Print Version (
968 KB)
The primary intent of the American History course is to create a greater understanding of significant historical events that shaped the United States. It is intended to be a survey course with a focus and emphasis on those historical developments that have influenced the world, especially Canada.
In this course, learners will examine such major events as colonization, the American Revolution, the Constitution, territorial expansion, the Civil War and Reconstruction, political/economic/social/cultural developments, and foreign policy. The course also examines the impact that these issues have had on the United States and on other parts of the world.
A further intent is to identify the personalities who, in a significant way, shaped American history and to briefly examine their contributions.
The Guiding Principles for the Design of Learning Experiences and Assessment Practices provide guidance to all Manitoba educators as they design learning experiences and classroom assessments to strengthen, extend, and expand student learning. Planning with the learner, the context, and the curricula in mind creates opportunities for the co-construction of inclusive learning experiences and assessment practices where the diverse learning needs, abilities, and interests of each learner are met.
Assessment for and as learning involve learners in the process and support learner reflection; assessment of learning (commonly known as summative evaluation) measures final outcomes. All aspects, when done well, contribute to informed teaching and reliable judgment of learner progress.
The Guiding Principles for Evaluation and Reporting are currently still under development and not yet available. When completed, a notification will be added to the Manitoba Framework for Learning “What’s New?” page on the website.
Knowledge Learning Outcomes
Identify the various peoples who inhabited North America before European colonization.
List the circumstances that brought Europeans to North America.
Describe the changes that Indigenous Peoples experienced as a result of colonization.
Identify the European colonies that were established in North America.
Thinking and Research Skill Learning Outcomes
Summarize what life was like for the inhabitants of North America before the European colonization.
Compare the circumstances in different countries that caused Europeans to leave for North America.
Research how the colonists were helped by the Indigenous Peoples.
Outline how the various European colonies in North America worked together.
Attitude and Value Learning Outcomes
Discuss to what extent it was “a good life” for the inhabitants of North America before European colonization.
Examine and discuss whether the circumstances that brought Europeans to North America were justified.
Discuss to what extent the interaction between the colonists and the Indigenous Peoples was positive and to what extent it was negative.
Discuss and justify which colonies contributed significantly to shaping American society.
Social Participation Learning Outcome
Plan and develop group projects that demonstrate the contribution of the Indigenous Peoples in helping to shape European colonization.
Knowledge Learning Outcomes
List the causes of the American Revolution.
Describe how Canada was affected by the American War of Independence.
Thinking and Research Skill Learning Outcomes
Research how European countries contributed to the American Revolution.
Outline how the American Revolution shaped American society.
Research to what extent other parts of the world were influenced by the American Revolution.
Examine the impact of the American Revolution on Indigenous Peoples.
Attitude and Value Learning Outcomes
Evaluate the effect of mercantilism on the colonies.
Agree and disagree wtih the quotation, “The American Revolution was necessary.”
Discuss and justify whether you would rather be a patriot or a loyalist.
Knowledge Learning Outcomes
Give the reasons for drawing up the Constitution.
Identify significant personalities who were involved in drawing up the Constitution, and describe their contributions.
Thinking and Research Skill Learning Outcomes
Explore the strengths and weaknesses of the American Constitution.
Outline how the American Constitution influenced European countries.
Attitude and Value Learning Outcome
Discuss the extent to which the Constitution has helped shape American society both positively and negatively (include Indigenous Peoples and other marginalized people).
Social Participation Learning Outcome
Identify significant documents in the world that have shaped society, and, in groups, choose one, and research and share how that particular document contributed to formulating people’s beliefs and values. (Choose documents such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child; a constitution of a country, an organization or an agency; creeds from religion; charters.)
Knowledge Learning Outcomes
Give several reasons why political parties developed.
Identify significant personalities who contributed to political developments, and briefly describe their roles.
Recognize the rights that are primarily “state rights” and those that are primarily “federal rights.”
Thinking and Research Skill Learning Outcomes
Research the main American political parties.
Explain the term ideology, and examine how this term applies to the two main American political parties.
Attitude and Value Learning Outcome
Discuss to what extent the system of checks and balances works effectively in the American political system.
Social Participation Learning Outcome
In small groups, select at least one difference between the American and the Canadian political systems, and explore how this difference affects each of the political systems. Prepare to share this difference and effect with the other groups in the class.
Knowledge Learning Outcomes
Describe what is meant by Manifest Destiny.
Identify the reform movements that evolved during the nineteenth century.
Thinking and Research Skill Learning Outcomes
Research and outline how the United States expanded territorially during the nineteenth century.
Outline the changes experienced by different segments of American society as a result of territorial expansion.
Attitude and Value Learning Outcomes
Discuss who won the War of 1812, and justify your position.
Examine how immigration shaped American society, and evaluate the effect.
Discuss how the values of American society changed as a result of reform movements related to temperance, women, abolition of slavery, education, and prisons.
Social Participation Learning Outcome
Prepare small group presentations for the class on the issues related to territorial expansion and one of the following:
Knowledge Learning Outcomes
Identify the causes of the American Civil War.
Describe what is meant by Reconstruction.
Thinking and Research Skill Learning Outcomes
Design a two-column chart and outline those issues that the Civil War resolved in one column and those issues that the Civil War did not resolve in the second column.
Summarize the role and contribution of significant personalities involved in the Civil War.
Examine the overall legacy of the Reconstruction Era.
Attitude and Value Learning Outcomes
Discuss to what extent the Civil War was or was not a “good thing” for the United States and the American people.
