History 1301.209: America 1492-1877 Instructor: Angela Roberts Fall: 2009/ TTH: 5:30-6:45 p.m. Office Hrs: TTh: 11:00-2:00 Fri. 9:00-11:00 e-mail: aroberts@southplainscollege.edu Phone: Office: 716-2456 Course Overview: History 1301 constitutes a general survey of United States history from 1492, when Columbus discovered America, to 1877, the end of the Civil War. Given the time constraints of a one semester survey, and the broad range of subjects available for study, we will only be able to focus on a few major topics. Some of these include: motives for colonization; perceptions of race; the American Revolution; framing of the Constitution; political struggles of the early national period; changing gender roles; economic transformations; reform; the evolution of a class society; westward expansion and the sectional differences that eventually split the union and hindered reconciliation after the Civil War. The central theme of this course, one that is related to each of the topics, is the ever-changing ideology of Republicanism: i.e., what it meant to be an American from the perspectives of men and women of different ethnicities, classes, and regions, and how that meaning changed over time. We will experience the years 1492-1877 through visual media such as documentaries, primary sources written by people who lived and made the history of the period as well as secondary sources written by historians who have interpreted it. After reading, viewing, and discussing these materials over the course of a semester, you will be able to judge whose arguments you most closely agree with and develop interpretations and questions of your own. Course Objectives: My goals for the course include, but are not limited to, the following: You will increase your knowledge of events in U.S. history and the reasons why they occurred. You will be introduced to the art of historical interpretation through the reading, analysis and application of primary sources. You will develop critical writing skills through essay writing. We will exchange our interpretations and ideas through class discussions. We will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of the relationship between past events and the historical context in which they occurred. The Higher Education Coordinating Board of Texas has also identified the following as objectives for core classes in the Social and Behavioral Sciences. 1. To employ the appropriate methods, technologies, and data that social and behavioral scientists use to investigate the human condition. 2. To examine social institutions and processes across a range of historical periods, social structures, and cultures. 3. To use and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories. 1
4. To develop and communicate alternative explanations or solutions for contemporary social issues. 5. To analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, cultural, and global forces on the area under study. 6. To comprehend the origins and evolution of U.S. and Texas political systems, with a focus on the growth of political institutions, the constitutions of the U.S. and Texas, federalism, civil liberties, and civil and human rights. 7. To understand the evolution and current role of the U.S. in the world. 8. To differentiate and analyze historical evidence (documentary and statistical) and differing points of view. 9. To recognize and apply reasonable criteria for the acceptability of historical evidence and social research. 10. To analyze, critically assess, and develop creative solutions to public policy problems. 11. To recognize and assume one s responsibility as a citizen in a democratic society by learning to think for oneself, by engaging in public discourse, and by obtaining information through the news media and other appropriate information sources about politics and public policy. 12. To identify and understand differences and commonalities within diverse cultures. Required Readings: History is a reading and writing intensive subject. It is imperative that you cover the assigned readings prior to class so that you can derive the full value from the lecture and to participate effectively in the discussions. There is one required text on order in the SPC bookstore. Text: Eric Foner, Give Me Liberty, Vol. 1, Second Seagull Ed. Grading: Grades will be determined as follows: Five Quizzes (@ 20 points each) 100 Book Review 100 Exam 1 100 Exam 2 100 Exam 3 100 Class Participation 50 Post-Test 25 575 total points 2
