Identity: This theme focuses on the formation of both American national identity and group identities in U.S. history. Overarching questions: How and why have debates over American national identity changed over time? How have gender, class, ethnic, religious, regional, and other group identities changed in different eras?
Peopling: This theme focuses on why and how the various people who moved to, from, and within the United States adapted to their new social and physical environments.
Overarching questions: Why have people migrated to, from, and within North America? How have changes in migration and population patterns affected American life?
Politics and power: Students should examine ongoing debates over the role of the state in society and its potential as an active agent for change. Overarching questions: How and why have different political and social groups competed for influence over society and government in what would become the United States? How have Americans agreed on or argued over the values that guide the political system as well as who is a part of the political process?
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America in the world: In this theme, students should focus on the global context in which the United States originated and developed as well as the influence of the United States on world affairs. Overarching questions: How have events in North America and the United States related to contemporary developments in the rest of the world? How have different factors influenced U.S. military, diplomatic, and economic involvement in international affairs and foreign conflicts, both in North America and overseas? How did economic and demographic changes affect the environment and lead to debates over use and control of the environment and natural resources?
Environment and geography—physical and human: This theme examines the role of environment, geography, and climate in both constraining and shaping human actions. Overarching questions: How did interactions with the natural environment shape the institutions and values of various groups living on the North American continent?
Ideas, beliefs, and culture: This theme explores the roles and that ideas, beliefs, social mores, and creative expression have played in shaping the United States.
Overarching questions: How and why have moral, philosophical, and cultural values changed in what would becomce the United States? How and why have changes in moral, philosophical, and cultural values affected U.S. history?
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