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United States History I
USHIST101 | 3 Credits
United States History I discusses European exploration and colonization of the New World. You’ll also explore the impact it had on Europe, Africa, and the young United States and learn how the Industrial Revolution and Western movement changed the lives of Americans.
Professor: Dr. Naomi Rendina
About This Course
What You’ll Learn
Our United States History I online course focuses on the characteristics of societies existing in the Americas prior to 1877.
- Apply historical research skills to major themes in American History to 1877.
- Detect the causes of European exploration and colonization in the New World and assess the impact of these activities on Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
- Explain 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.
- Recognize how the institutions and practices of government evolved to create the foundation of the American political system.
- Explain territorial expansion from 1801 to 1877 and assess its effects on relations with Native Americans and external powers.
- Recognize how the Industrial Revolution and Western expansion 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.
- Summarize the sources and character of cultural, religious, and social reform movements in the antebellum period.
- Explain how various Reconstruction plans succeeded or failed.
- Analyze a primary source historical artifact and apply critical thinking to answer questions about its historical relevance.
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Access on Desktop and Mobile
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WANT US TO CHECK?Course Details
This course focuses on the characteristics of societies existing in the Americas prior to 1877. Students learn about pre-Columbian Indigenous societies and their impact on the social and cultural landscape of the Americas.
In turn, this course examines the impact of European exploration and colonization of the "New World" on Europe, Africa, and the young United States. Students explore the transformation of the American landscape due to colonial competition among England, France, and Spain. In addition, this course discusses the development of colonies like Virginia and South Carolina as well as the evolution of the institution of slavery across the Thirteen Colonies.
Specific causes of the American Revolution are examined as well as the emergence of the United States of America and the development of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Moreover, the evolution of the American presidency is analyzed through the Western and industrial expansion from the Jeffersonian era through Abraham Lincoln's presidency. Students also examine the causes and events of the Civil War, and they evaluate how Reconstruction plans succeeded or failed.
ACE-Recommended
ACE Code:
OOSL-0039
Flexible Schedule
28-day Average Course Completion
Transferred 4,900 times
$5,400,000 Saved on Tuition
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites to take U.S. History I.
Course Text
The required eTextbook for this course is included with your course purchase at no additional cost.
- Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People, 10th edition, McGraw-Hill, 2022. ISBN: 9781260726831
Course Checkpoints
Checkpoint 1: The Collision of Cultures
- Chapter 1 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 1
- Pathfinder: The Americas Before and After the Advent of the Europeans
Checkpoint 2: Transplantations and Borderlands
- Chapter 2 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 2
Checkpoint 3: Society and Culture in Provincial America
- Chapter 3 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 3
Checkpoint 4: The Empire in Transition
- Chapter 4 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 4
Checkpoint 5: The American Revolution
- Chapter 5 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 5
- Pathfinder: The American Revolution
Checkpoint 6: The Constitution and the New Republic
- Chapter 6 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 6
Checkpoint 7: The Jeffersonian Era
- Chapter 7 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 7
Checkpoint 8: Expansion and Division in the Early Republic
- Chapter 8 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 8
Checkpoint 9: Jacksonian America
- Chapter 9 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 9
Checkpoint 10: America's Economic Revolution
- Chapter 10 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 10
Checkpoint 11: Cotton, Slavery, and the Old South
- Chapter 11 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 11
Checkpoint 12: Antebellum Culture and Reform
- Chapter 12 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 12
Checkpoint 13: The Impending Crisis
- Chapter 13 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 13
Checkpoint 14: The Civil War
- Chapter 14 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 14
Checkpoint 15: Reconstruction and the New South
- Chapter 15 Presentation
- Textbook Reading Assignment: Chapter 15
- Pathfinder: The American Civil War
Assignments & Grading
Your score provides a percentage score and letter grade for each course. A passing percentage is 70% or higher.
Assignments for this course include:
- 15 Checkpoints
- 2 Capstones
- 9 Benchmarks
What You’ll Need
- A reliable computer or laptop
- Stable internet connection
- Web browser
- Basic computer skills
- Any required course materials
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Course Professor
Dr. Naomi Rendina
PhD
Dr. Naomi Rendina earned her Ph.D. in History from Case Western Reserve University in 2020. She has over 15 years of experience teaching U.S. and world histories at the college level, as well as designing courses and developing curricula for diverse adult learners. She blends historical research with inclusive and attentive learner-centered instruction to maximize student success.
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Real, human feedback to help you ace your assignments
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Real, human feedback to help you ace your assignments
Professional development assistance
Resume-building resources
Professional development assistance
Faculty Connect portal
Resume-building resources
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Begin Your Journey with U.S. History
Kicking off your degree? A U.S. History course is a great way to begin. It will not only deepen your understanding of the country’s past but also sharpen your ability to analyze and research the past, tools that will help you succeed in any field.
Why it matters:
- GenEd courses include everything from composition to mathematics — building a strong foundation will serve you for the rest of your education.
- More than 350,000 have used StraighterLine to complete their GenEd and Prerequisite courses, saving time and money on their college degree.
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Save time and money on your general education requirements to get a head start on your degree.
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