Social Science

This course examines social, cultural, and technological changes during the period A.D. 500- 1789. A review unit begins with a study of the ways archaeologists and historians uncover the past. The sequence of units is both historical-advancing across the years A.D. 500- 1789-and geographic, advancing across the major continents of the earth. The units focus on the great civilizations that were developing concurrently at that time. By developing world maps and time lines, students can locate these cultures in time and place, compare events that were developing concurrently in the world, and observe the transmissions of ideas and beliefs, along with scientific developments.

Students study the ideas, issues and events from the framing of the Constitution up to World War I, with an emphasis on America’s role in the war. After reviewing the development of America’s democratic institutions, particularly the shaping of the Constitution, students trace the development of American politics, society, culture and economy, relating them to the emergence of major regional differences. They learn about the challenges facing the new nation, with an emphasis on the causes, course and consequences of the Civil War. They make connections between the rise of industrialization and contemporary social and economic conditions. Research skills and vocabulary will also be stressed.