
United States History I
Course Content from McGraw-HillThis course fulfills the Brookhaven StraighterLine program prerequisite requirement. Upon successful completion of US History (USHIST101) at StraighterLine, you will be eligible to enroll in the Brookhaven StraighterLine program and earn 3 credits towards completion of your associate degree.
This 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. The emergence of political, religious, economic, and social institutions is discussed. 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.
- Self Paced
- History
- Content by McGraw-Hill
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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 |
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1 |
Old and New Worlds Meet |
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2 |
Early Settlements |
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3 | Living in Colonial America |
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4 | Road to Revolution |
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5 | The American Revolution |
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6 | The Constitution |
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7 |
The New Republic |
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8 | Jeffersonian Era |
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9 | Jacksonian Era |
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10 | Economic Revolution |
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11 | The Old South |
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12 | Antebellum Period |
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13 | Build Up to War |
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14 | The Civil War |
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15 | Reconstruction |
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16 | Course Review |
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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.

Known for its balanced voice and approachable scholarship, Alan Brinkley's best-selling The Unfinished Nation offers a concise, yet thorough survey of American History appropriate for students at all levels. The 8th edition features new scholarship and updated discussions, most significantly on the topics of War, American Imperialism, and Globalization.
Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People, 8th edition, McGraw-Hill, 2016. ISBN: 9780073513331
StraighterLine does not apply letter grades. Students earn a score as a percentage of 100%. A passing percentage is 70% or higher.
If you have chosen a
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 |
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4 |
Graded Exam #1 |
125 |
8 | Graded Exam #2 | 125 |
8 | Midterm Exam | 200 |
12 | Graded Exam #3 | 125 |
15 | Graded Exam #4 | 125 |
16 | Graded Final Exam |
300 |
Total | 1000 |