- The birth of the nation is important to virtually any history curriculum. Studying the effectiveness of the new republic's methods and analyzing how much of them are still successfully employed today will equip the students with a solid foundation in terms of understanding subsequent events. It is also essential to start from before the beginning and touch on the events that led to the country's founding, such as the Mayflower voyage and the Revolutionary War.
- Although the war only lasted four years, the events leading up to it and the subsequent reconstruction spanned nearly an entire generation. By studying the war, you essentially cover a thirty year period, from 1848 to 1877. Given the incendiary nature of the issues plaguing the nation at the time, such as slavery, you will find that you are teaching more than mere rote information about historical facts, you are also teaching a deep lesson on our country's cultural makeup of the time.
- The Industrial Revolution is significant in that its impact has spanned generations. Changes the country experienced during this time are still felt today. Big business and labor unions all trace their roots to this time period. America's reputation as a melting pot also began during the revolution, as immigration rates soared with people from other countries coming here seeking a better life for their families. In fact, many of your students' ancestry may trace back to that era.
- WWII is much like the Civil War in that by studying it, you study much more than just the four-year period of actual warfare experienced by U.S. troops; you cover the better part of a century. The war's origins can be traced to the end of the first world war, and its impact is felt to this day, thanks in part to nuclear weapons proliferation and disarmament issues that remain in our headlines.
Founding Fathers
Civil War
Industrial Revolution
World War II
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