American History Honors

1st Project Due:                                                    2nd Project Due:
Mar. 18th                                                                 May. 4th
         

          Please choose TWO projects to complete                  You may begin any project at any time throughout the semester.

AH - The History of Everything  *NEW*

Research your favorite thing and write a 10-page paper on the history of it (fashion, automobiles, restaurant, etc).  This needs to be a very detailed analysis of your topic including EVERYTHING from its beginnings, how it has changed over time, what influenced it to change and why, why is this thing important (make an argument), and how did it become what it is today just to name A FEW (you will need to go beyond this).  This paper COULD count as TWO projects if done extremely well (however, this will be determined AFTER it has been graded, not before)
  • Page Requirements: double-spaced, Times New Roman/Arial, 12pt. font
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Unit 1 - Expansion and Reform

1a. - The Founding Fathers

Research three Founding Fathers and write a summary (3 page minimum for each) on their effect on the founding of the United States. Why are the three you have chosen the most important Founding Fathers: make an argument! 
  • Page Requirement: double-spaced, Times New Roman/Arial, 12pt. font, sources cited

1b. - Journals of Lewis and Clark

Research the Lewis and Clark Expedition (Corp of Discovery) and write a collection of journal entries the document the journey the expedition took. Try to make the journal as realistic as possible
  • Journal Requirement: 20 entries (at least 4 sentences for each), sources cited

1c. - Scale Model

Create a scale model of one of the important battle of the War of 1812 and then write a 3 page paper describing the event (may work in partners, but no more than 2)
  • Page Requirement: double-spaced, Times New Roman/Arial, 12pt. font
  • Scale Model: no larger than 2 feet by 2 feet
  • Preferred Battle Choices: Bombing of Ft. McHenry, Burning of the White House, Battle of New Orleans, Battle of York

1d. - Multimedia Transcendentalism

Create a PowerPoint presentation of paintings, poetry, literature and other art (at least 10) from the Transcendentalist Movement that showcases the American Renaissance. 
  • Project Requirement: each example must be cited, dated showing the source and date the example was created, and give a paragraph description of the artwork. 
  • All examples must come from America between 1810-1875.

1e. - Early Reforms

Research three reforms and write a summary (3 page minimum for each) on their effect on the problem they attempted to correct. Why are the three you have chosen the most important reforms undertook by the people living at that time: make an argument! 
  • Page Requirement: double-spaced, Times New Roman/Arial, 12pt. font, sources cited
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Unit 2 - A Nation Divided

2a. - Civil War Essay

Write an essay (5 page minimum) on a major battle or general from the Civil War
  • Page Requirement: double-spaced, Times New Roman/Arial, 12pt. font
  • Possible Battles(but not limited to): Firing on Ft. Sumter, First Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Antietam, Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of Vicksburg, Battle of Cold Harbor, Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Mobile, Battle of Shiloh, Battle of Petersburg, Battle of Atlanta, Battle of Seven Pines
  • Possible Generals (but not limited to): Grant, Lee, Jackson, Sherman, Meade, McClellan, Joseph Johnston
  • Essay Layout: describe the battle, how did the battle play out (formations, tactics, point-by-point analysis), who commanded and how many troops, who won, what was its impact on the war itself describe OR describe the general, what battles did he command troops, how many, and what was the results of those battles (brief but informative battle analysis), how did his career change as the war was going on (different commands, promoted, demoted)

 

2b. - Scale Model

Create a scale model of one of the important battle of the Civil War and then write a 3 page paper describing the event (may work in partners, but no more than 2)
  • Page Requirement: double-spaced, Times New Roman/Arial, 12pt. font
  • Scale Model: no larger than 2 feet by 2 feet
  • Preferred Battle Choices: Firing on Ft. Sumter, Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Antietam, Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of Vicksburg

 
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Unit 3 - The Gilded Age
3a. - Populist Party Platform
Outline the political platform of the Populist Party in a visual diagram.  Then assess the validity of how the reforms they stood for and proposed would further democracy and liberties for the common man in a short essay.  Lastly, create your own political party platform that address the issues that you feel are important to you in today's society in a visual diagram
  • Page Requirements: double-spaced, Times New Roman/Arial, 12pt. font
  • Visual Diagram suggestion: printer paper or small poster board (make it look official and professional)

 

3b. - Political Cartoon Analysis

Research and find 5 political cartoons by Thomas Nast. Analysis each of the cartoons and write a short description of what message is being portrayed in each and how Thomas Nast represents that. (You will need to provide an image/picture of each of the cartoons.) Afterwards create 3 political cartoons of your own with a small explanation of each.

