Contact Ryan Schulte

rschulte@helenaschools.org

+1-406-324-2267Helena High

Schedule

• Zero Period American Studies 1
• Period 1 Prep
• Period 2 American Studies 1
• Period 3 AP United States History
• Period 4 AP United States History
• Period 5 American Studies 1
• Period 6 Department Chair

What to expect - March

American Studies

1. What are the upcoming topics and objectives for the next month?  

Introduction to Unit 4 – “ Does Compromise prevent Conflict?”. This Unit will focus on the various attempted compromises and building tensions of the American Civil War and Reconstruction Era.  

SQ#1 – How do competing groups compromise with one another? This question will focus on the various political compromises leading up to the Civil War and closing the Reconstruction era; like the Missouri Compromise, Compromise of 1850, and Compromise of 1877. We will specifically focus on who the major political players were in these compromises and the different objectives & experiences they brought to the bargaining table.  As well as the commonalties of effective compromises and what contributes to their breakdown.  

SQ#2 – How did conflict escalate? This question will focus on the various political and social events that led to increasing tension towards the Civil War, like the publication of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, “Bleeding Kansas”, and John Brown’s Raid. We will specifically focus on the differing ways Americans responded to these events.  

SQ#3 – What does it mean to be a citizen? This question will focus on how the definition of citizenship evolved drastically in relation to slaves as property, the Dred Scott decision, and with the passage of the 14th Amendment. It will also contemplate the social limits of these legal definitions and how Americans still grapple with this question in terms of voting access, social services, and immigration.  

SQ#4 – What are the limits of Presidential Power? This question will review the Constitution’s outlined powers of the Executive and then compare how the President’s scope of power has grown for the better and the worse through history. This will specifically review Jackson’s policies, Lincoln’s wartime measures, Johnson’s Reconstruction battles with Congress, and make comparisons to contemporaries like FDR, Obama, and Trump. We will also review the Constitution’s protocols for Impeachment through various historical examples.  

2. What major tests, assignments, or projects are due over the next month? 

• Civil War Harvard Case Study or Unchained Memories: Slave Narratives Documentary & Lincoln-Douglas Debates (depending on class) DUE: various deadlines in early March  

• Thesis Rubric Intro. Assignments & Workshop Quiz DUE: Mid-March  

• Unit 4 Assessment – Does compromise prevent conflict? (within the context of the Civil War and more generally/philosophically) Thesis & Outline Project DUE: right before Spring Break or right after  

3. How can parents engage with their child at home on what they are learning in class? 

Students will be discussing the buildup to the Civil War, the Reconstruction era, and the more general concepts of compromise, conflict, citizenship, & presidential power. So, discuss the following with your student: 

1. Unit 4 Intro. Compelling Question – Does Compromise prevent conflict? What different types of compromises are often used in a political arena and country? Are there some moral issues unworthy of even considering compromise?  
2. What early compromises and events did U.S. politicians and citizens make about slavery? Were the effective or just delayed the inevitable? What are elements of effective and ineffective compromises?  
3. What events escalated the tensions towards conflict? Which shocked you the most? How did Americans with differing backgrounds respond differently to these events? Do you view John Brown as a hero or terrorist? Did any of Lincoln’s positions of slavery surprise you? 
4. What does it mean to be a citizen? How has the definition of citizenship changed over time? What are important related rights to citizenship? Have these always been equally awarded? How is the definition of citizenship potentially changing under the current administration?  
5. What are the limits of Presidental Power? How does the Constitution outline the powers of the President? How has the power of the President expanded over time for the better and worse? Which historical and more contemporary Presidents do you feel have overstepped their bounds? Why have various Presidents been impeached? Which seemed rightful to you?  

