious, economic, and social institutions emerged in the American Colonies.
  • Specify the causes of the American Revolution and evaluate the impact of the Revolution on politics, the economy, and society.
  • Analyze how the institutions and practices of government evolved to create the foundation of the American political system.
  • Analyze territorial expansion from 1801 to 1877 and assess its effects on relations with Native Americans and external powers.
  • Synthesize and assess developments in political democracy after 1800.
  • Describe how the Industrial Revolution and Western movement changed the lives of Americans.
  • Specify the major causes and events of the Civil War and assess the impact of the war on the American people.
  • Describe the sources and character of cultural, religious, and social reform movements in the antebellum period.
  • Evaluate how various Reconstruction plans succeeded or failed.
Topic Lesson Topic Subtopics Objectives
1

Old and New Worlds Meet
  • Before Columbus
  • Looking Westward
  • The British Connection
    		•
  • Describe the origins, distribution, and cultures of societies in the Americas before 1492.
  • Explain the causes of European voyages of exploration and colonization to the New World.
  • Assess the impact of the exchange of goods, cultures, diseases, and ideas among Europe, Africa, and the New World that resulted from European exploration and colonization.
  • Describe the causes, successes, and failures of British voyages of exploration and colonization in North America.

    		•
    2

    Early Settlements
    • Chesapeake Colonies
    • New England Colonies
    • British, Spanish, and French Colonies Elsewhere
    • British Authority
    • Analyze the growth of the tobacco economy in the Chesapeake area and assess its social and political impact, including relations with Native Americans and the introduction of slavery.
    • Describe the role of religion and economics in the growth of New England colonies.
    • Describe and explain the relationship of the New England colonies to the Native Americans.
    • Compare the origins and growth of colonies in the Caribbean, Southwest, South, Middle-Atlantic area, and in Canada.
    • Analyze the factors that contributed to increased British dominance in North America.
    3 Living in Colonial America
    • Demographics and Social Patterns
    • Commerce and Consumerism
    • Enlightenment and Great Awakening
  • Analyze changes in population and social characteristics in Colonial America, for example, the growth of slavery and indentured servitude and changes in the roles of women and the structure of families.
  • Compare the economies of the colonial regions.
  • Describe and explain the growth of commerce and consumerism in the colonies.
  • Explain the impact of the Great Awakening and Enlightenment ideas on colonial society.
    		•
    4 Road to Revolution
  • Seven Years' War
  • Imperialism in Peril
  • On the Brink of Revolt
    		•
  • Assess the impact of the Seven Years' War on the move to independence.
  • Identify measures and events after the Treaty of 1763 that led to revolt.
  • Explain how the decisions of the First Continental Congress moved the Colonies towards independence.

    		•
    5 The American Revolution
  • The Decision for Independence
  • War of Independence
  • Impact of the War

    		•
    • Describe the events that led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
    • Identify the fundamental ideas of the Declaration of Independence.
    • Identify and assess the significance of major events and players in the American Revolution.
    • Specify the effects of the Revolutionary War on American political, social, and economic life, for example, on Native Americans, women, slaves, Loyalists, and on the ideology of “republicanism”.
    6 The Constitution
    • State Constitutions
    • Confederation
    • From Confederation to Constitution
    • Explain the significance of the state constitutions created after 1776 to the eventual establishment of a federal republic.
    • Identify and assess the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
    • Identify and explain key events, including the Federalist—Anti-Federalist debates and the issue of a national bill of rights, that led to the ratification of the Constitution in 1787.
    7
    		 The New Republic
  • New Government
  • National Sovereignty
  • Political Parties
    		•
  • Identify the steps taken to complete the structure of the federal government under the United States Constitution.
  • Describe the successes and failures in America 's efforts to extend control over the West.
  • Explain the origin, development, and characteristics of the Federalist and Republican political parties.

    		•
    8 Jeffersonian Era
  • Early Nineteenth Century Life
  • President Jefferson
  • Expansion and Conflict
  • American Nationalism

    		•
  • Describe the events and assess the significance of the Second Great Awakening.
  • Describe and assess the key events and decisions of Jefferson 's presidency.
  • Analyze the causes and consequences of conflict with Native Americans, the Spanish, and the British in the early Nineteenth Century.
  • Identify and assess key events during the period of nationalism following the War of 1812.
  • Explain the main issues, decisions, and consequences of the U.S. Supreme Court in Maybury v. Madison (1803).
    		•
    9 Jacksonian Era
  • New Politics
  • Andrew Jackson
  • Two Parties Emerge
    		•
  • Explain why the election of Andrew Jackson was considered a victory for the “common man.”
  • Describe and assess the significance of key events and decisions of the Jackson presidency, such as Indian Removal, Nullification and the Bank Veto.
  • Compare the views of Democrats and Whigs on government, economics, religion, and ethics.
    		•
    10 Economic Revolution
  • Population Changes
  • Transportation and Communication
  • Commerce, Agriculture, and Industry
    		•
  • Describe changes in population characteristics and distribution that occurred in the first half of the Nineteenth Century.
  • Identify and assess the impact of transportation and communication innovations in the first half of the Nineteenth Century.
  • Describe and evaluate the impact of developments in commerce, agriculture, and industry on such issues as the nature of work, the role of women, and the distribution of wealth in the first half of the Nineteenth Century.
    		•
    11 The Old South
    • King Cotton
    • White Society in the South 
    • The “Peculiar Institution”
  • Analyze and assess the social and environmental impact of the growing dominance of cotton in the South.
  • Describe the plantation system and the roles of their owners, their families, and white workers.
  • Analyze the institution of slavery as both an economic and a social system.
    		•
    12 Antebellum Period
  • Revivalism and Romanticism
  • Reform
  • Abolitionism

