The Agnes Irwin School | Empowering Girls Since 1869
History and Social Sciences Global History I This course addresses the fundamental question of how the modern world came to be, tracing its origins from the 15th century to the 19th century. The course examines the role of Asian and Muslim civilizations in the pre-modern period, the creation of the first global trade networks, early European colonization, political revolutions in France and Latin America, the Industrial Revolution and its consequences for Africa and Asia, and the development of nationalism which ultimately led to the outbreak of World War I. The course includes a variety of different projects and assessments, including a research paper. Global History II This course continues where Global History I left off, at the dawn of the 20th Century. Beginning with the run-up to World War I, the course dives deeply into the major events of the last hundred years, including the Russian Revolution and early Soviet history, the Fascist and Nazi movements of the 1930s, the history of modern China and Japan, World War II from a global perspective, the Cold War and decolonization in Africa and Asia, the making of the Modern Middle East, and the fall of communism in Eastern Europe. The course features both project based and traditional assessments, and includes a research paper. Note: Students may take Global History II without having taken Global History I.
12 | HISTORY AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
United States History People of every country must understand their nation’s history to be responsible citizens. United States History exposes juniors to the economic, political, diplomatic, and intellectual developments of the United States so they can better appreciate the uniqueness of their country. The course combines a traditional chronological approach with an emphasis on selected themes such as sectionalism, race relations, the role of the Supreme Court, the role of women, immigration, and the American Dream. Skill development plays a prominent role in this course with an emphasis on critical thinking and evidentiary writing skills through primary source analysis. Teachers use a variety of assessment forms such as thesis-driven essays, traditional tests and quizzes, and research projects. United States History Honors United States History Honors is designed for students who are willing and able to undertake a most rigorous course of study. Students are required to do substantial amounts of reading and will be expected to understand cause and effect relationships behind the “facts,” as well as grasp complex interpretive studies of the great periods of crisis and dramatic change in the American past. Students gain an understanding of the problems confronting the United States and participate in developing solutions for these problems. Writing plays a prominent role in the course, and the teachers employ a variety of discussion and writingbased assessments such as primary source analysis and a major research paper. Admission to United States History Honors requires completion of an application process and approval by the History and Social Science Department.
