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$237 per student

A $20 Early Enrollment Discount will be applied if you purchase this course before July 15th, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST.

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Course name
American People, Part One, to 1860
Live course taught by Christopher Martin for Fall 2026 High School, Middle School American History
Category
History ➤ American History
Grade
High School, Middle School
Semester
Fall 2026
Starts
Aug 26, 2026
Days
Wed
Summary

From Pocahontas to Harriet Beecher Stowe, and many in between, explore American history through the stories of many famous men and women of the time.

Course Description: This course tells the story of American history from the colonies to the 1850s, through the stories of the important men and women of the times.

Instructor Bio: Christopher Martin, PhD

OUR PRAYER BEFORE CLASS MEETINGS:

Grant me the grace, O merciful God,
to desire ardently all that is pleasing to Thee,
to examine it prudently,
to acknowledge it truthfully,
and to accomplish it perfectly,
for the praise and glory of Thy name.

Amen.

Special notes

Special Note: Includes an optional writing element. This is Part One of a two-part course. Students are expected to register for Part Two offered in the spring.

OUR PRAYER BEFORE CLASS MEETINGS:

Grant me the grace, O merciful God,
to desire ardently all that is pleasing to Thee,
to examine it prudently,
to acknowledge it truthfully,
and to accomplish it perfectly,
for the praise and glory of Thy name.

Amen.

Total classes

14

Class dates

Wednesdays, August 26 to December 9, 2026. (No class Oct. 28 and Nov. 25)

Starting time

2:30 PM Eastern (1:30 PM Central; 12:30 PM Mountain; 11:30 AM Pacific)

Duration

55 minutes

Prerequisites

None

Suggested grade level

6th to 8th grade. High School students welcome - adjustments can be made to assignments to accommodate older students.

Suggested credit

One full semester of American History

Outline

Course Outline:

Week 1: Introduction and overview of syllabus and assignments

Week 2: Pocahontas, and the founding of Jamestown

Week 3: Benjamin Franklin, and the American Identity

Week 4: George Washington, and the French and Indian War

Week 5: Charles Carroll of Carrollton, and American Catholicism

Week 6: Thomas Jefferson, and the Declaration of Independence

Week 7: Patrick Henry, and the US Constitution

Week 8: Alexander Hamilton, and the Whiskey Rebellion

Week 9: Sacagawea, and Lewis and Clark

Week 10: Andrew Jackson, and the War of 1812

Week 11: John Quincy Adams, and the Amistad

Week 12: John Calhoun, and the Nullification Crisis

Week 13: Sam Houston, and the Mexican American War

Week 14: Harriet Beecher Stowe, and the Crisis of the 1850s

Materials

  • Course Materials: Provided free by the instructor.

Homework

Homework: Writing is an integral part of demonstrating both the assimilation of knowledge, and the articulation thereof. Therefore, students will be guided through the process of writing a short  (1-2 page, double-spaced) review of a book of their choice relevant to the subject matter. 

NOTE: High School students taking this course may instead write a 3-5 page book review
Also, students will have weekly, optional, short (5-10 minute) quizzes based on classroom lectures and discussions

Fees

Fee: For all 14 classes: $237 if you register on or before July 15; $257 if you register after July 15. (Registration closes one week before the first day of class. After that date, registrations are not guaranteed. There is a $25 surcharge for late enrollments after the course is closed.)

Course name
American People, Part One, to 1860
Instructor
Christopher Martin
Semester
Fall 2026
Meeting days
Wednesday
Category
History ➤ American History
Grade levels
High School, Middle School
Monitor
Sharon Szafasz
Start time
August 26th, 2026 at 2:30 PM ET
Course type
Live
Price
$257
Seats available
25 seats available
Seats remaining
21 seats remaining
Relative due dates
Relative due dates are disabled for this course.
Enhanced quiz security
Enhanced assignment security

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Christopher Martin
chrisgooverthere@yahoo.com

Christopher Martin teaches history and theology. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor of History at both Southern New Hampshire University and Antelope Valley College. He holds BA degrees in History and Theology from Christendom College (2007); an MA in History from National University (2012); and a Ph.D. in History from CGU (2018). He has been with Homeschool Connections since 2017, and teaching since 2012. He lives in California, with his wife and three sons. Together, they love to hike and travel.

Dr. Martin believes strongly that history is far more important than we typically assume, and also that it is a lot more entertaining. His classes are therefore both serious, and fun, making sure to cover the essential developments of past events, but also, coloring and animating the past with stories and anecdotes that make them come alive.

Dr. Martin's upcoming LIVE courses.

Dr. Martin's library of RECORDED courses.

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Sharon Szafasz

Sharon was born and raised in the Midwest. In 2017 Sharon and her family moved to sunny Arizona. She enjoys the warmer weather, mountains, and the beauty of the west. She enjoys visiting National parks, hiking, getting together with friends, and spending time with her family.  She and her husband homeschooled their children. Sharon enjoys being a class monitor for Homeschool Connections. "Every day is a new experience and a chance to learn something new! I love our Catholic faith and feel so blessed to be able to begin each class with prayer, and with faith-filled teachers and students."