United States History II

This Lumen Learning Waymaker U.S. History course aims to help students use historical thinking skills to describe, compare, contextualize, and construct historical arguments about major events in American history from 1877 to the present day. The course covers the chronological history of the United States from Reconstruction through the beginning of the twenty-first century and introduces key forces and major developments that together form the U.S. experience, providing a balanced approach that considers the people, events, and ideas that have shaped the United States from both the top-down (politics, economics, diplomacy) and bottom-up (eyewitness accounts, lived experience), with particular attention paid to issues of race, class, and gender.

Primary course goals include the following:

  • Describe key historical trends, events, and figures in modern American history
  • Examine historical figures and events from multiple, diverse perspectives, recognizing how American history is influenced by race, ethnicity, gender, class, religion, etc.
  • Think like a historian; make historical connections by studying historical narratives and arguments, analyzing documents, synthesizing information, evaluating cause and effect, and studying how things change over time.

This course will guide students through a wealth of primary sources, readings, and videos tied to clear learning objectives designed to improve their critical thinking skills. Sample discussions and assignments are included. Key topics include westward expansion, industrialization and urbanization, imperialism, progressivism, WWI, the Jazz Age, the Great Depression, WWII, the Cold War, political storms, civil rights movements, culture wars, and more.

Table of Contents

  • Module 1: Westward Expansion (1840-1900)
  • Module 2: Industrialization and Urbanization (1870-1900)
  • Module 3: The Gilded Age (1870-1900)
  • Module 4: Age of Empire—American Foreign Policy (1890-1914)
  • Module 5: The Progressive Era (1890-1920)
  • Module 6: America in World War I (1914-1919)
  • Module 7: The Jazz Age (1919-1929)
  • Module 8: The Great Depression (1929-1932)
  • Module 9: The New Deal (1932-1941)
  • Module 10: World War II (1941-1945)
  • Module 11: Post-War Prosperity and the Cold War (1945-1960)
  • Module 12: America in the 1960s (1960-1970)
  • Module 13: Political Storms at Home and Abroad (1968-1980)
  • Module 14: From Cold War to Culture Wars (1980-2000)
  • Module 15: The Twenty-First Century (2000-2020)

Additional Course Features

These course materials include:

  • Waymaker Courseware: User-friendly Waymaker learning tools improve success for at-risk students with personalized study plans, automated study tips and nudges, and early alerts to identify and help struggling students.
  • Outcome-aligned OER: Designed to replace expensive textbooks, this course curates the best available open educational resources (OER) aligned with learning outcomes. Teach it as-is or customize to fit your needs.
  • LMS Integration: This course is delivered with seamless LMS integration and automatic grade return for Canvas, Blackboard, Brightspace, and Moodle.
  • Accessibility: Lumen is committed to providing learning materials that are accessible to all learners. Lumen course materials are mobile-friendly.

Teaching with Lumen Course Materials

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  • Replace expensive textbooks | Ready-to-adopt open educational resources (OER) include text, videos, simulations, self-checks, and other interactives.
  • Choose affordability | Low cost to students.
  • Use better content | Continuous, data-driven improvements make OER content more effective at supporting learning.
  • Simplify access | Easy access to course materials in your LMS (Blackboard, Canvas, D2L, and Moodle) plus automatic grade return.
  • Improve student outcomes | Research shows Lumen course materials can improve academic performance, passing rates, and course completion.

FOR INSTRUCTORS

  • Connect with students | Instructor and student tools designed to help strengthen communication.
  • Save time | Start with curated, outcome-aligned OER and supplemental instructor resources like quiz banks, assignments, slide decks, etc. 
  • Customize your course | Freedom to tailor course content to fit your learning outcomes and instructional approach.
  • Enjoy awesome support | Faculty-friendly onboarding, training, and support. 
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FOR STUDENTS

  • Learn by doing | Online homework, self-check activities, and other interactive tools strengthen learning.
  • Engage from day one | Avoid falling behind with access to course materials from the first day of class.
  • Retain materials | Download a digital copy of course content to keep forever.
  • Become a better learner | Real-time feedback guides students on where to focus and how to improve.

Are you ready to get started with Lumen Learning digital courseware?

Great! Fill out our Explore a Course form, and our team will contact you promptly.

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