United States History Before 1877
YWKEYEVS · 14 modules
This course traces the development of the United States from the earliest human migrations into the Americas through the end of Reconstruction in 1877. Students will examine the collision of Indigenous, European, and African peoples, the establishment of colonial societies, the ideological and political forces that produced the American Revolution, the construction of a new national government, and the deep sectional conflicts that culminated in the Civil War and Reconstruction. Emphasis is placed on understanding historical processes of change over time, the diversity of experiences among different groups (Indigenous peoples, enslaved and free Black Americans, women, immigrants, and elites), and the ways political, economic, and social structures shaped the nation's development.
Prerequisites
No formal prerequisites; basic reading comprehension and college-level writing skills assumed.
Module Outline
14 modules
American Origins
Explores the peopling of the Americas, the diversity of Indigenous societies before European contact, and the ecological and cultural foundations of the continent.
Making an Atlantic World
Examines the early age of European exploration, the beginnings of transatlantic trade, and the interconnected economic and cultural systems linking Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Colliding Cultures
Analyzes the encounters, conflicts, and exchanges between Indigenous peoples and European colonizers, including disease, warfare, and cultural adaptation.
British North America
Surveys the founding and development of the English colonies, including regional variations in economy, governance, and settlement patterns.
Colonial Society
Investigates the social structures, family life, religion, labor systems, and emerging institution of slavery within colonial American communities.
The American Revolution
Examines the ideological origins, key events, and military and political dimensions of the colonial break from Britain.
A New Nation
Covers the challenges of the Confederation period, the drafting and ratification of the Constitution, and the founding debates over federal power.
The Early Republic
Explores the formation of political parties, foreign policy challenges, and social changes during the Washington, Adams, and Jefferson administrations.
Getting Forward: Economic and Territorial Expansion
Analyzes westward expansion, market revolution, transportation innovations, and the transformation of the American economy in the early nineteenth century.
American Democracy in the Age of Jackson
Examines the expansion of political participation, Jacksonian democracy, Indian removal, and debates over federal versus state power.
Growth and Conflict: Reform and Sectionalism
Explores social reform movements, immigration, industrialization, and the deepening divide between free and slave societies.
The National Crisis
Analyzes the sequence of political crises, compromises, and failures in the 1850s that pushed the nation toward civil war.
The Civil War
Covers the military, political, social, and diplomatic dimensions of the war, including emancipation and the transformation of American society.
Reconstruction: Rebuilding a Nation
A capstone chapter integrating themes from across the course to evaluate the political, social, and economic struggles to rebuild the nation and redefine citizenship and freedom after the Civil War.