United States History Themes

I. American Diversity
a. We have the freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly and
petition. This promotes diversity of religion as well as diversity of
character.
b. Segregation: When white and black people were separated,
they had different schools, water fountains, and white people
looked down on black people.
c. Migration contributed heavily to the many ethnicities and
races. Many fled from their countries due to famine and wish
of being free.
d. Slavery was finally ended when the thirteenth amendment
abolished slavery. Abraham Lincolns Emancipation
Proclamation and Martin Luther King Jr.s I Have a Dream
speech were also a key in the abolishment of slavery.
e. Women were granted the right to vote in the 19
th
amendment
f. Class divisions have always existed, the divide between the
wealthy and the poor, though not as clear today, was very
clear back in the day.
II. American Identity
a. We declared independence from Great Britain in 1776
b. We believe that America is the best due to our many
freedoms and our government. We believe that any
government that doesnt represent the people and give them
rights is not good.
c. Since America is so large, it is split into 50 different states, thus
the 50 stars on the flag. A group of states is a region, for
example, theres the North East, Mid-Atlantic, Mid-West, North
West, West, South West, and South East. Each state is then split
into counties, and in each county are many cities.
d. Due to Americas size, many regions have many different
cultures. While the south tends to be more tradition and the
north more industrial, the middle states are viewed as more
agricultural, like Wyoming, Kansas, Montana
III. Culture
a. Romantic Period: many of the most famous writers were
influenced by this period
b. Moby Dick, The Scarlet Letter, Emily Dickinson, Nathaniel
Hawthorne, and Edgar Allan Poe
c. Art was also important, landscape paintings were popular
d. The Enlightenment and Transcendentalism were very famous
movements.
e. Today in the 21
st
century, the cultures are more diverse. While
back in the day, when you did something that was out of the
ordinary it seemed strange. But now there is a plethora of
different cultures due to Americas diverse ethnic background.
IV. Demographic Changes
a. Industrial Revolution, population growth
b. With new technology and better medicines, life expectancies
have gone up, death rates have lowered drastically, and
populations have risen exponentially
c. California Gold Rush: The gold rush brought thousands of men
and women to California
d. Manifest Destiny: The US believed it was their fate to extend
the borders to the shores of the Pacific, or from sea to shining
sea
e. People migrated to places where they thought they would
have more chances of surviving and making a living, whether
it was from one state to another or across the ocean to
America.
V. Economic Transformation
a. Industrial Revolution: transportation changed, now trade
becomes easier due to steamboat. Everything is now faster,
easier and cheaper
b. NATO and NAFTA (thats all I remember about them)
c. Produced crops and raw materials for exports. We imported
finished goods that used the raw materials, but they were
sent back at a much higher price
d. Railroads and steam powered trains could be used anywhere
and were way faster
e. Many revolts and rebellions by laborers due to long hours,
harsh conditions, or low pay
f. Factories began being built for mass production
VI. Environment
a. Green Revolution
b. Industrialization not only brought in people, also created
pollution and disease
c. We consume a lot of fossil fuels, which in turn pollutes the air
and our atmosphere. Fertilizers are also a great source of
pollution in bodies of water
d. Pollution can cause disease as well as a lot of human beings
being in one place. Disease is easily transferable then.
e. We are now trying to find alternate resources to take the
place of our non-renewable resources.
VII. Globalization
a. American culture spreads, whether its ideas, clothes, music
etc.
b. Columbian exchange introduced new ideas, diseases,
animals, and foods to America
c. Wars have also increased our worldly contact with other
countries.
d. United Nations and League of Nations promotes peace
between the United States and other countries.
VIII. Politics and Citizenship
a. Articles of Confederation-This was the original agreement
between the colonies before the constitution.
b. Declaration of Independence
c. Constitution- This is the agreement/document/law of the land
we still live by today even though it was created in the late
1`8
th
century
d. Our government is a democracy, where it is run by the people
e. Civil Rights: this was a long and hard struggle that both white
and black people fought for. Martin Luther King Jr, Abraham
Lincoln, and Malcolm X are just a few of the advocates for the
rights of blacks
f. Political Traditions: we dont have many political traditions,
though we do celebrate Fourth of July, Presidents Day, and
focus a lot of our time on the election. We hang signs on our
front lawns, on our cars, stay up all night watching the polls,
and argue about who should be elected, what the president is
doing right and wrong, and over political views
IX. Reform
a. Civil Rights Movement: the struggle to end racial segregation
b. Womens Suffrage Movement: Movement for womans right to
vote.
c. Temperance Movement: Movement of mostly women who
urged people to moderate their alcohol consumption.
Especially since the men of the house would come home
drunk and hurt his wife and sometimes children.
d. Green Movement to raise awareness about pollution and
things that are harming the earth
X. Religion
a. Freedom to practice religion is in the Constitution
b. There is no national religion though Christianity is the dominant
religion
c. Great Awakening
d. Many puritans and other immigrants from countries that dont
allow people to practice their own religion fled to the
Americas
e. Religion is even inscribes in our money as IN GOD WE TRUST
f. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Shinto,
Hinduism
XI. Slavery and Its Legacies in North America
a. Atlantic Slave Trade
b. Slavery was the/one of the main reasons for the Civil War,
causing a separation between the states. However, once the
Civil War ended slaves were freed and the states lost their right
to secede. (I believe)
c. Slavery separated many families
d. Slaves served as laborers on farms, mines or factories, as
cleaners around the house, as cooks, and sometimes as
babysitters for the kids.
e. Slavery, though bad, helped the farmers since they were
getting free labor. They received a plethora of cash crops
without having to lift a muscle or pay a dime (to the slaves)
XII. War and Diplomacy
a. American Revolution: fight against Great Britain for freedom
b. French and Indian War: conflict between Great Britain and
France
c. World War I and II: World War II shaped the way Europe is now
divided. World War I resulted in many empires falling as well as
America growing more powerful
d. Our nation, after so many fatal wars, is now more wary when
going into war, and is more inclined towards negotiations.
e. Wars have advanced our technology dramatically.
f. Population loss, severe debt, Great Depression
g. American Civil War: Conflict between the Northern and
Southern states slavery and regional differences.