3c. - Business Leader Business Card

Research one of the robber barons/captains of industry and write a minimum 5-page paper on their rise to power and their reputation as a business leader at the turn of the 20thcentury. Focus needs to be placed throughout the paper on whether you believe the person is a robber baron or a captain of industry and explain your answer thoroughly. Afterwards create a business card that represents the person you chose.
  • Page Requirements: double-spaced, Times New Roman/Arial, 12pt. font
  • Card Suggestions: be creative and use a standard 2x3 to 3x5 inch size for the card.

 

3d. - Integration Visual Diagram

Create a visual diagram poster of both vertical integration and horizontal integration using two different businesses in modern day. On the back of the poster do the same thing, but using two different businesses in the later 1800s.
  • Visual Diagram suggestion: printer paper or small poster board (make it look official and professional)

 

3e. - Assembly Line Film 

Set up a camera and demonstrate the process of an assembly line. Assign a task for up to 4-5 people to complete. Each participate will have an individual job to complete and be seen on camera. One person needs to moderate this activity by being the boss who asks for speedier work as MULTIPLE items at a increasingly faster pace.  Afterwards, write a 1-page paper on your experience and compare it to the life of the assembly worker. Also, answer the question of the effectiveness of the assembly line compared to individual labor.
  • Video Requirements: NO MORE THAN 3 MINUTES LONG.
  • Other Requirements: NO MORE THAN 5 participates involved

 

3f. - Letter to the Editor

Write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper describing a problem faced by students in school today. As you write this letter, think about how your complaint to the editor is much like labor unions complaint to business leaders ---OR--- write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper describing what you feel is the biggest problem facing our nation today. As you write this letter, think about how your complaint to the editor is much like muckrakers concerns to issues of their day.
  • Letter Requirements: turn in a copy of your letter and a cutout of your letter published from the local paper. (it will be returned)

3g. - Advertisement

Create a scrapbook of pages using advertising pictures that compare and contrast methods of advertising during the Progressive Movement to advertising today. For each comparative pictures add a small paragraph (4 sentences or more) that details how the two pictures are similar and different.
  • Scrapbook Requirement: At least 10 comparisons must be used (20 pictures)

 
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Unit 4 - American World Premier

4a. - Manifest Destiny v. Imperialism

Write a 4-page paper comparing and contrasting the United States’ justification for manifest destiny versus its justification for imperialism. Use your own arguments and at least two opinions from people of the time-period (quoted) for each justification (manifest destiny and imperialism)
  • Page Requirements: double-spaced, Times New Roman/Arial, 12pt. font

 

4b. - Imperialism Map 

Create a map of the world and then map the areas of the U.S. imperialist activities around the world. On a separate sheet of paper or on the map itself, write a small paragraph analyzing why each area was an advantageous location for the U.S. to control
  • Map suggestion: poster board (make it look official and professional)

4c. - Yellow Media

Develop and write an argument either supporting or opposing the following statement: “Modern news shows are a form of political propaganda very similar to the ‘yellow journalism’ of the late 19thand early 20thcentury.” Explain your argument thoroughly in a 5-page paper
  • Page Requirements: double-spaced, Times New Roman/Arial, 12pt. font

 

4d. - Propaganda PowerPoint

Create a PowerPoint slide show showing World War I propaganda posters explaining each posters message and purpose.
MAKE SURE THE POSTER ARE FROM WORLD WAR I!! (I will be checking!)
  • PowerPoint Requirements: At least 20 posters must be explained (2 must be non-American poster), pictures/posters cited.
Use this rubric for EACH poster that you use!

4e. - Civil Liberties during War 

Write a 5-page paper describing correlations between restrictions on civil liberties during World War I and other periods of United States military conflict since World War I.
  • Page Requirements: double-spaced, Times New Roman/Arial, 12pt. font

 
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Unit 5 - Trials and Tribulations

5a. - 20s and 30s Comparative

Write a 6-page essay evaluating the appropriateness of the terms: “Great Depression” and “Roaring Twenties.” Base your evaluation on oral histories, journals, and historic accounts of events.
  • Page Requirements: double-spaced, Times New Roman/Arial, 12pt. font
 

