High School United States History

The high school United States History framework focuses on developing students’ understanding of American History from the Progressive response to industrialization through the early 21st century. The framework builds on the grade 8 United States History experience and is designed to ensure that all students complete their study of United States History by examining the events, personalities, and ideas that defined life in the early 21st century. The “Bridge Unit from Middle School United States History: Growth of Industrial and Urban America” in the high school framework is the same as the final unit in the grade 8 United States History framework. The high school United States History framework is designed for instruction to begin at “Unit 1: Progressivism and Imperialism.”

In United States History, students interpret historical evidence, identify significant trends, and examine the major turning points that define the modern American experience. The study of United States History will enable students to understand the development and transition of the American economy from manufacturing to service based. Students will understand the multiple forces that drove the growth of a global power. In addition, students examine the foundational documents that provide continuity to the Democratic experience. Students will analyze the processes and mechanisms that increased the body politic and the impact of different cultures on the development of an American identity. By considering events from multiple perspectives, students will understand that women, African Americans, Native Americans, those with disabilities, those who identify as LGBTQ+, and other racial and religious minorities possess historical agency. Awareness of these perspectives assist student comprehension of the complicated nature of the American story. The story of American History is not one of inevitable progress but that of an ongoing struggle marked by improvement and regression as the nation moves toward the goal of perfecting the union. 

To assist students in acquiring these understandings, the content of the framework is structured by the following six state social studies standards: 

The following resources are designed to support instruction in High School United States History.

Source Work Crosswalks

​Resource	​Description	​Standard
​SHEG Crosswalk	Crosswalk between Maryland’s 6.0 Skills and Processes and the Stanford History Education Group (SHEG) Approach.	​Standard 6.0
​APPARTS Crosswalk	Crosswalk with College Board’s Pre-AP APPARTS Document Analysis Method.	Standard 6.0
​SOAPSTONE Crosswalk	​Crosswalk with College Board’s Advanced Placement SOAPSTONE Document Analysis Method.	​Standard 6.0