Collection: U.S. History & Geography I and II Booklist

U.S. History & Geography I (US1-B)

First Semester | 16-week Course Plan

Explore America’s early story with U.S. History & Geography I (US1-B), a high school course designed with homeschooling families in mind, unfolding over two enriching semesters. Rooted in St. Thomas Aquinas Academy’s classical liberal arts tradition, this course weaves together faith and reason to explore the history and geography of the United States, Central, and South America from the Age of Exploration to the mid-19th century. Anchored in a Catholic worldview, students uncover the Church’s vital role in the exploration, colonization, and nation-building that shaped the Americas.

This semester highlights four key eras:

• Era of Explorers, Missionaries, and Colonists: Encounter the meeting of the Old and New Worlds, from Columbus to the missionary efforts of Catholic Spain and France.
• Era of the American Revolution: Delve into the causes, key figures, and Catholic contributions to America’s quest for independence.
• A New Nation: Trace the creation of the U.S. government, the Constitution, and early foreign policy through a lens of faith and governance.
• Jackson, the West, and Manifest Destiny: Explore westward expansion, the Texas Republic, and the cultural shifts of a growing nation.

Students dive into rich primary texts, such as Anne Carroll’s Christ and the Americas, Warren Carroll’s Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Conquest of Darkness, and selections from Richard Heffner’s A Documentary History of the United States. Geography springs to life with U.S. History Map Activities and the Rand McNally Atlas of American History, deepening historical understanding. Optional resources, like The History of the Church, enrich the narrative by tying it to the complementary courses in the U.S. Studies I cycle.

The STAA Study Guide offers a flexible path, adapting to each student’s learning style and encouraging independence through weekly plans packed with discussion prompts, clear assignments, and study tools—all gearing up for the weekly online quizzes on the STAA Student Zone. Students sharpen critical thinking and writing skills through tasks like short responses, a book review, geography, and timeline activities. Teaching-parents find support in detailed course plans and a gradebook to track progress—all designed to nurture family collaboration and lively discussion.

Follow this course with U.S. History & Geography II for a complete year of study, and enjoy a rich exploration of America’s past tailored to your family’s homeschooling journey.

Required Texts (purchased separately):

• Semester 1: U.S. Studies I B Study Guide (STAA)
• Christ and the Americas by Anne W. Carroll
• U.S. History Map Activities by E. Richard Churchill
• Rand McNally Atlas of American History
• Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Conquest of Darkness by Warren Carroll

Optional Texts:

• The History of the Church (Didache Series)
• A Documentary History of the United States by Richard Heffner

Prerequisites: None; recommended for students in Grades 8–10 as part of the U.S. Studies, B Track cycle.

Recommended Schedule: About an hour per school day of study, coursework, and discussion (approx. five hours per school week). Daily schedule recommendations in the study guide can be easily adapted to a block schedule.

Support: Enroll in the St. Thomas Aquinas Academy program for experienced advisor support with placement and guidance or choose the Independent Study option to activate your student’s access to the STAA Student Zone. For even more support, consider adding the Fall semester live class with optional advisor grading.

U.S. History & Geography II (US2-B)

Second Semester | 16-week Course Plan

Explore America’s modern saga with U.S. History & Geography II (US2-B), a high school course designed with homeschooling families in mind, unfolding over two enriching semesters. Rooted in St. Thomas Aquinas Academy’s classical liberal arts tradition, this course weaves together faith and reason to examine the history and geography of the United States and its neighbors from the mid-19th century to the early 21st century. Anchored in a Catholic worldview, students uncover the Church’s vital role in shaping the nation’s response to industrialization, war, and social change across this dynamic period.

This semester highlights four pivotal eras:

• Coming of the Civil War, Civil War, and Reconstruction: Witness the nation’s division, conflict, and efforts to heal, spotlighting Catholic perspectives on justice and unity.
• Growth of Industrial America, Populists, and Progressives: Investigate the rise of industry, reform movements, and America’s expanding global presence alongside the Church’s social teachings.
• World War I, the Interwar Period, and World War II: Navigate the turmoil of global conflicts, the Great Depression, and the moral questions of the nuclear age.
• The Postwar Period, the Cold War, and After: Trace America’s postwar challenges, from anti-communism to cultural shifts, viewed through the lens of faith and responsibility.

Students dive into rich primary texts, such as Anne Carroll’s Christ and the Americas, Edward Everett Hale’s The Man Without a Country, and John Hersey’s Hiroshima, alongside selections from Richard Heffner’s A Documentary History of the United States. Geography springs to life with U.S. History Map Activities and the Rand McNally Atlas of American History, deepening historical understanding. 

The STAA Study Guide offers a flexible path, adapting to each student’s learning style and encouraging independence through weekly plans packed with discussion prompts, clear assignments, and study tools—all gearing up for the weekly online quizzes on the STAA Student Zone. Students sharpen critical thinking and writing skills through tasks like short responses, book reviews, geography exercises, and timeline activities. Teaching-parents find support in detailed course plans and a gradebook to track progress—all designed to nurture family collaboration and lively discussion.

Study this course after U.S. History & Geography I for a complete year of study, and enjoy a rich exploration of America’s past tailored to your family’s homeschooling journey.

Required Texts (purchased separately):

• Semester 2: U.S. Studies II B Study Guide (STAA)
• Christ and the Americas by Anne W. Carroll
• U.S. History Map Activities by E. Richard Churchill and Linda R. Churchill
• Rand McNally Atlas of American History
• The Man Without a Country by Edward Everett Hale
• Hiroshima by John Hersey
• Godzilla (1954 Japanese version), directed by Ishiro Honda

Optional Texts:

• The History of the Church (Didache Series)
• A Documentary History of the United States by Richard D. Heffner and Alexander Heffner

Prerequisites: None; recommended for students in Grades 8–10 as part of the U.S. Studies, B Track cycle. Completion of U.S. History & Geography I is advised for context.

Recommended Schedule: About an hour per school day of study, coursework, and discussion (approx. five hours per school week). Daily schedule recommendations in the study guide can be easily adapted to a block schedule.

Support: Enroll in the St. Thomas Aquinas Academy program for experienced advisor support with placement and guidance or choose the Independent Study option to activate your student’s access to the STAA Student Zone. For even more support, consider adding the Spring semester live class with optional advisor grading.