5b. - Great Depression Museum

Create a visual diagram/poster of items that could be displayed as artifacts in an exhibit on the Great Depression in a museum (such as a bank statement, old radio, etc). For each item, write a paragraph explaining its significance to the Great Depression.
  • Visual Diagram suggestion: printer paper or small poster board (make it look official and professional as if you were to present your model to a museum)

 

5c. - New Deal Poster

Create a visual diagram/poster of each of the major New Deal programs. Visual diagram/poster needs to show as symbol or image that represents each program with a paragraph that describes its purpose and importance
  • Visual Diagram suggestion: printer paper or small poster board (make it look official and professional)

 

5d. - World War II Timeline

Construct an annotated timeline highlighting the rise of Nazism, Fascism, and the Axis aggression that led to Europe’s declaration of war in 1939. Also, create and provide a blank map and locate/label the key areas mentioned in the timeline.
  • Visual Diagram suggestion: printer paper or small poster board (make it look official and professional)

 

5e. - World War II Scale Model

Create a scale model of one of the important battle of World War II and then write a 4 page paper describing the event (may work in partners, but no more than 2)
  • Page Requirement: double-spaced, Times New Roman/Arial, 12pt. font
  • Scale Model: no larger than 2 feet by 2 feet
  • Preferred Battle Choices: German invasion of Poland, Battle of Britain, Battle of El Aleman, Battle of Stalingrad, Battle of Normandy (D-Day), Battle of the Atlantic, Battle of the Bulge, Bombing of Pearl Harbor, Battle of the Coral Sea, Battle of Midway, Battle of Iwo Jima, Battle of Okinawa



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Unit 7 - Conflicts and Resolutions

7a. - 60s and 70s Interview

Interview a relative or close family friend who lived through the 60s and 70s. Have a series of at least 15-20 questions along with follow up questions based on their responses to ask the person you interview. You may turn in this interview in 2 different ways: Video Recording of the interview OR an Audio Recording of the interview.  A typed paper listing the questions asked and the answers given by the person you interviewed.
  • Topics to Discuss: Kennedy’s presidency, NASA – moon landing, Civil Right Movement, Cold War, Vietnam War, Watergate, social changes in America, music in America
  • Other Requirements: the person you interview MUST have been at least a teenager during the 60s or 70s and must be approved by myself, and your parents (written approval MUST be handed to me with parent signature before I will sign it and you can begin your interview)

 

7b. - Multimedia Youth Culture

Create multimedia presentations demonstrating the differences in youth culture in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and present day. Focus on literature, movies, music, fads, slang, etc.

7c. - Roe v. Wade

Write a 6-page essay analyzing the effects of Roe v.Wade on the political climate and society of the United States from 1973 to the present. This is not an opinion paper, but just stating facts of the case and its effects on America.
  • Page Requirement: double-spaced, Times New Roman/Arial, 12pt. font

 

7d. - Assassinations

Write a 6-page essay about the impact of the assassinations of this time period on United States citizens (i.e., Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy).
  • Page Requirement: double-spaced, Times New Roman/Arial, 12pt. font
 
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Unit 8 - Modern America

8a. - Cold War presentation

Create a multimedia presentation on the Cold War from the time period after Vietnam through the decline of the Soviet Union. Chronicle major foreign policy events in this period.
  • PowerPoint Requirements: At least 20 events must be explained

8b. - Your Opinion

Research and write a 7-page paper on your political viewpoint as a liberal, conservative, moderate, or something else and explain your reasoning for your stand with this political viewpoint
  • Page Requirement: double-spaced, Times New Roman/Arial, 12pt. font
  • Grading: Grading on this project will be based not on your opinion by how well your opinion fits with the argument you are supporting and have researched (ex. if you say you are a liberal yet all your arguments fit that of a conservative then points can be deducted)

 

8c. - Interview

Interview a relative or close family friend who lived through the 80s and 90s. Have a series of at least 15-20 questions along with follow up questions based on their responses to ask the person you interview. You may turn in this interview in 2 different ways: Video Recording of the interview OR an Audio Recording of the interview.  A typed paper listing the questions asked and the answers given by the person you interviewed.
  • Topics to Discuss: Reagan’s presidency, NASA – challenger explosion, Cold War, Fall of the Berlin Wall, Desert Storm, George H.W. Bush’s presidency, Clinton’s presidency, acts of terrorism within the United States before 9/11
  • Other Requirements: the person you interview MUST have been at least a teenager during the 80s or 90s and must be approved by myself, and your parents (written approval MUST be handed to me with parent signature before I will sign it and you can begin your interview)