United States History Since 1865

United States History, 1000 to 1877 History 133— Fall, 2010 Dr. Jeff Bremer

Lecture #133-007— 1:00-2:15 p.m. MW—Ferguson 472

Office: 356 Liberal Arts North Hours: M & W: 11-1; M, T, W, R: 2-3:30; Wed: 3:30-5:00. E-mail: bremerjr@ sfasu.edu Phone: office: 936-468-2452; cell phone: 936-371-11xx.

Course Description: This course is an introduction to American history that emphasizes both lecture and discussion formats to help you understand the United States from first native settlement to Reconstruction. We will focus on the century between the Revolution and the Reconstruction, surveying the history of the early United States and the creation of a diverse and pluralistic nation. I will help to teach you to “think like a historian,” as well as provide you with the necessary historical and cultural background to be an active and informed citizen. This course is a comprehensive survey of American history from early explorations through Reconstruction; meets Texas state requirements for all graduates.

Texts: America, A Narrative History (Brief 8th edition, 7th/6th OK), by Tindall & Shi. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. The Reshaping of Everyday Life, by Jack Larkin.

Course Grading: 70% Examinations: 2 Exams (20% & 25%, total: 45%). Final (25%). 20% One paper (about 3 pages/ 900-1,000 words). 10% Class discussion: (10%).

Grade Scale: 90-100% A Thorough understanding of all material with original, text-supported opinions; clear, organized & thoughtful writing; consistent participation. 80-90% B A good factual understanding of material; thorough preparation for discussion; ability to logically and clearly communicate ideas. 70-80% C Displays understanding of basic points of all material; presentation unclear or disorganized; sporadic classroom participation. 60-70% D Late or incomplete work; disorganized, poorly presented or unclear ideas; slight grasp of basic ideas; scant participation or numerous absences. 59%-0% F Late or incomplete assignments; unclear, inaccurate writing and communication; excessive absences; no participation in discussion.

Late/Absence Policy: No late papers or exams will be allowed without documentation of emergency (attach copy). All work must be completed within one week of absence (i.e., discussion, papers). There is no make-up work and little extra credit. You may come see me at any time for help, but silent students or slackers will not be allowed to try and make up months of discussion at the end of the semester.

1 Attendance & Participation: Class participation is a crucial part of your grade. You cannot get an ‘A’ without consistent participation. Attendance does not equal participation. (In other words, if you do not take part you will forfeit 10% of your grade.). I do not take roll during lecture, but will keep track of discussion attendance. Exams are based on lecture material and failure to attend class will usually result in a low grade. Do not assume that online sources will provide you with the required information.

Questions/SI/Powerpoint: My job is to teach you U.S. history and to help you learn to think critically about its complexities. I am happy to halt lecture or discussion to answer questions and I am genuinely interested in helping you to learn as much as you can. I cannot help you unless you take the initiative. If you have questions, need help or want to talk outside of class please contact me. If you need further assistance, please see the SI, Zack Wilkes, who has been assigned to this class. He will hold weekly review sessions for this course. A printout of the powerpoint slides is available, under ‘e-reserves’, at the main library web page (under ‘academics/research’ on main SFA page). Password: ‘his133’.

Papers & Midterms: The paper is due November 22 as shown on the schedule below. Instructions and essay questions will be handed out at least one week before the due date. There will be no exceptions to these due dates and I accept no excuses. The two exams are October 4 & November 8 and these will consist of three short-answers questions (half-page) and one two-page essay question. There will be a number of options to choose from and a study guide will be handed out in advance. The final exam is comprehensive, but focused on the last one-third of the course.

Plagiarism: Plagiarism, cheating, class disruption or other misconduct will not be tolerated. Any student caught in cheating or plagiarism will receive a zero for the course. Other violations, such as stealing an exam or downloading a paper from the internet (plagiarism), will be similarly punished. I will also report cheating to your dean as described in university policy A-9.1. Under this policy, students charged with more than one violation during their academic careers will be summoned before the University Committee on Academic Integrity. If the Committee validates the charges, it may place students on probation or suspend them. You may read the policy, including your right to appeal charges of dishonesty, at: http: //www.sfasu.edu/policies/academic_integrity.asp. (Also see other, more detailed policies listed below on page six.)

Expectations and Classroom Decorum: Students should show up on time, prepared to take notes, ask questions and take part in occasional class discussion. Do not expect me to provide you with information that you have chosen to miss if you do not come to class. If you need lecture notes, please ask a fellow student. If you need assistance, see Zack or myself. However, neither of us will re-teach the course for you, nor will I review the entire study guide with you. Assembling information is your job, not mine. Students should be respectful of their fellow class members, and, of course, their instructor. Turn off cell phones and I-Pods so that you do not disrupt the classroom. Please do not attempt text messaging, crosswords or sodoku puzzles or anything else that may interfere with another student’s education.

Withheld Grades (Semester Grades Policy, A-54) Ordinarily, at the discretion of the instructor of record and with the approval of the academic chair/director, a grade of WH will be assigned only if the student cannot complete the course work because of unavoidable circumstances. Students must complete the work within one calendar year from the end of the semester in

2 which they receive a WH, or the grade automatically becomes an F. If students register for the same course in future terms the WH will automatically become an F and will be counted as a repeated course for the purpose of computing the grade point average.

