Professor Schweikart's American History: The Best Homeschool American History Curriculum  

This lesson introduces the "Four Pillars of American Exceptionalism", then trace America's founding from Columbus all the way through the creation of twelve of the thirteen colonies.

Taking the colonies as a whole, this lesson examines how they came to be distinctly American with a different language and culture; concludes the colonial settlement with Georgia; introduces the First Great Awakening and slavery in America; and concludes with the French and Indian War.

This lesson follows the events that led to the American Revolution, the inspiration for declaring independence, the course of the war, and the genius of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, concluding with the Treaty of Paris of 1783.

Following the unsuccessful period under the Articles of Cofederation, American delegates drafted the Constitution and got it ratified after amending it with the Bill of Rights. Also discussed are the key laws: the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.

1789-1796: With the Constitution in place as a base, the American Republic began to grow under the wise leadership of George Washington, the sound financial policies of Alexander Hamilton, and the vision of Thomas Jefferson. Eventually, the conflict in Europe between England and France brought America to war with England in 1812, culminating in victory and the renewed confidence of the young country.

1796-1809: With the Constitution in place as a base, the American Republic began to grow under the wise leadership of George Washington, the sound financial policies of Alexander Hamilton, and the vision of Thomas Jefferson. Eventually, the conflict in Europe between England and France brought America to war with England in 1812, culminating in victory and the renewed confidence of the young country.

1809-1815: With the Constitution in place as a base, the American Republic began to grow under the wise leadership of George Washington, the sound financial policies of Alexander Hamilton, and the vision of Thomas Jefferson. Eventually, the conflict in Europe between England and France brought America to war with England in 1812, culminating in victory and the renewed confidence of the young country.

Test on the topics covered in lessons 1-5.

Beginning with the administrations of James Monroe and John Quincy Adams, this lesson examines the rise of “Jacksonian Democracy.” The key legislation known as the Missouri Compromise is examined, as are the economic issues leading to the Panic of 1837.

Martin van Buren, as president, had less effect on the nation than he did as the founder of the second political party system. Soon the Whigs joined the Democrats as the two major parties, and the nation expanded through the Mexican War acquisitions.

Covering the years leading up to the American Civil War, this lesson examines the various attempts to find a compromise over slavery that would somehow lead to long-desired emancipation on the one hand and a suitable substitute for slavery’s economic importance in the South on the other. Those efforts failed. The rise of Abraham Lincoln is covered in this lesson as well.

Test on the topics covered in lessons 6-8.

In one of the longest lessons, the American Civil War is the focus from a number of perspectives: as a legal subject; as an economic conflict; as a moral battle; and as purely a military action. Both the efforts of the Union and Confederate governments to ensure victory are detailed.

Following the war, the leaders attempted to stitch the nation back together again, but southern resistance led to an nearly decade-long occupation. This lesson examines Reconstruction policies in the South, politics in the North, and the backdrop of political corruption, all ending with the Compromise of 1877.

Test on the topics covered in lessons 9-10.

Although this lesson begins within the Civil War years, it is focused on the taming of the west by trappers, farmers, ranchers, and miners. This inevitably led to conflict with Native American tribes, ultimately resulting in their defeat and placement on reservations.

As Reconstruction issues faded, Americans became more concerned with the establishment of a growing, but fair, economy under the titans of prosperity. Farmer protests, the rise of unions, the importance of cheap money (the silver issue) all culminate in the Panic of 1893 and J.P. Morgan's bailout of the U.S. government.

Follows America's journey through the election of William McKinley through the presidencies of Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. This era was particularly focused on "Trust-busting", reform of the tariff system, and grand adventures such as the building of the Panama Canal.

As Woodrow Wilson became the first Democrat President since the Civil War, "Progressivism" in both parties was ascendent with "reform" in all areas of American life. Wilson presided over Progressive developments such as the institution of the Income Tax; the creation of the Federal Reserve System; and ultimately America's first European War.

Test on the topics covered in lessons 11-14.

Following the end of World War I, after a short recession, the United States entered a period of remarkable economic growth. From energy to transportation to marketing to communication, Americans saw their lives improved in almost every way. In 1929, for reasons still debated, it came to a halt with the "Great Crash" of Wall Street.

Seeking relief from the collapsing economy, Americans turned to the New Deal policies of Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose primary tactic was to get money into people's pockets to stimulate demand. Roosevelt created a blizzard of new offices, bureaus, and programs, but with little long-term benefit, as unemployment was nearly as high in 1939 as in 1932.

After steadfastly refusing to get involved in the war in Europe, Americans were drawn into the conflict by Japan's treacherous attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. What ensued in this, the second longest lesson of the series, was American industry roared back to life and, funnelled through the hands of capable military leaders such as Chester Nimitz, Dwight Eisenhower, and George Patton, defeated the Axis powers. The final stroke was the dropping of the Atomic Bombs on Japan.

Test on the topics covered in lessons 15-17.

This lesson substantially revises the notion that the post-war period was sleepy, uniform, robotic, and lacking dynamism. From art to products, from economic dominance to the American military being the most powerful in the world, the decade saw another conflict in Korea end, this time in a stalemate, and the return of a Republican President, Eisenhower.

From civil rights to student riots, America in the 1960s and early 1970s nearly succeeded in a suicide attempt. One president was assassinated, nuclear war was barely averted, relations with China were normalized, and the Vietnam War lost. Fittingly the era ended with a president resigning from office over obstruction of justice.

Test on the topics covered in lessons 18-19.

Recovering from the Watergate era, President Jimmy Carter sought to manage American decline by urging people to change their expectations. In a period of high inflation and high unemployment, a political revolution occurred when the non-establishment Ronald Reagan won the Presidency and set out to defeat the economic foes and the USSR—both of which he did in eight years.

After the Reagan administration, although many of his economic policies continued, the presidency of Bill Clinton took a turn toward scandal. As seeming corruption mounted, the Republicans regained the House of Representatives for the first time in 40 years and numerous investigations were combined into a single Special Counsel. Eventually, though reelected convincingly in 1996, Clinton was impeached but not removed.

Test on the topics covered in lessons 20-21.

United by the terror attacks on 9/11, the American public soon split into opposing camps over President George Bush's invasion of Iraq to root out terrorists. Like Vietnam, a decade long war produced no real victory. Barack Obama was elected, the first black American to be President, but his policies were unpopular enough that Americans sent a true non-politician outsider to the presidency in 2016, Donald Trump. The lesson ends with the midterm elections of 2018.

Test on the topics covered in lesson 22.