This is one unit of the series described in SO 000 378. The teacher's major concern must be the establishment and development of criteria by which the student can interpret the present. The intellectual history should develop a picture of that which is unique in our society, and offer the student a basis for understanding himself and his environment. The emphasis of the unit is on values held by Americans rather than on the forces affecting them whether they be economic or social. The material shows the maturing of the American Mind from the Puritan experiment during our Colonial period through the conflict of the twentieth century. Specific objectives are: 1) to identify uniquely American patterns of thought, and the influencing factors; 2) to understand that a free society breeds conflict of ideas, and that democracy provides an avenue for resolution; 3) to appreciate the range of achievements in art, music, literature, drama all as an integral part of American culture; 4) to realize the role of the individual in forming public opinion, and in social development and change; and, 5) to create their own philosophy of life taking into consideration the ideas and rights of others. (SBE)