US History II

In our last 4 classes, we’ll be talking about recent history and our contemporary era (Chapter 31 in the Henretta text), focusing on what it means to “think historically” and why that is an important skill in our complex world. The “History Now” project allows you to apply the skills you have developed throughout the entire term and showcase your learning in this course. As you focus on one single event in great depth, you will make use of fundamental historical concepts we’ve learned including primary source analysis, chronology, sourcing, and historical context.

Mon 12/2 – “History Now Workshop” It is VERY IMPORTANT that everyone be in class that day. You will receive a packet of sources and the instructions for your last project and will begin to work on the project in class. Bring a laptop, you will find it helpful.

Wed 12/4 – Globalization. Reading: ACH 31: 942-960. Quiz 4 opens up at 8:30 am, on Chapters 29 and 3 and will stay open (3 attempts, as usual), until 8:30 on Wed 12/11 when our last exam begins.

Fri 12/6 – Clinton, Bush and Obama. Reading: ACH 31: 958-972.

Mon 12/9 – The World We Live In. Your History Now Projects are due in class; there is no electronic submission. As we review for the exam, we will be talking about historically significant events and trends in our current moment, and how Americans record and tell the stories of our own time. How will historians of the future study 2013?

The last exam will be Wed 12/11 at 8:30 am in our classroom. It is not designed to be a 3-hour exam; it will be comparable to the other exams we have taken. If you are thrilled with your grade on all previous exams, you do not have to take the last one, since your lowest exam is dropped; however I always recommend that students take it. You’ll receive your History Now project evaluations back when you submit your exam.