Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: outline the major civilizations that lived in North America prior to first contacts; illustrate the impact of initial settlements in North America, including Jamestown and Plymouth Rock; break down the events that led up to the American Revolution; diagram and explain the major events and significance of the American Revolution; identify and appraise the major elements of the Declaration of Independence; analyze the major elements of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights; compare and contrast life in the north and south prior to the Civil War; explain the causes of westward expansion, including the California Gold Rush; categorize the causes and effects of the Civil War; and describe the main elements of Reconstruction and how it affected the country.