- Obtain the text for this course (both Part One and Part Two). Lands of Hope and Promise, A History of North America, published by and available from www.catholictextbookproject.com.
- Go over the assigned reading and do the review questions for each class before listening to the recording. (A parent may wish a student to write out his or her answers to the review questions, though the course does not require it. Answers to review questions may be found in the teacher manual, available here either as full purchase or for one year, two, year, or three year rental. The manual provides quizzes and tests with answer keys as well.)
- Listen to the recorded class, which covers the main points of each chapter, and give added insights into the period studied. Students might take notes – this is a good exercise in developing a skill that will be of use in college.
- If there are any questions, please feel free to contact the course presenter Christopher Zehnder, at editor@
CatholicTextbookProject.com. - Make sure to record all your grades. HSC does not proved record keeping.
Total Classes: 12
Prerequisite: No prerequisite. Recommended: History of the Modern World (Unlimited Access).
Suggested Grade Level: 9th to 12th grade
Suggested High School Credit: 1 full semester History
Instructor: Christopher Zehnder
Course Description: This course examines the history of the major civilizations of North America from the discovery of America in 1492 to the early 1970s. We will discuss the events, cultural movements, and ideas that led to the founding of the United States and contributed to its development as both a major power and influence both in North America and the world as a whole. The course examines the development of Latin America after the 18th century by examining concurrently the history of Mexico – and thus provides a counterpoint to U.S. history by looking at how the ideas that predominated in Anglo-America worked themselves out in a very different social and cultural context. In addition to the common themes discussed in standard American history courses, this course highlights the role of the Catholic Church and the Catholic faithful in U.S. and Latin American history and how Catholics adjusted themselves to a civilization that in many respects was very different from what they had known in Europe. The course is divided into two parts. Part I (first semester) begins with Columbus' discovery of America to the beginning of the Civil War in the United States. Part II (second semester) continues the story, beginning with the Civil War and concluding with the beginnings of our contemporary world in the early 1970s.
Course Materials: The text for the course (both Part One and Part Two) is Lands of Hope and Promise, A History of North America, published by and available from www.catholictextbookproject.com. Teacher manual available here.
Homework: Students read assigned portions of the text. Lectures focus on those events and ideas that are the keys for understanding the historical periods under consideration. Parents may assign review questions or offer the tests and quizzes in the teacher manual.
- Teacher: Christopher Zehnder