AP US History 

1. What are the major units/topics being covered this month?  

At the end of February, we transitioned into Unit 7 (1890-1945). Unit 7 consists of the following major events/developments: 

• American Imperialism 

• Progressivism 

• WWI 

• The 1920s 
• The Great Depression and New Deal 
• WWII 

1. What are the major assignments, assessments, projects, etc. this month?  

The following will be major components of work for this month: 

• DBQ Essay due – Week of, March 3rd 

• SAQ Quiz – Week of March 3rd 

• SAQ Quiz – Week of March 10th 

• Rewrites for DBQ due Week of March 10th 

• SAQ Quiz – Week of March 17thth  

• LEQ Essay due – Week of March 17th   

1. How can parents interact with their child at home on what they are learning in your class? 

Some great conversation starters!! 

1. How did the role of the United States in global affairs change between 1890 and 1945, and what were some of the key events that shaped this transformation 
2. (Follow-up: What were the arguments for and against U.S. involvement in World War I and World War II?) 
3. How did the Great Depression and the New Deal impact different groups of Americans, such as farmers, industrial workers, and African Americans? 
4. (Follow-up: In what ways do we still see the effects of the New Deal in modern government programs?) 
5. During this time, there were major shifts in social and cultural norms, such as the rise of the women’s suffrage movement and the Harlem Renaissance. How did these movements reflect broader changes in American society? 
6. (Follow-up: How did these social changes contribute to later civil rights movements?) 

What to expect - February

AP US History 

What are the upcoming unit/topics that will be covered this month? 

February will focus on Unit 6 (1865-1898) and the beginning of Unit 7 (1898-1945). Major themes of Unit 6 include: The American West and American settlement, The rise of American Industrial Capitalism, the growth of Labor Unions, Immigration and Urbanization, and American Politics of the era – including the rise of the Populist Party. The Unit provides students with the opportunity to explore the dramatic economic changes of the era while evaluating the role of government in a market system. Unit 7 begins with an introduction to American Imperialism and the emergence of the Progressive Reform Era. 

What are the major assignments/projects/assessments that students and parents should be aware of this month? 

Students will continue to be assigned reading on a consistent basis (4-5 times per week). Additionally, students can expect at least two Short Answer Quizzes. There will be one major writing component this month, in which, students will complete a 5-paragraph essay in response to a Document Based Question prompt. Finally, there will be a Unit 6 assessment the last week of February.  

How can parents engage with their students at home about what they are learning this month? 

• Continue to check in with your students on their growth. Are they feeling confident about their understanding of their reading? Do they feel like they understand the expectations related to writing? Do their scores reflect their preparation and readiness? 

• In this unit we begin to see some developments that are more relatable to contemporary America. The development of Industrial Capitalism in particular. Ask them to explain how American Industry grew during the era and what were the impacts of this growth.

American Studies I

What are the upcoming topics and objectives for the next month? 

Completion of Unit 3 – “What does it mean to be an American?”. This Unit will focus on the ways the young republic changed and evolved as Americans built their unique identity. We have recently finished the 1st Industrial Revolution and the immense changes it brought to the economy, slavery’s growth, and the individual American relationship with work and access to goods. We are currently studying how the 2nd Great Awakening’s religious revival led to larger reassessments of the individual’s and government’s role in reforming social ills, like poverty and women’s rights. We will then connect these constantly debated topics to modern parallels. Lastly, we will pull together the entirety of this Unit with our Final Project P.P. Presentation.  

Introduction to Unit 4 – “Does Compromise prevent Conflict?”. This Unit will focus on the various attempted compromises and building tensions of the American Civil War and Reconstruction Era.  

 What major tests, assignments, or projects are due over the next month?

Unit 3 Final Project P.P. Presentation – What does it mean to be American? Centered around a modern/historical Thesis with mentions of others’ perspectives and with 3 pieces of evidence and analysis based on our sources and/or outside research. Students will be expected to put this together via a creative, organized, and professional PowerPoint Presentation. 

