American History

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Welcome to the webpage for the American history program designed for especially designed for adults! The Story of America -- a key component in the A First History for Adults™ program -- will give you an unparalleled context of knowledge to understand how the United States arose out of its European colonial context to become an independent nation, and how its culture has evolved from its founding values to those of the present generation.

Hello, my name is Scott Powell. I am the creator of A First History for Adults™. I'd like to invite you to take advantage of an unprecedented opportunity for you to take command of history--not just to hear from an expert on the subject and then inevitably forget, but actually to gain knowledge for yourself, retain it, and use it as intellectual ammunition to affect the world around you.

Gain...		Powell History lectures are exciting and accessible. They are geared specifically to meet the needs of adults students. You don't need any background knowledge. All you need is a desire to learn.
Retain...		All A First History for Adults™ programs are designed to help you put history together for yourself. When you can see the "big picture," the separate facts become more manageable, and you can remember them!
...and Use!		Powell History's classes present material that is connected to your values and the world around you. There's no better way to see that history matters. Let me show you how!

Course Decription

The Story of America is the first installment of the A First History for Adults™ program, designed to help adults learn history. It is first, because studying American history is the surest way to see how history matters. It matters because it shows us how the world around us came to be, and who made it so, and it offers us lessons that we can apply to continue shaping America's destiny. This 30-lecture course covers a story stretching back not merely to 1776, or 1607, or even 1492. It starts in 451! It introduces the Story of America as one directly related to the character of its "mother continent:" Europe, including the struggles of its parent civilization to define its cultures and governments, from which America's Founders ultimately declared (but never fully achieved) independence. This telling tracks the various enduring threads of European influence on American culture, even as it emphasizes the heroic episode of the American Revolution which yields the unprecedented splendor of the United States. Then it offers a unique presentation of the Growth and Decline of the Union, as the country expanded, but ultimately came undone in the Civil War, only to eventually be "reconstructed." From here the course presents the Industrial Revolution and the tragic shift in America's foreign policy towards internationalism as fundamental to the advent of the wars of the twentieth century. The course ends with a presentation of the Cold War, and its relationship to the "Islamist Entanglement," which is covered in depth in the third installment of the course.

Program Features and Details

• 30 lectures, each 1.5 hours, for a total of 45 hours of instruction
• Lectures available exclusively as digital recordings in MP3 format.
• Listen anytime, and as many times as you like!
• Yahoo! Group forum available for registered students.
• "Facts practice sheets" that summarize the history of each major period
• Tips and unique exercises to help you integrate and retain the material

Why History?	More Information	America's Presidents
Like many adults, you probably remember history as a boring subject. I certainly do! But it doesn't have to be that way. History can be exciting and relevant. You can learn to love it as an adult!. Learn more about the value of history by reading my ground-breaking article, Why History? at Secular Homeschooling magazine. You don't have to be a homeschooler to understand the irreplaceable value of the study of the past. TESTIMONIAL "Pursuing this value with the guidance of someone who exalts all that makes this country great is inspiring and truly a pleasure."--David, CA	Powell History Recommends, the Blog, has up to date information on the latest Powell History classes and more. Visit the main site for general curriculum information. History At Our House, my other history Blog, also has great essays on important historical topics.	Have fun with the challenge of president rankings! Follow the Powell History Rankings through a new Blog series. It's a great way to prepare for the course! Latest Posts: Introducing The Powell History Rankings Ranking the Founding Presidents Ranking the "Punters" TESTIMONIAL "Scott's course has acted as an amazing time-saver for me! Scott does all the work, sifts through hundreds of books, chooses the essentials and presents them in the form of a fascinating integrated story. And I reap all the benefits! Thanks!!"--Sharon, TX

Payment Plans Available

If you prefer to pay in a single payment, please scroll down to General Registration.

5-Month Plan	7-Month Plan	10-Month Plan
$79.80/month	Only $57.00/month	Only $39.90/month

General Registration - NEW YEAR'S SPECIAL!

Yes! Sign me up for American History! Normal Price: $399.00 New Year's Price: $279.00 (You save $120!!!) Check out...

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Register using the standard option below, and then contact me at scott@powellhistory.com to get your $50 tuition discount!

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P.S. Be sure to check out my Powell History Recommends Blog!