Students study the chronological development of the U.S. from 1763 to the present. Thematic approachesare used where appropriate to trace the political, economic, and/or cultural development of the U.S. across time periods. The colonial roots of the United States, the growing tension between the colonies and Britain, the emergence of rebellion, the Declaration of Independence, and the establishment of the republic under the Constitution are topics of study early in the course sequence. The trials and growth of the New Republic, the reform movements of the early 19th century, and the growth of sectionalism and the causes of the Civil War finish the first course in the sequence. In Grade 11, students start with Reconstruction and move through the industrialization of the country and expansion at home and abroad. Study then moves to a decade-by-decade chronology starting with the 1920s. An emphasis is placed on the development of analytical reading and argumentative writing skills. Cooperative learning, research projects, and alternative creative learning strategies are utilized. Students must register for two sequential semesters of the course (Part II and Part III) in Grade 11.