I will grade on the following scale: 575-517 pts (100%-90%) = A 516-460 pts (89.9%-80%) = B 459-402 pts (79.9%-70%) = C 401-345 pts (69.9%-60%) = D 344-0 pts (59.9%-0%) = F Examinations: Please bring notebook paper to class for each exam. Make-up exams will be given at my discretion and are not guaranteed for a missed exam. You must contact me prior to the missed exam in order to be considered for a make-up exam. Make-up exams will only be given in cases of extreme emergency and you must provide me with documentation of the emergency (e.g. doctor s note, etc.) at the next class date or you will automatically be prohibited from taking a make-up exam. If allowed to take a make-up exam, the make-up exam will be much harder than the scheduled exam. If a student is allowed to take a make-up exam, there will be an automatic 30 point deduction from the exam grade. The highest grade possible will be a 70. Additionally, you must take the make-up exam within one week of the missed exam. Exam 1: This exam will cover the period from the initial European colonization through the American Revolution. It will consist of multiple choice questions and essay questions. You will receive a study guide approximately one week before this exam. Exam 1 is scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, from 5:30-6:45 p.m. Exam 2: This exam will cover the period after the American Revolution through the market revolution and its impact on American society. It will consist of multiple choice questions and essay questions. You will receive a study guide approximately one week before this exam. Exam 2 is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10, from 5:30-6:45 p.m. Exam 3 (Final Exam): The final exam will also consist of multiple choice questions and essay questions and will cover American religious movements, reform, the coming of the Civil War, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. You will receive a study guide approximately one week before the final exam. The final exam is scheduled for Thursday, December 17 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Post-Test: The post-test is a SACS requirement and will be the same as the pre-test given the first day of class. It will cover material covered throughout the entire semester. You will receive a study guide before the post-test. The post-test is scheduled for Thursday, December 10, at 5:30 p.m. I encourage you to study together, however, I expect you to write your own essay responses for my exams. If I receive the same essay or essays that are substantially similar from two or more people, they will receive a zero for the essay portion of the exam. Also, I keep all my exams on file. 3
If your essay closely resembles an essay that another student has turned in during a past semester I will consider this cheating and you will fail this class. Quizzes: There will be six announced quizzes. I will drop your lowest quiz score. All quizzes will be drawn from the textbook and will be available through WebCT. Once I announce a quiz, you will have until the beginning of the next class period to take the quiz. If you are not in class at the time the quiz is announced, it is still your responsibility to take the quiz by the due date. There will be no make-up quizzes. Book Review: Students will be required to complete one book review. Students may choose any history subject that pertains to United States history from 1492-1877. The book must be a scholarly book (i.e. a nonfiction historical book and must include footnotes or endnotes) and must be approved by me on or before Thursday, November 5, 2009. If your book is not approved by this date, you will receive a 10 point deduction on your book review. If your book is not approved before you turn in your book review, you will receive a zero for the book review. The book review must be between 3-5 pages and include an introduction, summary of book, your analysis of the book, and conclusion. Book reviews will also be graded on proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc. Book reviews must have a cover sheet which includes the student s name, class (History 1301), name of book, and date. The first page of text must include the title of the book. The font must either be Times New Roman 12 or Arial 11. All margins must be 1. Page numbering will start with the first page of text. Pages must be numbered in the center on the bottom of each page (excluding title page). The text of your book review must be double-spaced. There will be a 5 point deduction for each formatting instruction not followed. Book reviews are due by class time on Thursday, November 19, 2009. No late work will be accepted. Student Privacy: South Plains College is bound by the Texas Open Records Law and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. Information regarding these topics can be found in the South Plains College Catalog. As far as this class is concerned, I will NOT release or discuss your class performance, grades, averages, or attendance with anyone but you. This means that your parents, class counselors, principals, or any other interested party will not gain this information from me if they need this sort of information they must ask you for it. Civility/Academic Dishonesty: Most students have a good sense of proper classroom behavior and seek to earn grades through their own efforts. Unfortunately, I occasionally encounter students who treat both myself and their peers disrespectfully, and who attempt to get through my courses through dubious means. Let me state my policy on these issues clearly: A. Classroom Civility: 1. I expect you to show up on time and to pay attention while you are here. 2. I expect you to treat your instructor and peers with respect and you should expect, and will receive, the same from me. 4
