HIST 141 American History through 1877

With any form of history, there are valuable lessons to learn from the past. Such lessons are a compilation of both successes and failures. The history of the United States is no different. In truth, the history of the United States is the product of a number of other histories that influenced how the country came to be. 

Every professor makes choices about what subjects to address and what subjects not to address in a history course. It is a great adventure with lots of twists and turns, as well as triumphs and tragedies. Beginning with an investigation of North America prior to the arrival of Europeans, this course will uncover key elements from the Age of Exploration and the colonial period, the creation of the United States and its expansion West, and will conclude with the Civil War and Reconstruction.

While this course will introduce students to key people and events, it will also explore lesser-known people and events that shaped the nation. All of this is intended to challenge students to examine the questions of significance:

So what? 

Why does this matter? 

Why should I even pay attention to this?

Leveraging his 20+ years of teaching experience, Dr. Jeff Cole firmly believes these are the fundamental questions that professional historians must ask. While it is important for educated people to have a body of historical knowledge, it is equally important to know what to do with that knowledge. History is much more than memorizing names, dates, and places. History is an exploration of the significance of events and how, collectively, these events shaped the future. 

We invite you to join Dr. Cole on his exploration of American History through 1877. 

 At Portage Learning, we bridge the gap to your educational success. 

See how at https://portagelearning.edu/