How can parents engage with their child at home on what they are learning in class? a.  Students will be discussing the modern American identity, the methods/ideology behind Westward expansion, the changes associated with Industrialization and the role of government on addressing social issues during the Reform Era. So, discuss the following with your student: 

• Industrialization – What was life like before Industrialization? What about after in terms of the overall economy, one’s relationship with work, access to goods, and the prevalence of slavery?
• Reform Era – What is the role of government and the individual on addressing social ills like poverty, inequality, and drug use? Are these issues resolved in modern society, or have they evolved? How so?
• Unit 3 Overall Compelling Question – What does it mean to be American? Be prepared to be asked this question and offer an answer as an alternative, generational perspective for your student’s Final Project. And feel free to ask about their argument!   
• Unit 4 Intro. Compelling Question -Does Compromise prevent conflict? What different types of compromises are often used in a political arena and country? Are there some moral issues unworthy of even considering compromise? What early compromises and events did U.S. politicians and citizens make about slavery?  

What to expect - January

American Studies I

1. What are the upcoming topics and objectives for the next month? 

Continuation of Unit 3 – “What does it mean to be an American?”. This Unit will focus on the ways the young republic changed and evolved as Americans built their unique identity. We are now starting to encounter the values of Manifest Destiny that inspired and influenced Westward expansion and the various groups who moved Westward as a result in the early 1800s. We will discuss the territory incorporated through sometimes contentious strategies. We will then move onto the 1st Industrial Revolution and the immense changes it brought to the economy, slavery’s growth, and the individual American relationship with work and access to goods. Lastly, we will begin addressing how the 2nd Great Awakening’s religious revival led to larger reassessments of the individual’s and government’s role in reforming social ills, like poverty and women’s rights. We will then connect these constantly debated topics to modern parallels.  

 2. What major tests, assignments, or projects are due over the next month?

Semester Test! Which will focus on the (1) perfection of an individual Annotation strategy, (2) reading a complex primary source text to extract essential ideas & (3) infer vocabulary and pull (4) specific evidence & (5) articulate strong analysis to (6) link to an overall thesis.  

Students should expect a formative check Quiz on the process of historical analysis and the conclusion -> Thesis building process over Industrialization’s impacts and on the rise of slavery. 

3. How can parents engage with their child at home on what they are learning in class? a.  Students will be discussing the modern American identity, the methods/ideology behind Westward expansion, the changes associated with Industrialization and the role of government on addressing social issues during the Reform Era. So, discuss the following with your student: 

3. Westward Expansion – How did American grow? Think where, conflicts, different groups, policy/actions, and ideologies.  
4. Industrialization – What was life like before Industrialization? What about after in terms of the overall economy, one’s relationship with work, access to goods, and the prevalence of slavery? 
5. Reform Era – What is the role of government and the individual on addressing social ills like poverty, inequality, and drug use? Are these issues resolved in modern society, or have they evolved? How so? 

AP US History 

1. What are the upcoming topics or units that you will be covering in class this month/wrapping up the semester? 

This month we will be concluding Unit 5 (1844-1877) and beginning Unit 6 (1865-1898). Major areas of focus will be the events leading to the Civil War, significant events and developments of the Civil War, and finally the Era of Reconstruction. The beginning of Unit 6 primarily focuses on the settlement of the Western United States and the establishment of American industry.  

2. What major tests or projects do students need to prepare for? Semester tests? 

Prior to the semester test students will have one more writing assignment that will be conducted in class during the week of January 12th. This will act as my mid-year writing assignment. Students will take their Semester exams. The test is a comprehensive assessment that students will need to prepare for in their own time. We will spend a couple days in class, but the test covers content from the entire semester. Before the end of the month students will also be expected to read a case study that discusses Reconstruction.  

3. How can parents engage at home with their student on what they are learning in your class? 

Leading up to the week of semester tests, check in with your students on what they thought of the recent case study we discussed during class. One specific question might be about whether the breakdown in democracy (the Civil War) was inevitable? You might also ask how Lincoln should have handled Ft. Sumter? 

Check in with how they are feeling about the semester exam and if they have an idea of how to best prepare. Some of the students get overwhelmed with all the information and find it difficult to just get started. I give them some ideas to help them with their studying, but some may still struggle. If this is the case, please reach out to talk to me about this.