America

Welcome to AP US History! Students are expected to go beyond the normal textbook reading assignments and learn to explore primary source documents, novels, short stories, poetry and film as sources of information about the history of our country. Your summer assignment will involve viewing movies that depict various time periods in American history. As you watch these films, understand that the primary reason Hollywood makes movies is to entertain and to make money. Therefore Hollywood producers often take liberties and stretch the historical facts to make their movies sell. Part of your job as you watch these movies will involve outside investigation to determine how much of the movie is factual and how much is fiction. Should you have any trouble finding these, please let me know. You must watch 7 of the following films during the summer and complete the video analysis worksheets for each film. To give yourself a breadth of exposure, try to choose films from as many categories as possible (i.e. don’t just watch all the WWII movies) . These are due on the first day of class. These video analysis sheets will count as a much as a major essay/test. You will be expected to be able to use the knowledge gained from these videos throughout the semester.

To help reduce the cost of renting these videos, many of the videos are available at High Point, Archdale or Asheboro Public Library. Choose 7 movies from as many categories as possible from the following list:

Colonial History and American Revolution: The Crossing, The Patriot*

Antebellum Period: Alamo (there are several versions)*, Amistad*

Civil War and Reconstruction: Gone with the Wind*, Glory*, Red Badge of Courage*, Gettysburg*,

US’s Relationship with Native Americans: Dances with Wolves*, Last of the Mohicans*, Little Big Man*

Imperialism and WWI: Rough Riders, All Quiet on the Western Front*

1920s and the Great Depression: Grapes of Wrath*, Cinderella Man*, O Brother Where Art Thou?*, Inherit the...