This course surveys North American and United States history from the period of European colonization through the era of U.S. Reconstruction following the Civil War. The course examines the migration of peoples from Europe and Africa to North America, their interactions with Indigenous peoples, and the formation of new societies in various regions. Major themes include the social, cultural, political, and economic factors that contributed to the growth of the United States, with sustained attention to the evolving relationship between freedom and slavery, power and citizenship, and land and labor.

Students will develop historical understanding, critical thinking, and creative thinking practices to become more informed global citizens and to better understand the political, economic, and cultural foundations of the United States.