Grade 11 US History & Government

Welcome!

About Me

Contact Info: E-mail: tm53964p@pace.edu

Office Hours: Lunch-time on Appointment and After School 2:30pm - 3:30pm Mon. - Fri.

Hello students and welcome to U.S. History & Government; my name is Tom Marcason but, you can address me as Mr. Marcason or Mr. M for short. I am originally from Bergen County, New Jersey and attended Pace University where I studied Secondary Education with a concentration in History. In this classroom you are expected to preform to your best academic ability and interact with myself and other peers respectfully.

Course Description

Grade 11 begins with the colonial and constitutional foundations of the United States and explores the government structure and functions written in the Constitution. The development of the nation and the political, social, and economic factors that led to the challenges our nation faced in the Civil War are addressed. Industrialization, urbanization, and the accompanying problems are examined, along with America’s emergence as a world power, the two world wars of the 20th century, and the Cold War. Students explore the expansion of the federal government, the threat of terrorism, and the place of the United States in an increasingly globalized and interconnected world.

Grading System

  • Each unit will contain 1-2 quizzes and after three units are covered there will be a test, except the last test will be four units. There are multiple homework assignments for every unit and there will be two projects throughout the year.
    • Homework 15%
    • Quizzes 15%
    • Tests 35%
    • Class Participation 15%
    • Projects 20%

Classroom Policies

  • Homework assignments/ Projects are graded out of 100 pts. and to be turned in on time; however, late work is accepted with a penalty of -10 pts. for every day that it is late.
  • Participation in classroom discussion is a requirement. Every class their will be a classroom discussion and you must participate at least once to receive credit.
  • Every class you must come prepared and on time. You must bring all required materials to class: Textbook, Binder/Notebook, Writing Utensil. Being tardy to class or not prepared for class may result in point deduction from your average.
  • Plagiarism will not be tolerated in this classroom. If you are caught plagiarizing I will have to report it to the school and on top of the school’s punishment you will receive a zero for that assignment. Cheating of any sort will also result in a zero for that assignment for all parties involved.
  • Bullying is not tolerated in the classroom and any sort of bullying will be reported to the school, who will then, handle the matter.

Classroom Expectations

  • It is expected to put full effort into all of the assignments that you turn in. All work that is to be turned in is to be typed, proof-read and clean.
  • You are to respect everyone inside the classroom. Do not talk while I am or anybody else is talking; when someone is talking give them your full attention. If you have nothing nice to say, please keep it to yourself.
  • To answer or ask a question you must quietly and respectfully raise your hand and wait to be called on.

Course Topics

  • Colonial Foundations (1607-1763)- European Colonization in North America
  • Constitutional Foundations (1763-1824)- The colonies and their road to independence from Great Britain
  • Expansion, Nationalism, and Sectionalism (1800-1865)- Political issues grew within the colonies which lead to the Civil War
  • Post-Civil War Era (1865-1900)- Reconstruction of the Union and expansion of constitutional rights
  • Industrialization and Urbanization (1870-1920)- The rise of the Second Industrial Revolution
  • The Rise of American Power (1890-1920)- The United States' rise as a world power and their involvement in World War 1
  • Prosperity and Depression (1920-1939)- The United States goes through economic changes and experiences the Great Depression
  • World War 2 (1935-1945)- The role of the United States in World War 2
  • Cold War (1945-1990)- An era of international conflicts between the United States and communist countries
  • Social and Economic Change/ Domestic Issues (1945-Present)- Racial, Gender, and Socioeconomic issues were addressed during this era
  • The United States in a Globalizing World (1990-Present)- United States' political and economic issues it faces in the current era