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U.S. History IIOnline College Course
Reconstruction to the present — industrialization, world wars, civil rights, and the making of modern America.
What You'll Learn
A full semester of u.s. history ii — completed at your own pace, with no deadlines or fixed class times.
What You'll Be Able to Do
- Upon completing this in-depth exploration of American history, students will have achieved the following learning outcomes:
- Analyze major political, social, and economic transformations in United States history from Reconstruction through the early twenty-first century, with attention to continuity and change over time
- Evaluate how federal authority expanded during periods of crisis, including Reconstruction, industrialization, economic depression, world wars, the Cold War, and post-9/11 governance
- Interpret primary sources such as constitutional provisions, legislation, speeches, policy documents, and visual media by situating them within their historical context and identifying purpose, perspective, and limitations
- Compare competing definitions of freedom, citizenship, and equality across different historical periods and social groups
- Assess the impact of economic change, reform movements, and government intervention on inequality, labor, and social welfare in modern American history
- Analyze the tensions between national security concerns and civil liberties across wartime and crisis contexts, evaluating how these conflicts shaped constitutional precedent and civil rights
- Synthesize evidence from multiple historical eras to construct coherent, thesis-driven arguments about the development of American democracy
- Demonstrate analytical and evaluative historical reasoning independently through source-based, thesis-driven final assessments
Major Course Topics
Course chapters and lessons
U.S. History II has 17 chapters across 86 instructional hours, as listed in the course syllabus. Expand any chapter to see the lessons inside it.
- Chapters
- 17
- Lessons
- 77
- Instructional hours
- 86 hrs
- Semester hours
- 3
Chapter 1
Rebuilding a Nation: The Reconstruction Era, 1865–1877
- 1.1 Reuniting the Union After the Civil War
- 1.2 Congressional Efforts to Reshape the South, 1865–1866
- 1.3 Radical Reconstruction: Progress and Challenges, 1867–1872
- 1.4 The End of Reconstruction and Its Legacy
Chapter 2
Westward Bound: Expansion and Transformation, 1840–1900
- 2.1 The Spirit of Westward Expansion
- 2.2 Homesteading: Aspirations and Challenges
- 2.3 Prosperity in Gold Mining and Cattle Ranching
- 2.4 The Erosion of American Indian Culture and Lives
- 2.5 Westward Expansion’s Effects on Chinese Immigrants and Hispanic Communities
Chapter 3
The Industrial Revolution and the Rise of Corporate America, 1870–1900
- 3.1 Pioneers of Innovation in the Industrial Age
- 3.2 From Inventions to Expanding Industries
- 3.3 Constructing Industrial America Through Labor
- 3.4 The Emergence of a Consumer-Driven Culture
- LAB 1: Reconstruction, Expansion, and Industrial Capitalism, 1865–1900
Chapter 4
The Struggles of Urban Growth, 1870–1900
- 4.1 The Complexities and Challenges of Urbanization
- 4.2 The African American Great Migration and the Wave of European Immigrants
- 4.3 Finding Solace Amidst Urban Turmoil
- 4.4 Shifts in Perspective: Changes in Literature and Philosophy
Chapter 5
Power and Politics in the Gilded Age, 1870–1900
- 5.1 Corruption and Scandals in Post-Civil War America
- 5.2 Central Political Debates: Patronage, Tariffs, and the Gold Standard
- 5.3 The Populist Movement and the Farmers' Revolt
- 5.4 Social Strife and Labor Unrest in the 1890s
Chapter 6
Pioneering Change: The Progressive Movement, 1890–1920
- 6.1 The Beginnings of the Progressive Spirit in America
- 6.2 Progressivism and Grassroots Activism
- 6.3 Emerging Advocates for Women and African Americans
- 6.4 Progressivism’s Influence in Presidential Leadership
Chapter 7
The Age of Empire: U.S. Foreign Policy, 1890–1914
- 7.1 Turner, Mahan, and the Foundations of American Imperialism
- 7.2 The Spanish-American War and the Expansion of Overseas Territories
- 7.3 Economic Influence and Imperialism in East Asia
- 7.4 Roosevelt’s “Big Stick” Approach to Diplomacy
- 7.5 Taft’s Strategy of “Dollar Diplomacy”
Chapter 8
Americans and World War I, 1914–1919
