Welcome to Our American History: Pre-Civil War to Reconstruction Homeschool Course

Course Sample for Our American History: Pre-Civil War to Reconstruction Homeschool Course

American History: Pre-Civil War to Reconstruction
By Kristen Heider

In this homeschool history course, you will read selected texts from World Book Online and a United States History Outline, complete vocabulary exercises, label maps, answer questions regarding the geography of the United States, write journal entries using provided prompts, and complete a number of projects for each unit from several possibilities suggested. For your journal entries, you can include drawings, illustrations, and clipart along with your writings to express your answers.

For each unit, you should complete the reading selections and at least five of the activities including review questions.

Another good way to learn information is to teach it. So, as you master the information, try your hand at creating your own worksheets, crossword puzzles, or games to teach the information to your family and friends. (Or even line up your stuffed animals, action figures, or dolls to teach the history of America to them!)

Objectives

By the end of the 18-week unit, you will have completed the following objectives:

1. Review the events of the War of 1812 as they pertain to the life of Andrew Jackson
2. Explain the purpose of the Santa Fe Trail, the Erie Canal, the Oregon Trail, and the California Gold Rush
3. Explore the cause and effect of the Mexican-American War
4. Identify the historical significance of the Battle of the Alamo
5. Research the events leading up to the Civil War including slave life, the Compromises of 1820 and 1850, Lincoln’s election, and other pertinent events
6. Research and examine the causes and effects of the Civil War
7. Identify the contributions of John C. Calhoun, Harriet Beecher Stowe, John Brown, Clara Barton, General William T. Sherman, General Robert E. Lee, and other key individuals
8. Locate and learn about the following significant sites of the Civil War: Fort Sumter, Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, and Appomattox Courthouse
9. Explain the historical contribution and impact of Abraham Lincoln
10. Explore the Reconstruction period and learn about key events of the time period
11. Describe the impact of continued westward expansion related to animals, Native Americans, inventions, and how ways of life developed and changed

The key texts to read for this course include the following from World Book Online. Please bookmark them for easy reference.
United States History – This course will refer to specific sections within this article. (https://www.worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar576000&st=united+states+history#tab= homepage)

Mexican War (https://www.worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar358780&st=mexican- american+war#tab=homepage)

American Civil War (https://www.worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar117060&st=american+civil+war#tab=h omepage)

Reconstruction (https://www.worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar461540&st=reconstruction#tab=homep age)

There will also be a number of primary and secondary sources referenced. If you have time, please read the originals.

There are journal pages available at SchoolhouseTeachers.com (https://schoolhouseteachers.com/blog/wide-ruled-college-journal-page-printouts-free/) if you wish to print them out rather than use a notebook.