Tenth Grade Curriculum

Critical Issues in United States History explores the growth of the United States from the colonial period through the present day. Students explore major themes in United States History, including how race, class, and gender have impacted economic, political and social development, and the role that the United States has played on the global stage. Students consider the tension between growth and human rights by exploring conflicts from colonial times through the present. They deepen their understanding of the role of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution in unifying (and dividing) the country, considering the Civil War, Reconstruction, and 20th and 21st century struggles for civil rights. Students explore relationships between labor and capital and debate the role that the government should play in the economy.

All 10th graders complete three common document based question (DBQ) essays, as well as a research paper with multiple sources and MLA citations.