Discuss and evaluate the importance of the Civil War as a historical development of United States, Canadian, and world history.
Share your views about the success of Reconstruction.
Social Participation Learning Outcome
In small groups, choose an individual or a significant event of the American Civil War, research the contribution/role of the individual or the issues surrounding the event, and be prepared to share a summary with the class.
Knowledge Learning Outcome
Identify significant economic developments that evolved in the United States between 1865 and 1919.
Thinking and Research Skill Learning Outcomes
Research and summarize the effect on the American peoples of significant economic developments between 1865 and 1919, in areas such as big business, labour and labour unions, living and working conditions, transportation, communication, agriculture, and technology.
Attitude and Value Learning Outcome
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages experienced by the American people, resulting from the economic developments that evolved between 1865 and 1919.
Knowledge Learning Outcomes
List significant social developments that evolved between 1865 and 1919.
Describe significant experiences of African-Americans during this period.
Thinking and Research Skill Learning Outcomes
Examine the social developments that evolved, and analyze their impact on the American people (e.g., urbanization, rural development, NAACP, increased immigration, religion, education, melting pot concept, “being American”).
Attitude and Value Learning Outcomes
Share arguments agreeing and disagreeing with the quotation “American peoples greatly benefited from the social developments that evolved between 1865 and 1919.”
Discuss the gains and losses that African-Americans experienced between 1865 and 1919.
Social Participation Learning Outcome
Prepare and carry out a class project that portrays the life of African-Americans between 1865 and 1919.
Knowledge Learning Outcome
Describe significant political developments that evolved in American history between 1865 and 1919.
Thinking and Research Skill Learning Outcome
Summarize the effect that the political developments between 1865 and 1919 had on the American way of life.
Attitude and Value Learning Outcome
Justify how the political developments between 1865 and 1919 can be seen as either positive or negative for the American people.
Social Participation Learning Outcome
In small groups, select one development in each of the areas—(i) economic, (ii) social, and, (iii) political—and, in a creative way, present how these changed the way of life or the way of thinking of peoples in the United States or in other countries.
Knowledge Learning Outcomes
Identify what is meant by imperialism.
Describe American isolationism.
Thinking and Research Skill Learning Outcomes
Summarize how and why imperialism evolved.
Explain how and where imperialism was practised by the Americans.
Compare American imperialism with the imperialism practised by other countries.
Analyze why the Americans adopted a policy of isolationism and why they abandoned this policy.
Attitude and Value Learning Outcome
Argue whether American imperialism was or was not a “good thing.”
Social Participation Learning Outcome
In small groups, prepare arguments favouring or opposing American imperialism or isolationism. Share and justify these arguments with other groups.
Knowledge Learning Outcome
Give as many examples as possible of domestic changes that occurred between 1895 and 1945.
Thinking and Research Skill Learning Outcome
Research several domestic changes you consider significant, and summarize the effect these had on American and world society.
Attitude and Value Learning Outcomes
Discuss and justify those domestic developments that had positive influences on society.
Discuss and justify those domestic developments that had negative influences on society.
Social Participation Learning Outcome
In small groups, present and explain to the class one domestic development that brought major changes to society.
or
In small groups, select one personality, between 1895 and 1945, who had a major influence or impact on society. Prepare a creative project demonstrating that person’s influence or impact.
Knowledge Learning Outcome
Define Cold War.
Thinking and Research Skill Learning Outcomes
Trace how the Cold War evolved and how it “ended.”
Summarize how the Cold War influenced both the “West” and the “East.”
Attitude and Value Learning Outcome
Discuss the extent to which there was a “winner” or a “loser” in the Cold War.
Social Participation Learning Outcome
As a class project, highlight those events between 1945 and 1990 that could be attributed to the Cold War. In smaller groups, choose one event and detail how this event influenced society.
Knowledge Learning Outcomes
Identify significant economic and technological changes that have evolved since the Second World War.
Define sustainable development.
Thinking and Research Skill Learning Outcome
Outline how both economic and technological changes will be affected once sustainable development principles are implemented.
Attitude and Value Learning Outcomes
Discuss the pros and cons of significant economic and technological changes that have become part of society.
Discuss how traditional values of the past change, as sustainable development principles are implemented.
Social Participation Learning Outcome
As a small group, choose either an economic or technological development that has evolved, and illustrate how it has had an impact on society both in the United States and elsewhere.
Knowledge Learning Outcomes
Describe what is meant by popular culture.
Identify what would be considered American pop culture.
Thinking and Research Skill Learning Outcomes
Research and compile the social and cultural developments that have become distinct parts of American society since the Second World War.
Summarize a conclusion you can make about American society and its impact on Canada and other parts of the world.
Attitude and Value Learning Outcomes
Discuss how social and cultural developments in the United States since 1945 have enriched society.
Identify and discuss those social and cultural developments in the United States that you feel have had negative effects on society.
Social Participation Learning Outcome
Illustrate, in groups, those American cultural and social developments that have influenced Canadian society in distinct ways.
Knowledge Learning Outcome
Research the anticipated changes in a “New World Order” in each of the following areas: political, economic, social, and environmental.
Attitude and Value Learning Outcome
Discuss the extent to which the “New World Order” is a good thing.
Social Participation Learning Outcome
Organize into small groups and predict the way of life that could be anticipated if a “New World Order” were implemented.
Grade 10 - Curriculum Implementation Resources: Web Pages