- 8.1 Isolationism and the European Roots of the Great War
- 8.2 Preparing America for the Battlefront
- 8.3 Transformations on the Home Front
- 8.4 Transitioning from War to Peace
- 8.5 Demobilization and the Challenges of Postwar Adjustment
- Lab 2: Urbanization, Reform, and America’s Emergence as a Global Power, 1870–1919
Chapter 9
The Roaring Twenties: Redefining America, 1919–1929
- 9.1 Economic Prosperity and the Rise of Popular Entertainment
- 9.2 Social Transformations and Cultural Backlash
- 9.3 The Emergence of a Modern Generation
- 9.4 Republican Dominance: Politics of the 1920s
Chapter 10
The Great Depression: Hardship and Hope, 1929–1932
- 10.1 The Stock Market Crash of 1929: Catalyst for Economic Collapse
- 10.2 President Hoover’s Approach to the Crisis
- 10.3 The Widespread Impact of the Great Depression
- 10.4 Reflecting on Hoover’s Legacy at the Brink of Change
Chapter 11
Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal Era, 1932–1941
- 11.1 The Emergence of Franklin Roosevelt as a Leader
- 11.2 The First New Deal: Initial Steps to Recovery
- 11.3 The Second New Deal: Expanding Reforms
Chapter 12
Battling for Freedom: World War II, 1941–1945
- 12.1 The Roots of War: Europe, Asia, and America’s Entry
- 12.2 Life on the Home Front During Wartime
- 12.3 Triumph in the European Theater
- 12.4 The Pacific Campaign and the Use of the Atomic Bomb
- Lab 3: Depression, War, and the Expanding Power of the American State, 1929–1945
Chapter 13
Prosperity and Tensions: America in the Post-War Era, 1945–1960
- 13.1 Adjusting to Peace: Post-War Challenges
- 13.2 The Cold War and Its Impact on Global Relations
- 13.3 Pursuing the American Dream
- 13.4 The Rise of Popular Culture and Mass Media
- 13.5 The Fight for Civil Rights: African American Struggles
Chapter 14
Shaping Change: America in the 1960s
- 14.1 The Vision of Kennedy’s New Frontier
- 14.2 Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society Initiatives
- 14.3 The Ongoing Struggle of the Civil Rights Movement
- 14.4 Questioning Traditions and Pushing Boundaries
Chapter 15
Political Turmoil and Change, 1968–1980
- 15.1 Identity Politics in a Divided Nation
- 15.2 A Nation Fractured Yet Seeking Unity
- 15.3 The Vietnam Conflict: A Troubling Descent
- 15.4 Watergate: Nixon’s Scandal and Its Fallout
- 15.5 Jimmy Carter: Navigating the Post-Crisis Era
Chapter 16
Shifting Landscapes: From Cold War to Culture Wars, 1980–2000
- 16.1 The Reagan Era: A Political Revolution
- 16.2 The Intersection of Politics and Culture
- 16.3 The Emergence of a New World Order
- 16.4 Bill Clinton and the Rise of the New Economy
Chapter 17
Navigating the Twenty-First Century: Challenges and Change
- 17.1 The Global Fight Against Terrorism
- 17.2 Addressing Domestic Priorities
- 17.3 Old Conflicts in a New Century
- 17.4 A Vision of Hope and Change
- 17.5 Political Polarization and the Rise of Social Movements
- Lab 4: Cold War, Civil Rights, and the Contested Meaning of American Democracy, 1945–Present
These chapters come straight from the official course syllabus, which also sets out the graded assignment and the proctored final exam.
Course Details
| Course | U.S. History II (HIST 102) |
|---|---|
| Format | 100% online |
| Learning Style | Self-paced — no deadlines or class times |
| Credits | 3 College Credits |
| Lab | Not required |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Assessment | 25% Attendance · 25% Quizzes · 25% Assignments · 25% Final Exam |
| Estimated Completion | Self-paced · no deadlines |
| Credit Recommendation | NCCRS Credit Recommended |
| Transfer Information | Transferable via the credit recommendation above — your registrar can confirm your school's policy |
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Reconstruction to the present — industrialization, world wars, civil rights, and the making of modern America.
🎯 Why It Matters
- Completes the two-part American history sequence most universities require
- Covers the historical background behind current policy debates
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🚀 How This Sets You Up
- Work through 17 chapters covering 1865 to the present
- Complete an assignment and a cumulative final exam with rubric
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- Pairs with U.S. History I for the full sequence
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