Grade 10 – U.S. History (Honors)
Course Overview
U.S. History Honors is a rigorous, document-rich course for 10th-grade students that explores American history from 1877 to the early 21st century. Designed for students preparing for AP-level study, this course emphasizes critical reading, argument-based writing, and comparative analysis. Honors students investigate major turning points in political, social, and economic development while evaluating how U.S. identity has evolved over time.
Students analyze primary and secondary sources, develop thesis-driven essays, and examine themes of power, rights, innovation, and reform. The course prepares learners for AP U.S. History or AP U.S. Government by introducing historiography, synthesis, and contextualization techniques in historical inquiry.
Learning Outcomes by Quarter
- Quarter 1: Investigate Reconstruction, industrialization, the Gilded Age, urbanization, and the Progressive Era using thematic essays and source sets.
- Quarter 2: Examine U.S. imperialism, World War I, the Roaring Twenties, and the causes/effects of the Great Depression through DBQs and historical debate.
- Quarter 3: Analyze World War II, the Cold War, containment policy, McCarthyism, and the early Civil Rights Movement using comparative case studies.
- Quarter 4: Evaluate U.S. domestic and foreign policy from Vietnam through globalization, focusing on continuity, change, and civic engagement.
Instructional Methods
Honors instruction integrates seminar-style discussions, document-based questions (DBQs), historical simulations, academic writing workshops, and peer-reviewed analysis. Students practice close reading of texts, analyze political cartoons, conduct thematic research, and construct historical arguments using evidence and historiography.
Assessment and Grading
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| DBQs & Research Essays | 40% |
| Quizzes & Source Evaluations | 25% |
| Projects & Presentations | 15% |
| Discussion & Participation | 10% |
| Homework & Weekly Analysis | 10% |
Anchor Themes Justification
- Democracy & Reform: Exploration of suffrage, legislation, activism, and civic institutions fosters historical literacy and engagement.
- War, Diplomacy & Power: Students assess how U.S. global involvement reshaped society, politics, and ideology.
- Rights, Resistance & Justice: Honors students evaluate civil rights struggles and legal developments shaping American identity.
- Economic Systems & Innovation: Analysis of capitalism, crises, and technological change fosters interdisciplinary understanding.
Florida Honors Standards Alignment
| Topic | Florida Benchmark | Honors-Level Application |
|---|---|---|
| Industrialization | SS.912.A.3.4 | Evaluate the rise of corporations and labor unions |
| Foreign Policy | SS.912.A.4.1 | Compare isolationism, imperialism, and global intervention |
| Cold War | SS.912.A.6.10 | Analyze Cold War ideologies and domestic impact |
| Modern Movements | SS.912.A.7.7 | Investigate civil rights, feminism, and LGBTQ+ activism |
Academic Vocabulary Matrix
| Category | Key Terms | Contextual Application |
|---|---|---|
| Historical Thinking | Contextualization, Sourcing, Synthesis | Used in DBQs and comparative writing tasks |
| Political History | Populism, Progressivism, Conservatism | Applied in party platforms and election analysis |
| Legal & Rights History | Plessy v. Ferguson, Civil Rights Act, Roe v. Wade | Used in legal case studies and argument writing |
| Foreign Relations | Containment, Détente, Humanitarianism | Examined through diplomacy simulations and debates |