American History : Combined Edition 1492 - Present by 
The Battle of Gettysburg (1863), lithograph by Currier & Ives.
This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to major issues, institutions, ideas, events and personalities that have shaped American society’s journey to becoming what it is today. This survey begins with the context of the late fifteenth century and proceeds up to the present. Beyond this informational introduction, the course seeks to promote the "skills of an historian," which involve critical thinking and written communication. The assignments of the course are directed toward the promotion and evaluation of these objectives.