    		•
  • Define Transcendentalism and analyze the ideas about the individual, society, and nature expressed in the literary works of the major Transcendentalists.
  • Assess the impact of the Second Great Awakening on antebellum issues such as public education, temperance, women's suffrage, and utopianism.
  • Describe the fundamental beliefs of abolitionists and compare how the positions of African American and white abolitionists were similar and different.
    		•
    13 Build Up to War
  • Western Expansion
  • Sectionalism
  • Time of Crises
    		•
  • Explain the concept of Manifest Destiny and its relationship to the western movement of settlers and territorial expansion into areas such as Texas, Oregon, and California.
  • Assess the effects of sectional differences on the stability of the Union.
  • Analyze the causes and effects of events leading to the Civil War, such as, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Dred Scott Case, and the Lincoln-Douglas Debates.
    		•
    14 The Civil War
  • The War Begins
  • The Union and Confederacy at War
  • The Course of the War
    		•
  • Describe the events, developments, and players during the initial stages of the Civil War.
  • Compare the impact of the Civil War on the daily lives of people in the Union and in the Confederacy.
  • Describe and assess the importance of key events and developments in the Civil War.
    		•
    15 Reconstruction
  • Implementing Reconstruction
  • Impact of Reconstruction on the South
  • Abandoning Reconstruction
    		•
  • Describe and assess the policies and practices of Reconstruction, including the 14th and 15th Amendments to the U. S. Constitution and the Black Codes.
  • Explain and evaluate the short and long term social and economic consequences of Reconstruction for the South.
  • Identify the reasons for and assess the consequences of abandoning Reconstruction.
    		•
    16 Course Review
    • Review
    • Review and Final Assessment

    There are no prerequisites to take United States History I.

    The required eTextbook for this course is included with your course purchase at no additional cost. More information on StraighterLine eTextbooks

    Prefer the hard copy? Simply purchase from your favorite textbook retailer; you will still get the eTextbook for free.

    book cover

    Known for its clear narrative voice, impeccable scholarship, and affordability, Alan Brinkley's The Unfinished Nation offers a concise but comprehensive examination of American History. Balancing social and cultural history with traditional political and diplomatic themes, it tells the story of the diversity and complexity of the United States and the forces that have enabled it to survive and flourish despite division. This fifth edition features eight new essays and enhanced coverage of recent events and developments in the continuing American story.

    Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People, 5th edition, McGraw-Hill, 2004. ISBN: 9780073513232

    StraighterLine provides a percentage score and letter grade for each course. A passing percentage is 70% or higher.

    If you have chosen a Partner College to award credit for this course, your final grade will be based upon that college's grading scale. Only passing scores will be considered by Partner Colleges for an award of credit.

    There are a total of 1000 points in the course:

    Topic Assessment Points Available
    4
    		 Graded Exam #1
    		 125
    8 Graded Exam #2 125
    8 Midterm Exam 250
    12 Graded Exam #3 125
    15 Graded Exam #4 125
    16 Graded Final Exam
    		 250
    Total
    		1000

    Final Proctored Exam

    The final exam is developed to assess the knowledge you learned taking this course. All students are required to take an online proctored final exam in order complete the course and be eligible for transfer credit.

    Learn more about Proctored Exams

    Are you interest in US History but stumped by questions like these?

    • What does July 4th celebrate?
    • What are the first three words of the Constitution?
    • Who sewed the first American flag? (and how many stripes are on it?)
    • When were all slaves freed?
    You're not alone...

    Learn these answers and more with Professor Israel!


    This self-paced course focuses on the characteristics of societies existing in the Americas prior to 1861. Students learn about European exploration and colonization of the New World and they examine the impact on Europe, Africa, and the young United States all with help from Professor Jerry Israel, an award winning educator.

    This course puts into perspective the historical implications of modern day news headlines and political battles like those over gun control, immigration, presidential power and more.

    The emergence of political, religious, economic, and social institutions is covered. Specific causes of the American Revolution are examined, as is the resulting impact on politics, the economy, and society. Students learn how the Industrial Revolution and Western movement changed the lives of Americans, they examine the causes and events of the Civil War, and they evaluate how Reconstruction plans succeeded or failed.

    A personal note from The Professor aka Jerry Israel or even better just Jerry:

    "I love the interaction possible by use of lively discussion boards in our online learning setting. There are so many interesting issues and questions to explore on our own and together. You will be among the very few who figure out things concerning very important subjects about which most people have no idea such as: How was the Constitution ratified? How were slaves freed? Plus together we can discuss questions such as "was the American Revolution a struggle for home rule or rather who should rule at home" or whether "slavery caused the Civil War." Let's get started!"

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