3. I expect you to stay awake in class. If you fall asleep, it is as if you are not in class and points will be deducted from your class participation grade. 4. Types of in-class behavior I will not tolerate: repeated lateness to class, carrying on conversations with your neighbors, reading newspapers, ringing/answering cell phones/pagers, text-messaging, listening to personal stereos or any other activity I view as disruptive or disrespectful to either me or your peers. Students who choose to act in a disruptive manner will be asked to leave, and their grades will be lowered significantly. B. Academic Dishonesty: I have zero tolerance for cheating and plagiarism, and will deal with these circumstances in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the South Plains College Policy & Procedures Manual, Section FF. This will mean a failing grade on the exam/quiz/assignment in question at the minimum, and can entail failure of the course and/or expulsion from the college. I take this stuff seriously. So should you. Course Structure, Attendance, and Class Participation: Class convenes from 5:30-6:45 p.m. Attendance is required and I will take attendance every class. You will begin the semester with 50 points for attendance. I will deduct three points for each absence from your point total for the course. If you leave early without my approval, I will count you absent for the entire day. If you sign an absent friend s name on my sign in sheet, I will count you absent too. Points may also be deducted for disruptive behavior. Students who have six or more absences may be dropped from the class. Cell phones and pagers MUST be turned off in the classroom. Text messaging will NOT be allowed under any circumstances. Students who do not follow these rules will receive a 10 point deduction from their class participation grade for each violation. Students violate these rules on two separate occasions may be dropped from the class. Class participation consists of several factors including attendance, active listening, and quality participation during the class discussions and will count for 50 points of your overall course grade. The instructor reserves the right to award additional participation points in exceptional cases. Although I would like to hold class discussions, the amount of material makes it difficult to do so every day. However, I believe in an interactive lecture presentation so please feel free to ask questions during lecture for clarification, and to add your input to our learning experience. Whether or not we discuss the readings assigned for a particular class period you are still responsible for reading them for the purpose of exams and quizzes. Syllabus subject to change at instructor s discretion. 5
Schedule of Lectures and Assignments Additional readings may be assigned each week. Tues., Sept. 1: Thurs., Sept. 3: Tues., Sept. 8: Thurs., Sept. 10: Tues., Sept 15: Thurs., Sept. 17: Tues., Sept. 22: Thurs., Sept. 24: Tues., Sept. 29: Introduction Cultural collisions in North America and the founding of Colonial Virginia 1-34 American Beginnings, 1607-1650, Part I 35-70 American Beginnings, 1607-1650, Part II Crisis and Expansion: North American Colonies, 1650-1750, Part I 71-109 Crisis and Expansion: North American Colonies, 1650-1750, Part II Slavery, Freedom, and the Struggle for Empire to 1763, Part I 110-148 Slavery, Freedom, and the Struggle for Empire to 1763, Part II The American Revolution, 1763-1783, Part I 149-178; A35-A38 (The Declaration of Independence) Exam 1 Study Guide Distributed Thurs., Oct. 1: The American Revolution, 1763-1783, Part II Tues., Oct. 6: Exam 1 Thurs., Oct. 8: Tues., Oct. 13: Thurs., Oct. 15: Tues., Oct. 20: Thurs., Oct. 22: Tues., Oct. 27: The Revolution Within, Part I 179-210 The Revolution Within, Part II Founding a Nation, 1783-1789, Part I 211-240 Founding a Nation, 1783-1789, Part II Securing the Republic, 1790-1815, Part I 241-271 Securing the Republic, 1790-1815, Part II Thurs., Oct. 29: The Market Revolution, 1815-1840 272-302 6
Tues., Nov. 3: Democracy in America, 1815-1840, Part I 303-336 Exam 2 Study Guide Distributed Thurs., Nov. 5: Democracy in America, 1815-1840, Part II Tues., Nov. 10: Exam 2 Books for book review must be approved! Thurs., Nov. 12: Tues., Nov. 17: The Peculiar Institution, Part I 337-366 The Peculiar Institution, Part II Thurs., Nov. 19: An Age of Reform, 1820-1840, 367-396 BOOK REVIEWS DUE!! Tues., Nov. 24: Thurs., Nov. 26: Tues., Dec. 1: Thurs., Dec. 3: Tues., Dec. 8: A House Divided, 1840-1861, Part I 397-436 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY!! A House Divided, 1840-1861, Part II A New Birth of Freedom: The Civil War, 1861-1865, Part I 437-474 A New Birth of Freedom, The Civil War, 1861-1865, Part II Final Exam Study Guide Distributed Thurs., Dec. 10: What is Freedom? : Reconstruction, 1865-1877 475-509 Post-Test Thurs., Dec. 17: Final Exam: 5:00-7:00 p.m. 7