Story of the World 4: The Modern Age, Semester 1

Course Summary

Join us for this ongoig class covering modern world history, using Story of the World, Volume 4. Students will start in Queen Victoria's England and journey through time until the end of the 19th century. Key events: revolutions and wars around the world from 1840-1914, the key events that led to World War I and the Russian Revolution, relations between the East and the West, colonization, the American Civil War, and westward expansion.

Course Description

Explore Modern History: A Journey Through Story of the World 4 Join our ongoing class covering the Story of the World 4: The Modern Age! Following the official schedule and guide, students will explore key historical events, including Queen Victoria’s England, the construction of the Suez Canal, the American Civil War, American westward expansion, and the events leading up to the Russian and World War I. This course offers a broad overview of 19th century history incorporating significant events from the United States, Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa. Students will gain a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of historical events and the people who shaped them. What to Expect: ✅ Weekly lectures, mapwork, and hands-on activities ✅ Engaging discussions on major historical events ✅ Recommended homework using The Story of the World, Volume 4 ✅ Additional reading suggestions for deeper exploration 📚 Required Material: Students must have their own copy of The Story of the World 4 Activity Book (Revised Edition, 2021). Embark on this fascinating journey through modern history—reserve your spot today! Once the first semester is completed, please join us for our second semester course, continuing into the 20th century.

Content Considerations

This course covers modern world history from the 1840s-1910. During this course, the topics of war, genocide, slavery, and others will be discussed. They will all be discussed in an age-appropriate and sensitive way, while being clear about the realities of those events. World religions and political ideologies will be discussed in a straightforward manner. A list of possible sensitive topics include: 1. Sepoy Mutiny (Indian Rebellion of 1857) Religious tensions (Hindu/Muslim sepoys vs. British policies) British retaliations and mass executions Colonial narratives vs. Indian perspectives 2. Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901, China) Anti-foreign and anti-Christian violence Brutal suppression by the Eight-Nation Alliance Colonial exploitation and foreign control of China 3. American Civil War (1861-1865, U.S.) Slavery as the central cause of the war Treatment of African Americans (enslavement, soldiers, Reconstruction) Post-war racism and segregation 4. Other Sensitive Topics (1840–1910) Colonialism & Imperialism (Scramble for Africa, British Raj, Indigenous resistance) Forced Labor & Genocide (Congo Free State atrocities, Indigenous displacement) Scientific Racism & Eugenics (Social Darwinism, racial hierarchy theories) Gender Inequality (Limited rights for women, suffrage struggles, labor conditions) Wars & Mass Violence (Franco-Prussian War, Russo-Japanese War, Spanish-American War)

Syllabus

Week 1: Britain's Empire (Queen Victoria, The Sepoy Mutiny) Week 2: West Against East (Japan and the West, The Crimean War) Week 3: British Invasions (Britain in Afghanistan 1840-1870, David Livingstone in Africa) Week 4: Resurrection and Rebellion (Italy's 1848 revolution, Taiping Rebellion) Week 5: The American Civil War (South vs North, causes of the war, post-war life) Week 6: Two Tries for Freedom (Paraguay, Dominion of Canada) Week 7: Two Empires, Three Republics, and One Kingdom (French revolutions 1789-1871, formation of modern Germany and Bismarck) Week 8: Becoming Modern (Transcontinental Railroad, Japan's Meiji Restoration) Week 9: Two More Empires, Two Rebellions (Dutch East Indies, Ottoman Turks) Week 10: Suez Canal, Australia, and Africa (Suez Canal, Australia's Founding, Africa and Colonists) Week 11: Unhappy Unions (Ireland, the Potato Famine, Home Rule, Boer War) Week 12: Two Czars and Two Emperors (Alexander II, the next to last Czar of Russia, Ethiopia and Italy) Week 13: Small Countries with Large Invaders (Korea and Japan, First Sino-Japanese War, Spanish-American War) Week 14: The Expanding United States (Westward Expansion, Oregon Trail, Industrialization, Andrew Carnegie) Week 15: China's Troubles (The Boxer Rebellion, Russia and China in 1904) Week 16: Europe and Eastern Europe (Persia, Afghanistan, and British oil exploration, The Balkan Mess)

Supplies

-Story of the World, Volume 4 Activity Book and text -Paper, pencil, binder for taking notes and keeping mapwork and activities organized