Appreciating American history requires students to understand the implicit yet underlining role of defining moments and movements in the evolution of the America they know. By putting past events in context with contemporary realities, American History encourages students to think critically about America’s history in relation to its future.
American History surveys American history from the colonial era and American Revolution through to the nation’s rise to eminence as a global superpower, analyzing American political conflict, economic development, and changing culture and thought as they tell one continuous and continuing story of America’s history.
Awards
2024 Awards of Excellence: Back to School Winner—Tech & Learning, September 18, 2024
2019 Best Social Studies Website—ComputED Best Educational Software Awards (BESSIES), April 8, 2019
2018 Best Social Studies Website—ComputED Best Educational Software Awards (BESSIES), April 1, 2018
2018 Best Online Educational Resource—ComputED Best Educational Software Awards (BESSIES), April 1, 2018
2018 Gold Award—Modern Library Awards, January 23, 2018
2017 CODiE Award Winner - Best Social Sciences Instructional Solution—SIIA, July 27, 2017
2016 Best Educational Software Award (BESSIE) - American History Website—ComputEd Gazette, April 18, 2016
2015 New Product Award for "Course Essentials" Video Learning Module Series—Tech and Learning, October 12, 2015
2015 Education Software Review Award (EDDIE) - Best American History Website—ComputED Gazette, September 28, 2015
2008 Award of Excellence—Tech and Learning, October 30, 2008
2008 Education Software Review Award (EDDIE)—ComputEd Gazette, October 6, 2008
2008 Best Educational Software Award (BESSIE)—Social Studies Web Site—ComputEd Gazette, April 25, 2008
2004 EDDIE Award Winner—ComputEd Gazette, July 29, 2004
2003 Readers' Choice Awards: K-12 Instructional Software—eSchool News, September 1, 2003
2003 Curriculum Web Site Hall of Fame—District Administration, September 1, 2003
2003 Best Educational Software Award (BESSIE)—Web Site—ComputEd Gazette, March 20, 2003
2002 Awards Portfolio Winner—Media & Methods Magazine, May 1, 2002
2002 Distinguished Achievement Award Finalist—EdPress, April 20, 2002
2002 Award of Excellence—The Communicator Awards, April 20, 2002
2002 Curriculum Web Site Awards, Premium Award—District Administration, February 20, 2002
2002 CODiE Awards Finalist —SIIA, January 10, 2002
Reviews
"American History is a well-designed site, with a good balance of graphics and text and good use of color."—Library Journal, September 1, 2001
"Designed specifically with teachers and students in mind. . . . The layout of the site is easy to follow. . . . One of the most valuable assets of this reference for the use in schools is that it allows teachers to create a calendar of events and assignments that will specifically meet the needs of their classroom. . . . The American History website is a remarkable tool that will give learning U.S. history new appeal to young adults. Students will enjoy using it and it will give teachers the opportunity to teach U.S. history in a new and exciting format."—American Reference Books Annual, January 1, 2003
"A website offering students up-to-date American history research documents and projects. It also includes customizable resources for teachers, like a syllabus or a calendar. . . . Strengths: The materials offered are aligned with curriculum and educational standards. They can be accessed from school or from home. . . . Overall Evaluation: A great website that offers a compendium of research and reference resources."—Media & Methods Magazine, May 1, 2002
"This already outstanding resource has been improved with a crisp, easy-to-use interface that few students should have difficulty mastering. Highly recommended for school and public libraries."—Booklist, April 15, 2008
"The American History website is a remarkable tool that will give learning U.S. history new appeal to young adults. Students will enjoy using it and it will give teachers the opportunity to teach U.S. history in a new and exciting format. For all of the topics covered and the use it will have in the library, the classroom, and in the students' homes this product deserves careful consideration."—ARBA, March 1, 2009
"Since we purchased the ABC-CLIO Schools subscription websites, our library usage has grown tenfold. The library is packed these days! The depth and breadth of the websites is wonderful. Everything that students need—from country profiles to current images, maps, and documents—is in one place. And besides social studies teachers, foreign language teachers, and others use the websites too—some to plan curriculum. The library and social studies faculties are now working more closely together."—Joanne Hughes
Librarian/Technology Coordinator
Auburn Riverside High School
Auburn, WA
