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Gavin Walton
- October 20, 2024
Welcome to study.com History 103: U. S History I. This is a course that is not only about names and dates but it is about appreciating the history of the US from the early to the reconstruction era. This class outlines major events in America’s history including Native American presence, colonization, the War of Independence, the formation of a nation, and the Civil War. In fact, it is like visiting a history tour without the unnecessary killing and bloodshed, and instead of the shots, you are greeted with coffee!
If you are looking to get an A in this class (or not stress too much in the process), you’ve come to the right place. This course gives general knowledge regardless of whether you are a history buff or not, and as you leave this class, you will know much about early American development. Here, we’ll demystify what would previously have sounded like rocket science; that way, you’ll not only pass your exam but also do it with ease. Ready to dive in? Let’s ensure that we demystify studying history and help students achieve their academic goals without a lot of ease!
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What to Expect from Study.com History 103 Class 📖
study.com U. S History 103: U. S History I course covers a lot of territories! This course covers the Native American civilization and the American Civil War and gives details on how the United States of America came into existence. The text proceeds in a logical structure of peculiar chapters where every chapter guides you step by step through the major events, movements, and decisions in the formation of the country. It is like being in a whole season of your favorite Historical drama only that you are a character in the show.
You will have to use some time to get through Early Native American societies, European contact, and colonization. Some important events in American history like the revolution of the 1790s, the formation of the state constitution, and the crisis of reckoning in the reconstruction period will be discussed time and again. These are very substantive areas that are thoroughly covered so ensure that you are comfortable with these areas because believe me, you will see them as soon as you sit for your exam.
This is designed to test your knowledge of other aspects such as the formulation of America that was anchored by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln among others. You would also like to understand not only what they did but why it was important they did it. Other themes to be examined on your exam include Manifest Destiny – why did Americans believe it was their Divinity to spread to the West? The Industrial Revolution. Therefore, do not just read through them; make it a point and effort to know more about the effects they had on America over time.
Week-by-Week Study Plan to Ace Study.com History 103 Exam📝
I’ve got your back with this week-by-week study plan! Whether you’re cramming or pacing yourself, following this guide will help you ace study.com History 103: U.S. History I. Let’s break it down so you can tackle one thing at a time:
Week 1: Getting to Know Early America
Focus on the early Native American civilizations, European exploration, and colonization. Start with chapters on First Contacts and Settling North America. Pay close attention to key explorers like Columbus and the impact of European colonization on Native American societies.
- Study tip: Check out this short video on Native American history for a quick overview: Native American History Overview.
- Extra practice: Use these Quizlet flashcards to review terms: Native American and Early Colonization Flashcards.
Week 2: The American Revolution
You’ve got the basics now, so start with the American Revolution. Learn the causes of the War of Independence, the importance of documents to the colonies, and information about Lexington &Concord.
- Study tip: This animated video is a good example of a simplified presentation of the American Revolution: Crash Course: American Revolution.
- Extra practice: Test your knowledge with American Revolution Flashcards.
Week 3: Building a Nation
Focus on how the U.S. was formed, covering the Articles of Confederation, Constitutional Convention, and Bill of Rights. These are heavily tested concepts, so make sure you can explain their significance.
- Study tip: Watch this helpful breakdown on the U.S. Constitution: Constitution Basics.
- Extra practice: Use Quizlet to review the Bill of Rights: Bill of Rights Flashcards.
Week 4: Expansion and Conflict
For this week, please concentrate on the Manifest Destiny, Westward expansion, and the treatment of Native Americans particularly the Trail of Tears. Learn how such events influenced the development of the country and established tensions that led to the Civil War.
- Study tip: You can search for this video to get a better understanding of Manifest Destiny through the video titled: Manifest Destiny Explained.
- Extra practice: Review Westward Expansion Flashcards.
Week 5: The Civil War
The Civil War is a major concern in this course therefore dedicate this week to analyzing the causes, major battles, and effects of the Civil War. Be sure to focus on Leadership – Abraham Lincoln, the Instrument of Change- Emancipation Proclamation, and the Turning Point – Battle of Gettysburg.
- Study tip: This video is for people who really want to have a clear understanding of the Civil War context: Crash Course: Civil War.
- Extra practice: Test yourself with Civil War Flashcards.
Week 6: Reconstruction
Last, use some time to revise knowledge about the Reconstruction Era. To appreciate some of the challenges that faced the U. S after the Civil War but more particularly, issues such as Reconstruction amendments, Black codes, and attempts at reconstruction of the South.
