This course covers the American experience from its roots in the European Age of Exploration to the present. It emphasizes the nation’s political, economic, social, diplomatic, and military development and is structured around key themes in United States history to help students trace patterns in the nation’s growth and change over time. Students may elect to participate in an opt-in Honors component, which places additional emphasis on analytical writing, independent thinking, and the use of outside readings to deepen historical understanding.