U.S. HIST & GEOGR I (US1-B)

COURSE OVERVIEW

The first of a two-semester course.  This course covers U.S., Central, and South American history and geography, from before Columbus to the 1990's.  Primary resources: Anne Carroll's Christ and the Americas, U.S. History Map Activities, Rand McNally Atlas of American History, Warren Carroll's Conquest of Darkness: Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Richard Heffner's A Documentary History of the United States (selections).
 
Eras studied this semester:  
    • Era of Explorers, Missionaries, and Colonists, 1400-1763
    • Era of the American Revolution, 1763-1789
    • A New Nation, 1789-1824
    • Jackson, the West, and Manifest Destiny, 1824-1850

 

ORDERING INFORMATION

Basic information about the books and materials for this course follows; see your Academic Packet or STAA Study Guide for full ordering details and commentary about each resource.

A portion of every purchase made on Amazon after following the links here goes to help support St. Thomas Aquinas Academy's work. Thank you so very much for thinking of STAA when placing your book and general Amazon orders.

Semester 1: U.S. Studies IB Study Guide

  • Author: St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
  • Publisher/Copyright: St. Thomas Aquinas Academy, . Softcover coil-bound workbook.
  • ISBN:        
  • Supplier: St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
Student study guides and course plans for the first semester of the U.S. Studies, B Track cycle. Designed to work in conjunction with STAA advisor support, our live classes, or the "Independent Study with Online Support" option, the STAA Study Guides include weekly reading plans, assignment directions, reflection topics, and gradebooks for the semester and help prepare students for the weekly, graded online quizzes. This guide includes multiple subjects. To further personalize your student's plan, single-subject study guides are available at www.shop.staahomeschool.com.

Christ and the Americas

  • Author: Anne W. Carroll
  • Publisher/Copyright: TAN Books and Publishers, Inc., 1997. Print.
  • ISBN: 0895555948        978-0895555946
  • Supplier: Retail or Amazon.com
462 pages; 26 chapters; comprehension questions and projects; index. FROM THE PUBLISHER: "Christ and the Americas is the long-awaited high school American history text by best selling author Dr. Anne Carroll. It fills a great void because it gives proper attention to and appreciation for the role of the Catholic Church in American history. Beginning before Columbus and concluding with the 1990's, this book covers the vast panoply of American history in a fast-paced yet thorough manner. Because of its scores of amazing insights and penetrating analysis it renders history understandable and makes it come alive. With study questions at the end of each chapter, this book can be used as a traditional textbook or just read for enjoyment and information. This extensive and easy to read history book is the fruit of Dr. Carroll's many years as a high school history teacher.

U.S. History Map Activities

  • Author: E. Richard Churchill and Linda R. Churchill
  • Publisher/Copyright: J. Weston Walch Publisher, 1987, 2002. .
  • ISBN: 0825143497        9780825143496
  • Supplier: Rainbow Resource
85 pages; 25 two-page lessons; answer key included; reproducible.

Rand McNally Atlas of American History, 6th Edition

  • Publisher/Copyright: Rand McNally, 2016. Print.
  • ISBN: 0528015346        978-0528015342
  • Supplier: Retail or Amazon.com

Conquest of Darkness: Our Lady of Guadalupe

  • Author: Warren Carroll
  • Publisher/Copyright: Christendom Press, 2004. Print.
  • ISBN: 0931888123        978-0931888120
  • Supplier: Retail or Amazon.com
119 pages.

STAA Student Zone

  • Author: St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
  • Publisher/Copyright:
  • ISBN: n/a        
  • Supplier: St. Thomas Aquinas Academy Student Zone
There are online resources such as weekly reading quizzes, special downloads, advisor support through the Q & A forum, occasional slide shows or videos, and more for this course. To activate your student's online access, 1) submit the Course Registration form after your annual planning appointment, 2) register for the live class, or 3) register for the "Independent Study with Online Support Option." After completing one of the registration options, students (and teaching-parents) may use their usernames and passwords to sign into the member site. The STAA Student Zone is available each school year from August 1 to July 15.
OPTIONAL RESOURCE

The History of the Church: Student Text, Complete Edition

  • Author: Peter V. Armenio (The Didache Series)
  • Publisher/Copyright: Midwest Theological Forum, 2005. Print.
  • ISBN: 1890177466        978-1890177461
  • Supplier: Midwest Theological Forum
Hardcover; 816 pages; 22 chapters. This text is used in Church History I, II, and III. The workbook and teacher's manual are not needed. Order the COMPLETE edition, not the semester edition of the student text. This is a non-consumable text that will be used by a single student during most of high school and can be passed on to younger siblings; it is best to purchase the text rather than rent it. Direct link to ordering page on the publisher's website: https://www.theologicalforum.org/ProductInformation.aspx?BrowseBy=Category&CategoryId=106&ProductId=312.
OPTIONAL RESOURCE

A Documentary History of the United States (Updated and Expanded)

  • Author: Richard D. Heffner & Alexander Heffner
  • Publisher/Copyright: A Signet Book, 1952, 2013. Print.
  • ISBN: 0451466470        978-0451466471
  • Supplier: Retail or Amazon.com
32 units; 688 pages. (There is a new 2018 edition of this book available. The course plans have not been updated to match the page numbers of the 2018 edition at this time. Continue to use the 2013 edition or line up the names of the speeches and documents instead of the page numbers if you choose to use the 2018 edition.)
OPTIONAL RESOURCE

Fall Live Class: U.S. History & Geography IB

  • Author: St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
  • Publisher/Copyright: St. Thomas Aquinas Academy, . Online Class.
  • ISBN:        
  • Supplier: St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
Small-group, advisor-led live online class for students in Grades 8 through 12 that meets every other academic week of the first semester. Advisor grading of assignments is also available for students registered for this live class.


RELATED COURSES

ART PRAC & APPREC (AR3-B)
COURSE OVERVIEW 18-week course plan from U.S. Studies II, B Track: Artistic Pursuits; Artfully Teaching the Faith; Th...
VIEW
CATHOLIC APOLOGETICS (CAP-B)
COURSE OVERVIEW A one-semester course, worth five high school credits. The majority of this semester seeks to answer...
VIEW
U.S. HIST & GEOGR II (US2-B)
COURSE OVERVIEW The second of a two-semester course.  Continuing with Anne Carroll's Christ and the Americas, U.S. Hi...
VIEW
Back to blog
1 of 5

Questions about all STAA has to offer?

How can we help you on your homeschooling journey? Our advisors are available by appointment to discuss enrolling in the full St. Thomas Aquinas Academy academic program, to help you place your STAA Study Guide order, and to help find great Live Classes to support your high school students. Choose an appointment type below to arrange a free, no-obligation telephone call or reach out by opening the chat widget in the bottom left corner of the site. We look forward to speaking with you soon!

St. Thomas Aquinas Academy ProgramDiscuss STAA Study Guides & Live Classes