American History

Upper School American History: Humanitas is a year long course that surveys American history and thought by going through American Origins and American Republic of the Humanitas curriculum. From the curriculum description, the Humanitas series is “geared towards history, humanities, and humane letters courses” and “offers a continuous, unfolding narrative of Western Civilization through a series of carefully curated primary source documents that trace the founding and beginnings of the American experiment.” The books culminate in the Reconstruction era after the Civil War and other important people and events are filled out with a supplementary American history survey book that takes us into more recent decades.

While this course primarily features historical study, it also integrates some studies from American literature, helping students to see and enjoy the integration of history and literature. This class is paired with our upper-school American literature course and scheduled back-to-back with that course in a “block.” Students who take both courses receive a discount. This course may also be taken as a standalone history study. Along with this, it also parallels the stand alone American Government Course.

Required Materials:
Books and supplies are not included in the purchase of the course.

Humanitas: American Origins (books 1 and 2)
- ISBN: 978-1600514791
Humanitas: American Republic (books 1 and 2)
- ISBN: 978-1600514821
A Short History of the United States by Robert V. Remini
- ISBN: 0060831456

Note: a majority of each volume will be read, with some chapters being skipped for time.

Christopher Marchand

[email protected]

Chris Marchand (pronounced mar-shan) is a music pastor and priest within the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), serving in Peoria, Illinois. He holds a Master of Theological Studies and a Master of Arts in Music Ministry from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, and was trained as a hospital chaplain in a residency program at Saint Francis Hospital. A former headmaster and teacher at Aletheia Classical Christian School, he has taught humanities, history, science, and government courses. He is married to Elisa and they have four children. The author of Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas: a guide for churches and families, he also produces podcasts, composes music, and loves to discuss anything related the arts and his favorite sport tennis.

Quarter 1

** Humanitas American Origins Book 1: Indigenous Americans to the Colonies**

Writers who influenced the Founders of the Constitution
Early American Writers and events
Tests and brief papers over readings

Quarter 2

** Humanitas American Origins Book 2: Enlightenment to Revolution**

The events leading up to and during the American Revolution and the emergence of American democracy
The formation of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution
Words of our Fathers: The ideals of the Founding fathers and their vision for the United States

Quarter 3

Humanitas American Republic Book 1: Founding Fathers to Westward Expansion

Explore the Federalist & Anti-Federalist Papers and how American experiment unfolded.
Westward Expansion and how the United States government developed
The development of the early republic and issues that led to the Civil War
Informal presentations, Tests over readings, short papers

Quarter 4

** Humanitas American Republic Book 2: Civil War, Reconstruction, & the Present Day**

Understanding slavery and its affect on the country, the Civil War, and its aftermath during Reconstruction
Understanding the main events, movement, and people of the 20th and 21st centuries
Short papers, tests over readings, and a final written project.

Computer: You will need a stable, reliable computer, running with a processor with a speed of 1 GHz or better on one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X with Mac OS 10.7 or later; Windows 8, 7, Vista (with SP1 or later), or XP (with SP3 or later). We do not recommend using an iPad or other tablet for joining classes. An inexpensive laptop or netbook would be much better solutions, as they enable you to plug an Ethernet cable directly into your computer. Please note that Chromebooks are allowed but not preferred, as they do not support certain features of the Zoom video conference software such as breakout sessions and annotation, which may be used by our teachers for class activities.

High-Speed Internet Connection: You will also need access to high-speed Internet, preferably accessible via Ethernet cable right into your computer. Using Wi-Fi may work, but will not guarantee you the optimal use of your bandwidth. The faster your Internet, the better. We recommend using a connection with a download/upload speed of 5/1 Mbps or better. You can test your Internet connection here.

Webcam: You may use an external webcam or one that is built in to the computer. Webcam Recommendations: Good (PC only) | Best (Mac and PC)

Headset: We recommend using a headset rather than a built-in microphone and speakers. Using a headset reduces the level of background noise heard by the entire class. Headset Recommendations: USB | 3.5mm

Zoom: We use a web conferencing software called Zoom for our classes, which enables students and teachers to gather from around the globe face to face in real time. Zoom is free to download and easy to use. To download Zoom:

Visit zoom.us/download.
Click to download the first option listed, Zoom Client for Meetings.
Open and run the installer on your computer.
In August, students will be provided with instructions and a link for joining their particular class.

Scanner: In this class, students frequently submit homework assignments by scanning pages from their workbooks. Students and/or their parents should have easy access to a scanner and the ability to use it.

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