United States History | Examine the Past

Curriculum Overview and Unit Map

Use the expandable unit directory to see course topics, proposed learning outcomes, pacing and each named lesson. Select any lesson to open its structured preview.

11 units45 lessonsStandards mapping in development

9.1 · Reconstruction and Industrial Growth4 lessons

Unit inquiry: How does reconstruction and industrial growth help us understand historical contexts, evidence, and change?

Topics: Reconstruction and Industrial Growth · Reconstruction's Unfinished Legacy · The Rise of Big Business · Labor, Immigration, and Urban America

Suggested time: Approx. 4–8 class periods (planning estimate)

1. Reconstruction's Unfinished LegacyLesson in Development 2. The Rise of Big BusinessLesson in Development 3. Labor, Immigration, and Urban AmericaLesson in Development 4. The Gilded Age: Wealth and InequalityLesson in Development

9.2 · Progressivism and Reform4 lessons

Unit inquiry: How does progressivism and reform help us understand historical contexts, evidence, and change?

Topics: Progressivism and Reform · The Progressive Movement · Investigative Journalism and Social Change · Women's Suffrage

Suggested time: Approx. 4–8 class periods (planning estimate)

1. The Progressive MovementLesson in Development 2. Investigative Journalism and Social ChangeLesson in Development 3. Women's SuffrageLesson in Development 4. Reforming Government and IndustryLesson in Development

9.3 · Imperialism and Expansion3 lessons

Unit inquiry: How does imperialism and expansion help us understand historical contexts, evidence, and change?

Topics: Imperialism and Expansion · Why Did America Become an Overseas Power? · The Spanish-American War · America's Changing Foreign Policy

Suggested time: Approx. 3–6 class periods (planning estimate)

1. Why Did America Become an Overseas Power?Lesson in Development 2. The Spanish-American WarLesson in Development 3. America's Changing Foreign PolicyLesson in Development

9.4 · World War I4 lessons

Unit inquiry: How does world war i help us understand historical contexts, evidence, and change?

Topics: World War I · Causes of World War I · Why Did the United States Enter the War? · Americans on the Home Front

Suggested time: Approx. 4–8 class periods (planning estimate)

1. Causes of World War ILesson in Development 2. Why Did the United States Enter the War?Lesson in Development 3. Americans on the Home FrontLesson in Development 4. The Treaty of VersaillesLesson in Development

9.5 · The Roaring Twenties4 lessons

Unit inquiry: How does the roaring twenties help us understand historical contexts, evidence, and change?

Topics: The Roaring Twenties · A Changing American Culture · The Harlem Renaissance · Prohibition and Social Conflict

Suggested time: Approx. 4–8 class periods (planning estimate)

1. A Changing American CultureLesson in Development 2. The Harlem RenaissanceLesson in Development 3. Prohibition and Social ConflictLesson in Development 4. Consumer Culture and Economic GrowthLesson in Development

9.6 · Great Depression and New Deal4 lessons

Unit inquiry: How does great depression and new deal help us understand historical contexts, evidence, and change?

Topics: Great Depression and New Deal · The Stock Market Crash and Economic Crisis · Living Through the Great Depression · Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal

Suggested time: Approx. 4–8 class periods (planning estimate)

1. The Stock Market Crash and Economic CrisisLesson in Development 2. Living Through the Great DepressionLesson in Development 3. Franklin Roosevelt's New DealLesson in Development 4. Did the New Deal Transform Government?Lesson in Development

9.7 · World War II5 lessons

Unit inquiry: How does world war ii help us understand historical contexts, evidence, and change?

Topics: World War II · Causes of World War II · Pearl Harbor and American Entry · The Holocaust and Human Rights

Suggested time: Approx. 5–10 class periods (planning estimate)

1. Causes of World War IILesson in Development 2. Pearl Harbor and American EntryLesson in Development 3. The Holocaust and Human RightsLesson in Development 4. War on the Home FrontLesson in Development 5. D-Day, the Pacific War, and Allied VictoryLesson in Development

9.8 · The Cold War4 lessons

Unit inquiry: How does the cold war help us understand historical contexts, evidence, and change?

Topics: The Cold War · Origins of the Cold War · The Korean War · Nuclear Competition and the Space Race

Suggested time: Approx. 4–8 class periods (planning estimate)

1. Origins of the Cold WarLesson in Development 2. The Korean WarLesson in Development 3. Nuclear Competition and the Space RaceLesson in Development 4. The Vietnam WarLesson in Development

9.9 · Civil Rights and Social Change5 lessons

Unit inquiry: How does civil rights and social change help us understand historical contexts, evidence, and change?

Topics: Civil Rights and Social Change · Segregation and the Fight for Equality · Brown v. Board of Education · Martin Luther King Jr. and Nonviolent Resistance

Suggested time: Approx. 5–10 class periods (planning estimate)

1. Segregation and the Fight for EqualityLesson in Development 2. Brown v. Board of EducationLesson in Development 3. Martin Luther King Jr. and Nonviolent ResistanceLesson in Development 4. Malcolm X and Competing StrategiesLesson in Development 5. The Civil Rights Movement's Lasting ImpactLesson in Development

9.10 · America in the Late Twentieth Century4 lessons

Unit inquiry: How does america in the late twentieth century help us understand historical contexts, evidence, and change?

Topics: America in the Late Twentieth Century · Watergate and Public Trust · The Reagan Era · The End of the Cold War

Suggested time: Approx. 4–8 class periods (planning estimate)

1. Watergate and Public TrustLesson in Development 2. The Reagan EraLesson in Development 3. The End of the Cold WarLesson in Development 4. America and the Global EconomyLesson in Development

9.11 · The United States in the Twenty-First Century4 lessons

Unit inquiry: How does the united states in the twenty-first century help us understand historical contexts, evidence, and change?

Topics: The United States in the Twenty-First Century · September 11 and Its Consequences · Technology and American Society · Contemporary Civil Rights and Civic Movements

Suggested time: Approx. 4–8 class periods (planning estimate)

1. September 11 and Its ConsequencesLesson in Development 2. Technology and American SocietyLesson in Development 3. Contemporary Civil Rights and Civic MovementsLesson in Development 4. America in a Changing WorldLesson in Development

Our Curriculum Design Notes

Independently developed by educators, this historical inquiry sequence organizes fundamental subject knowledge into source analysis, questions, evidence-based interpretation and assessment.

Curriculum Design Reflection

Course units use multiple perspectives, accessible learning opportunities, historical thinking and substantive assessments. Lesson source references and interactive experiences are added through the editorial workflow.