(Recorded Course) A Nation Made by Conflict: America's Wars with Christopher Martin, PhD

Instructor Access (optional grading support) for Unlimited Access families is available for this course!

Register for this course today and follow the exciting story of the French and Indian War, the Civil War, and more.

How to get the most out of "A Nation Made by Conflict: America's Wars," with Christopher Martin, PhD:

  • First, download and review the course materials below before the first class meeting.

  • Read the assigned pages relevant to the week (if any) before the week's meeting.

  • Then have a notebook ready and available for class notes each live session.

  • Watch that week’s recording if you need to revisit information from our live session.

  • Do the assignments, quizzes, and any extra work assigned for that week. NOTICE: The weekly quizzes, outside of week 1, are worth extra credit.

  • Once the course is completed to the parent's and professor’s satisfaction, there is a Certificate of Completion at the end to be filled in for your records.

Total Classes: 14

Duration: 55 minutes

Prerequisite: none

Suggested Grade Level: High School (Adjustments can be made to assignments in order to accommodate Middle School students.)

Suggested Credit: One full semester American History

Instructor: Christopher Martin, PhD

Instructor Email: chrisgooverthere@yahoo.com

Course Description:

American history, in many ways, is composed of military conflicts. The causes, battles and results of those wars have had immense ramifications upon America and Americans, felt even today. This course examines three aspects of the conflicts: First, what caused America's wars, with an emphasis on the ideological causes. Second, the battle tactics and broad strategies which affected the wars' outcomes. Third, the major ideological and political ramifications of each war.

Course Outline:

Week 1: Introduction and overview of syllabus and assignments

Week 2: Conflicts of the Colonial Period

Week 3: The Revolutionary War

Week 4: The War of 1812

Week 5: The Mexican American War

Weeks 6-8: The Civil War

Week 9: The Spanish-American War/War in the Philippines

Week 10: WWI

Weeks 11-12: WWII

Week 13: The Korean War

Week 14: The Vietnam War

Course Materials:  The Wars of America, Robert Leckie, ISBN-10: 0785809147 or ISBN-13: 978-0785809142 (https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0785809147/chrisgooverth-20 or on bookfinder.com

Homework: 

Writing is an integral part of demonstrating both the assimilation of knowledge and the articulation thereof. Therefore, students will be guided through the process of writing a short (3-5 page, double-spaced) review of a book of their choice relevant to the subject matter. 

NOTE: Middle School students taking this course may instead write a 1-2 page book report Approximately 20-30 pages of optional reading per week. Middle School students are fully excused from the reading.

Students will have one short (5-10 minute), ungraded review quiz per week based on classroom lectures & discussions, and optional reading.