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History, Civics & Social Studies · Grade 11

US History through Questions and Evidence

Learners open the year of US history by practicing the core moves of historical thinking on one big question: how did American attitudes toward foreign alliances and world power change from Washington to NATO? They source documents with the HIPP method, trace continuity and change over time, debate turning points and periodization, and write an evidence-based argument.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 120 minutes
  • Historical thinking check: 9 questions
  • Ways to answer: fill in the blanks, choose an answer, highlight a text, match pairs, type a number and put in order
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What learners will discover

  • Source US primary documents using historical context, intended audience, purpose and point of view (HIPP).
  • Analyze continuity and change over time in US foreign policy from 1796 to 1949.
  • Evaluate turning points and periodization in US history using evidence.
  • Write a continuity-and-change argument supported by sourced evidence.

Lessons

  1. HIPP: reading the Farewell Address 6 steps3 practiceabout 30 min
  2. The Monroe Doctrine and its afterlives 5 steps3 practiceabout 30 min
  3. When did the US become a world power? 5 steps3 practiceabout 30 min
  4. Building a continuity-and-change argument 4 steps2 practiceabout 30 min
  5. Historical thinking check 9 questions at the end

Keep exploring

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