UCOP A-G Approved: Section A – History – America History - Grades 11 (5.0 GPA Weighted Scale)

The purpose of “Race, Gender in the History of U.S. History Honors” is to teach U.S. History from a different perspective – one that emphasizes the role of race, gender, and justice in American history. Students will leave with a more thorough understanding of our nation’s history and a clearer view of current issues around race and gender in our community. “Race, Gender in the History of U.S. Politics Honors” is a year-long course introducing students to the turning points in the growth of America into a world power. The focus in this class is on how our founding documents created the foundation for a society based on natural rights for all. This course focuses on how different racial, ethnic, and minority groups have worked to make these rights a reality in their daily lives. The founding of the United States, the expansion from sea to sea, the Civil War, Progressive Era, World War One, World War Two, the Civil Rights era, and America Today are all viewed from the lens of the struggle and contributions of women, African Americans, immigrants, Mexican Americans and other minorities to become equal participants in the American experience. This course is designed to challenge the academic advancement of students in United States History.

Race, Gender in the History of U.S. Politics Honors will provide the rigor necessary to engage and prepare students academically for the next level of their educational career. This course will focus particular attention on how to read primary sources related to this topic, ranging from legal documents to letters to visual representations, as well as how to address the silences that available sources do not address. The class will help students hone their critical thinking skills, read difficult texts closely and carefully, express arguments in a spirited intellectual exchange, and pursue independent original research. The entire class will be focused on evaluating attainment of ideals set forth in our founding documents for all Americans. This course meets the California State Standards for Social Studies, and satisfies all high school graduation and university admission requirements.