- Study tip: Check out this Reconstruction quick overview: Reconstruction: Reconstruction 101.
- Extra practice: These Reconstruction Flashcards will help you review.
Week 7: Review, Practice, and Quiz Time
That is why it is important for you to spend this week in review of all the material that you have encountered. Spend more time on areas you are less confident about and again try to practice using practice quizzes/flashcards. You’ve got this!
- Study tip: They should use the practice quizzes on study. Of com where you can take a quiz to see how well you mastered the contents of the site and areas that require attention. Check out these sets of U. S. History I Flashcards.
According to the above study plan, all that is needed for the study will have been covered.com History 103: U. S History I Preparing for the exam—without getting overloaded. Be as regular as you can and do not forget to rest! The process of completing the history is not done in a day or a week; rather it is a very long race.
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Boost Your Knowledge: Free External Resources for Historical Research📂
It is unnecessary to spend a lot of money! You already have your resources given to you by the study.com. However, sometimes it so happens that you need a little help from freely available resources which could be more useful than one can imagine. Here are some of the well-liked quality free study aids to facilitate understanding of the difficult areas in History 103: U. S. History I.
- YouTube Channels for U.S. History
YouTube is full of excellent channels that break down complex historical topics in a fun, easy-to-understand way. Here are a few of the best:
CrashCourse: This channel is the holy grail of quick history recaps. Their U.S. History playlist covers everything from the Revolution to Reconstruction with humor and clarity. Check it out here.
Oversimplified: For a light-hearted approach, Oversimplified offers bite-sized, animated explanations of major historical events. Their Civil War videos are especially helpful. Watch them here.
- Quizlet Flashcards for Quick Review
Flashcards are an excellent way to quiz yourself on key terms, people, and events. And guess what? Quizlet’s got you covered with tons of free flashcard sets:
Early North American Civilizations & Colonies Flashcards: Great for reviewing Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 content. Check them out.
American Revolution Flashcards: Perfect for covering battles, key figures, and the causes of independence. Start studying here.
Civil War & Reconstruction Flashcards: Great for reviewing the Emancipation Proclamation, key battles, and the impact of Reconstruction. Study here.
- Free U.S. History Websites
There are also some fantastic free websites to dive deeper into U.S. History:
Khan Academy: Their U.S. History course offers detailed explanations of key events and includes quizzes to test your knowledge. Start learning here.
History Channel’s Website: Full of videos, timelines, and articles on almost every historical event. They even have quizzes to test your knowledge. Explore more.
- Podcasts for On-the-Go Learning
Sometimes listening is easier than reading. Podcasts are an awesome way to reinforce your knowledge while you’re commuting or exercising:
Ben Franklin’s World: A podcast all about early American history, perfect for understanding colonial life and the Revolution. Listen here.
The History of the United States: This podcast breaks down American history in digestible episodes, with a mix of stories and academic analysis. Check it out.
Using these external resources alongside your study.com History 103 materials will give you a more well-rounded understanding of the course content. They’ll help you grasp those tricky concepts and ace your exam!
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Historical Highlights: Critical Topics to Prioritize 🔑
In this section, we’ll simplify some of the most important concepts from study.com History 103: U.S. History I. We’ll break these key topics down using real-world examples and tables to help you easily compare and contrast. By mastering these areas, you’ll have a solid foundation to ace your exam!
- Federalists vs. Democratic-Republicans
Understanding the early political parties is crucial. This was the first major political divide in the United States, and it influenced early government decisions.
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Federalists
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Democratic-Republicans
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Led by Alexander Hamilton
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Led by Thomas Jefferson
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Supported a strong central government
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Advocated for states' rights and limited government
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Pro-British in foreign policy
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Pro-French in foreign policy
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Favored a commercial and industrial economy
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Favored an agricultural economy
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Believed in government by the elite
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Believed in government by the people
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Real-World Example: The Federalists can be compared to the more pressing needs of people today – those who support a strong central government with a priority in technological development during the Age of Jeffersonian and Democratic-Republicans – local people’s contacts, or reliance on themselves.
- The Missouri Compromise vs. Compromise of 1850
This was one of the themes that characterized early U. S. history, especially concerning the issue of slavery and how it was spread. It can be said that these two compromises were important to postpone the Civil War.