"After purchasing the websites, I participated in an online training session which was both convenient and informative! Now I quickly set up customized research lists for the students to direct them to discussion questions and review activities they can complete in the library. The students love all the visual primary sources, especially when they are making posters or brochures for class."—Terrie Crockwell
Library Media Technician
Etiwanda High School
Etiwanda, CA
"With the ABC-CLIO Schools subscription websites, students can locate information themselves with minimal instruction. The websites are accurate and reliable, and they guide students in building information literacy skills—examining different interpretations, choosing between resources, and synthesizing information. Teachers appreciate that the websites are current and aligned to standards."—Susan Leigh Burrell
Librarian/Media Specialist
Grace E. Metz Middle School
Manassas, VA
"Our history department has done away with most textbooks this year! With their wealth of primary sources, critical thinking activities, and daily news articles, the ABC-CLIO Schools websites help us guide our students in becoming social scientists."—Jim A. Masker
Social Studies Teacher, Cate School
Carpinteria, CA
"The Wayne School district has adopted a thematic curriculum for the teaching of World and US History. As a result of this curriculum shift, we have decided not to rely on a textbook as the primary instrument for instruction. In this age of digital technology, we have found that there are many wonderful digital resources that students and teachers can utilize to enrich the learning experience. One of the best is ABC-CLIO. We find their databases of information to be rich in primary source materials, their readings to be clear and concise, and their videos, graphs, and charts very engaging. Furthermore, the ABC-CLIO databases are easy to navigate for students and teachers. Searches are easily obtained including advance searches. ABC-CLIO even provides stimulating lessons and discussion points to further enhance the classroom experience. We are very happy with their product including their support services. I would recommend ABC-CLIO to any school district looking to move their curriculum into the 21st century."
—Carmine J. Picardo, Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction, Wayne Public Schools
Exploration and Colonization, 1350–1760
• Exploration, 1350–1550
• European Colonization, 1492–1752
• The English Colonies, 1605–1760 |
Civil War and Reconstruction, 1840–1877
• Prelude to the Civil War, 1840–1861
• The Civil War, 1861–1865
• Reconstruction, 1865–1877 |
World War II and the Cold War Era, 1939–1960
• World War II, 1939–1945
• The Cold War, 1945–1960
• The Fifties, 1950–1959 |
Revolutionary Era, 1754–1783
• The Coming of Independence, 1754–1776
• The American Revolution, 1774–1783 |
Industrialization and Immigration, 1850–1900
• The West, 1850–1900
• The Rise of American Industry, 1850–1900
• Urban Life, 1860–1900 |
A Nation in Upheaval, 1954–1975
• The Civil Rights Movement, 1954–1975
• The Vietnam War, 1954–1975
• The Sixties, 1960–1969
• Nixon and Watergate, 1968–1975 |
A New Nation, 1776–1800
• The Constitution, 1776–1800
• The Emergence of a Nation, 1789–1800 |
Gilded Age to World War I, 1870–1920
• The Gilded Age, 1870–1914
• The Progressive Era, 1890–1920
• America as a World Power, 1890–1914
• World War I, 1914–1920 |
Conservative Agenda to the Clinton Era, 1975–2000
• Post–Watergate Society, 1975–1989
• The Conservative Tide, 1980–1992
• The Close of the 20th Century, 1992–2000 |
Expansion and Reform, 1790–1850
• Political Life in a New Nation, 1800–1830
• A Developing Economy, 1790–1850
• Westward Expansion, 1790–1850
• Social Movements, 1815–1850 |
Great Depression to the New Deal, 1920–1939
• The Twenties, 1920–1929
• The Crash and Great Depression, 1929–1939
• The New Deal, 1932–1939 |
Age of Globalization, 2001–Present
• America Embraces the New Millennium, 2001–2008
• Beginning of a New Era, 2008–Present |
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ABC-CLIO Solutions School Editions
Offering effective technology for your library and created specifically for middle and high school students, ABC-CLIO Solutions Schools Edition provides authoritative coverage of essential topics in U.S. history and government, world history, geography, and a range of multicultural and popular culture subjects.
Each online ABC-CLIO Solution includes four innovative components:
A COMPREHENSIVE REFERENCE LIBRARY with content from more than 230,000 primary sources and entries encompassing audio, video, photographs, illustrations, maps, and rich media.
A STANDARDS-BASED CURRICULUM updated daily by a team of subject-specific editorial experts and supported by an extensive range of instructional material.
A DEEP COLLECTION OF MODEL COMMENTARIES from noted scholars that have been specially commissioned to foster critical thinking stimulated by exposure to varying points of view.
AN EDUCATOR SUPPORT CENTER containing valuable professional development tools as well as relevant resources such as discussion points, activities, lesson plans, and research lists.
