Patterns in American History
Exploring how Polarization and Concepts of Freedom have shaped the American experience
Essential Question
"What key themes and recurring patterns define U.S. history, and how have they shaped the nation’s development? What insights or lessons can we draw from them today?"
Historical Themes
Two fundamental forces that have shaped American society from colonial times through the Industrial Age
From the earliest colonial settlements to the Industrial Revolution, Americans have repeatedly found themselves divided over fundamental questions about government, society, and national identity.
Key Periods of Division:
The meaning of freedom has continuously evolved from limited colonial concepts to broader interpretations, though contradictions and limitations have persisted throughout American history.
Evolution of Freedom:
Course Timeline: 1490s - 1890s
European contact, indigenous displacement, colonial foundations
Religious diversity, economic growth, emerging American identity
Independence, Constitution, political party formation
Westward expansion, sectional crisis, Reconstruction, industrialization