Students with Disabilities To obtain disability related accommodations, alternate formats and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS), Human Services Building, and Room 325, 468-3004 / 468-1004 (TDD) as early as possible in the semester. Once verified, ODS will notify the course instructor and outline the accommodation and/or auxiliary aids to be provided. Failure to request services in a timely manner may delay your accommodations. For additional information, go to http://www.sfasu.edu/disabilityservices/

Add/Drop: The last day to drop the course (and avoid a WP/WF) is October 27, 2010. After this date students will have to withdraw from the university. Students may drop a class up until the middle of the third week of normal semesters without a W on their transcript. Please see new university add/drop policies at: http:// www.sfasu.edu/registrar/registration/add_drop.asp

Schedule:

Week 1: Introduction/ Worlds Collide

August 30 & Sep 1: Introduction and lecture.

also: Chapter 1 in textbook

Week 2: American Colonies

Sept 8: lecture

also: Chapter 2 in textbook

Week 3: American Colonies

Sept 13 & 15: lecture

Also: chapter 3 in textbook

Week 4: Road to Revolution

Sept 20 & 22: lecture

also: chapter 5 in textbook

Week 5: The American Revolution

Sept 27 & 29: lecture

also: chapter 6 in textbook

3 Week 6: The 1780s—Crisis and Constitution

October 4: Exam # 1

October 6: lecture also: chapter 7 in textbook

Week 7: The Federalist Era, 1788-1800

October 11: lecture

Ocotber 13: discussion of Reshaping of Everyday Life, chapter 1 (pp. 1-47). also: chapter 8 in textbook

Week 8: The Age of Jefferson, 1800-1815

October 18 & 20: lecture

October 20: discussion of The Reshaping of Everyday Life, chapter 2 (all) & pp. 157-173.

Also: chapter 9 in textbook

Week 9: The War of 1812 & After

October 25 & 27: lecture

October 27: discussion of Reshaping of Everyday Life, chapter 3 (skip pp. 116-121) and pp. 191-203 & 281-295.

Also: chapter 10 in textbook.

Week 10: Slavery and the South

November 1 & 3: lecture

November 3: discussion of Frederick Douglass’ Narrative, chapters 1-11

Chapter 15 in textbook

Week 11: Slavery & Jackson

November 8: Exam #2

November 10: lecture also: chapter 11 in textbook

4 Week 12: Jackson & Antebellum Reform

November 15 & 17: lecture

also: chapter 13 in textbook

Week 13: The Road to Secession

November 22: lecture Paper Due: November 22

November 24-26: Thanksgiving Holiday

Also: chapter 16 in textbook

Week 14: The Civil War

November 29 & December 1: lecture

also: chapter 17 in textbook

Week 15: Civil War & Reconstruction

December 6 & 8: lecture

also: chapter 18 in textbook

Week 16: Final Exam—Wednesday December 15, 1-3 p.m.

Program Learning Outcomes: This is a general education core curriculum course and no specific program learning outcomes for this major are addressed in this course.

General Education Core Curriculum Objectives and Student Learning Outcomes: HIS 133 is part of the university’s Core Curriculum and as such strives towards both the general goals of the core and the specific objectives for social science classes set by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The Board has identified six skills, or “intellectual competencies,” as the foundation for all university-level work: reading, writing, listening, speaking, critical thinking and computer literacy. This section of HIS 133 offers students experience in all of these areas, except for speaking. In addition, this course will emphasize the Coordinating Board’s objectives for social science classes:

 Students will demonstrate an understanding of key developments in American political history from the colonial period to 1877, with emphasis on colonial government, the creation and ratification of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, the formation of the federal government and its relation with the states, and Texas independence and annexation.  Students will demonstrate an understanding of key developments in American economic history from the colonial period to 1877.  Students will demonstrate an understanding of key developments in American social history from the colonial period to 1877 with emphasis on immigration and social change, reform movements, race and ethnicity, family and gender roles, and religion and culture.

5  Students will demonstrate an understanding of American foreign policy from the colonial period to 1877.  Students will demonstrate an understanding of the methods historians use to gather and analyze evidence.  Students will be able to use the knowledge and skills gained in the course in the fulfillment of their responsibilities as active citizens in a democratic society.

Academic Integrity (A-9.1) Academic integrity is a responsibility of all university faculty and students. Faculty members promote academic integrity in multiple ways including instruction on the components of academic honesty, as well as abiding by university policy on penalties for cheating and plagiarism.

Definition of Academic Dishonesty Academic dishonesty includes both cheating & plagiarism. Cheating includes but is not limited to (1) using or attempting to use unauthorized materials to aid in achieving a better grade on a component of a class; (2) the falsification or invention of any information, including citations, on an assigned exercise; and/or (3) helping or attempting to help another in an act of cheating or plagiarism. Plagiarism is presenting the words or ideas of another person as if they were your own. Examples of plagiarism are (1) submitting an assignment as if it were one's own work when, in fact, it is at least partly the work of another; (2) submitting a work that has been purchased or otherwise obtained from an Internet source or another source; and (3) incorporating the words or ideas of an author into one's paper without giving the author due credit.

Please read the complete policy at http://www.sfasu.edu/policies/academic_integrity.asp