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Missouri Compromise (1820)
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Compromise of 1850
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Added Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state
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Added California as a free state
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Drew a line at 36°30′, north of which slavery was prohibited
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Allowed popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico territories
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Temporary solution to balance power between free and slave states
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Abolished the slave trade in Washington, D.C., and introduced the Fugitive Slave Act
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Real-World Example: It is like signing a contract on how affairs should be run in a family in which people have dissimilar opinions. One said never to cross and that was the Missouri Compromise while the second gave a little latitude, the Compromise of 1850.
- The Emancipation Proclamation vs. The 13th Amendment
They were both associated with the Slavery abolition movement though they came with different legal effects.
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Emancipation Proclamation
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13th Amendment
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Issued by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War
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Passed by Congress after the Civil War
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Freed slaves only in the Confederate states
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Abolished slavery in the entire United States
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Seen as a war measure to weaken the South
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Permanently ended slavery across the nation
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Real-World Example: The Emancipation Proclamation is like a band-aid over a leak that was used during the war, while the 13th Amendment was the replacement of that leaking pipe so that there is no chance of slipping again.
- Industrialization in the North vs. Agricultural Economy in the South
He demonstrated that the North & the South had different types of economies which played a role in the build-up to the Civil War.
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Industrialization (North)
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Agriculture (South)
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Focused on factories, railroads, and manufacturing
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Focused on cotton, tobacco, and slavery
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Relied on immigrant labor
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Relied on enslaved labor
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Urbanization and city growth
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Rural, plantation-based society
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Supported tariffs to protect American industry
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Opposed tariffs that hurt cotton exports
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Real-World Example: If you can envisage the North as the Silicon Valley of today, dynamic, fast-growing, and frontier in technological advancement. The South on the other hand was more like a large agricultural area, relying on conventional farming and the use of human labor in large proportions.
The above topics are central issues that should be understood well if one is to do well in study.com American Interests: US 103: US History I Overview of US History By comparing these concepts, you shall be ready to face famous multiple tasks: multiple choice questions and essays.
So the next time you find yourself stuck in these situations, perhaps you should try to identify the core topics of the material that you’re studying in order to help you work through the remaining parts with greater ease.
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Study.com History 103 FAQ❓
Q1: There are a lot of options to choose from; what methods are most effective in preparing for this course?
A: Begin with the seven-day study schedule that we outlined before. Not more than one chapter should be covered at one time and the teacher should always revisit the lesson summaries and important points in the syllabus after every session. Using the external resources and flashcards, do not hesitate to go back to the areas, which were more difficult to understand.
Q2: How can I remember all these dates and events?
A: Dates can be tricky! Try creating a timeline of major events to visualize the flow of history. You can use tools like Quizlet flashcards to quiz yourself on key dates. Breaking down time periods by decades (e.g., 1770s = American Revolution) can also help.
Q3: Which topics receive maximum input in the exam?
A: As much, expect to have numerous questions from major events such as the American Revolution, the Civil War, and number one cases from the Supreme Court such as Dred Scott Sanford and so on. In particular, the focus is to be made on the Constitutional Amendments – the 13th, 14th, and 15th ones.
Q4: Do I have to memorize all the important figures?
A: Well, you don’t have to be into the details; however, having some knowledge about such important presidents as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln or Andrew Jackson is inevitable. What they did was to try and bring to the fore, the aspects of their leadership or decisions that were historically monumental in the United States.
Q5: How many hours per week should I spend on studying?
A: This depends on the availability of your time, but the initial amount of time that has been recommended is about 5-7 hours per week. Divide it into sections that can be studied in sections with notes, videos, quizzes, etc., in between the study sessions.
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Closing the Chapter: Final Takeaways from Your Historical Studies📄
Congratulations on reaching the end of this guide for study.com History 103: U. S History I Fundamentals of Acing the test With a study schedule nicely outlined, and grasp of what needs to be studied, and access to scholarship and internet material this exam is good to go. Just always bear in mind that history is a great subject and if you are going to approach the topic with an open mind and with interest you will always be able to make the learning process easier and more fun. Just keep on reviewing and revising the concepts and do not forget to take tests frequently, make sure that you do not cram by taking several hours of studying in one sitting.
If you study it by week, using such aids as flashcards, videos, and a pastoral manner when introducing information, not only will you succeed in the exam, but also continue your study of American history with greater understanding. Do not forget to check out the best of luck for your experience. Do it through study.com History 103: U. S History I –you have this. The post-Industrial period 1865-1914 was a significant era in United States history and the American Industrial Revolution had a profound impact!
