<p>AP USH was awesome for me, because my teacher loved it and made it fun. Besides, I love all kinds of history.</p>
<p>Your book is for Reconstruction to the present- our school has it the same way-</p>
<p>8th: 1600's -> Civil War
11th (Regular): Reconstruction -> Present
11th (AP): Everything</p>
<p>My school describes the benefits of the U.S. history course by saying that it:</p>
<p>"helps students develop the knowledge and tools to better understand their social and physical environment. Historical perspectives and social science concepts help students interpret their world, make responsible decisions, and understand the consequences of those decisions. We hope that their work in history and social studies will help students cultivate the habits of active, responsible, and informed citizens."</p>
<p>I agree that a broad basis of historical knowledge - especially that of U.S. history - provides useful tools to make sense of current events, literature, etc. For example, if you never learn what the New Deal was, that will put you at a disadvantage in understanding current policy, social science research, and potentially even literature from the era.</p>
<p>
[quote]
8th: 1600's -> Civil War
11th (Regular): Reconstruction -> Present
11th (AP): Everything
[/quote]
</p>
<p>My school does exactly the same thing except American History (regular and AP) is taught in 10th grade.</p>
<p>i loove APUSH :]
it's like the only class i pay attention in during class -- but then again, i have a very dynamic teacher.</p>
<p>but i also like politics, so it's cool to see how everything people agree with/ disagree with today was formed over time.</p>
<p>Because those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it.</p>
<p>And not knowing the history of the country you live in is just ignorant, especially considering that we only have about 200 years of history to know.</p>
<p>...well, yeah.. and europe has 5,000+, so i better get started!</p>
<p>that's how i feel. i'm not too proud of america anyway, but i love europe.</p>
<p>i feeel ya!</p>
<p>You aren't "too proud" of America?</p>
<p>...</p>
<p>No, I'm not; I'm not exactly proud to be an American in the new millenium.</p>
<p>well, then LEARN something so you can change it</p>
<p>if don't know the intentions of the creaters of the constitution, you don't know how it is being changed</p>
<p>if you don't know what happened in Vietnam, you won't see the parellels today</p>
<p>if you don't learn about the civil rights movement, you don't see ho people are trying to erode that</p>
<p>if you don't learn about the civil war, you won't understand the issues today between north and south</p>
<p>if you don't understand why the electoral college was created, it is hard to explain why it might be good to change it</p>
<p>if you don't understand one man one vote, not as obvious as it sounds, you won't understnad how people lose their rights</p>
<p>if you don't learn about the Cold War, or McCarthy, you can't make connections for people about what is going on today</p>
<p>you are being taught poorly, American History, for its short time, has had enormous impacts on the world</p>
<p>people make claims about, say the founding fathers and religion to make certain claims, but if you do a bit of research, you see it isn't all as it appears or claimed</p>
<p>you can only make changes if you understand how we got to that point</p>
<p>I like APUSH too, but only after the 1920's. Colonial life and the 1800s was so boring.</p>
<p>well, yeah, that's why i posted this thread? i'm not learning anything new. i WANT to learn, and i'm not. what was that about?</p>
<p>You should've taken AP. You would've learned alot more.</p>
<p>except it's not offered</p>
<p>It is to see our past mistakes as a country and to learn for the future.</p>
<p>It is to understand WATCHING THE NEWS! You won't be able to sit through an hour of any cable news network without having known something from the past. </p>
<p>It is to get pop culture references. It's impossible to watch "Family Guy" and laugh at 100% of all the jokes becuase he makes so many references to pop culture and our past history. Same with other TV shows.</p>
<p>And plus, you don't have the greatest textbook ever... "THE AMERICAN PAGEANT!!" </p>
<p>(I ♥ Thomas A. Bailey)</p>
<p>I agree, US history and culture is so short, it is pretty meaningless on the larger scale. I find world and European history much more interesting and I actually dedicated time to studing the respective subjects. As for APUSH, I haven't even cracked my American Pageant book and we are already on the Great Depression. Nonetheless, the material is easy enough that I get high As anyways.</p>
<p>I think it depends on your teacher because I had an amazing AP US history teacher. Just outstanding. Our classes weren't him lecturing the class about facts and dates, but the whole class interacting, discussing, and debating and mainly talking about what we felt went on during this time or where we thought certain historians went wrong. AP US history is considered the hardest and best AP course in my school b/c of the teachers even though in some schools its probably hella easy. I would go as far to say more fast-paced and better taught than a college course. I got interested in history because of that class whereas before I was completely indifferent to politics. If I have to state one thing I got out of it, it's definitely your ability and insight to draw connections from what happened in the past to what's occurring right now in the present. Everything that has happened back then, affects us now every single day. Rather than objective facts, I found historiographical essays the most interesting b/c I was never exposed to ideas of consensus vs. revisionist before, and being in that class also allowed me to form my own opinions of what I thought took place in history rather than just learning one perspective. The purpose of AP US history isn't to make the students "loyal" to the country...it almost does the exact opposite because it forces us to look at history with a critical eye and form our own opinions rather than being brainwashed with what they want us to believe. I know for a fact I've probably become less "loyal" to the US and more skeptical about our gov't as a result. Like long ago, the schools used to teach that Reconstruction failed because the blacks that took power messed everything up (even in the north)...only one perspective was taught back then...but now we know better and today other interpretations like how blacks were never even put in power have been formed as evidence and facts are revealed. I think a lot of people take for granted the opportunity we have to learn history in all perspectives rather than being limited to a narrow point of view like some students were in the past. Also, if you don't learn about the history of this country, how will you know to make informed decisions about the present in terms of voting? It's also valuable to learn about politics, american history on your own b/c you don't want to be the average naive voter being tricked into believing whatever the politican says. And in terms of where we are today, I find it hard to believe it's "boring"...I mean...come on, the whole Vietnam, Iraq parallel...there are even schools in which courses that draw on similarities have been implemented. Not to mention the parallels of different presidencies. There are tons of essays, books out there that present an extremely subjective point of view towards history, not like a textbook. If your class doesn't read any of these, I guess that does contribute to the dullness...I recommend anything from Howard Zinn, Richard Hofstadter, John P. Roche, Edward Greenberg who all take extreme perspectives.</p>