Professor Richard Weiner
Office: CM 205
Office Hours: TUES. & TH: 10:30-12:00 and by appointment
Office Phone: (260) 481-6692
E-Mail: weinerr@ipfw.edu
Spring Semester, 2008
HIST T325: History of the Americas
(Tues/Thurs 9:00-10:15, CM 212)
Course Description: This course traces the history of the Americas from the age of European colonization through the 19th century. The course is divided into three historical periods: (1) the age of conquest and colony; (2) the era of revolution and abolition; (3) and the period of 19th-century development. By comparing and contrasting history from different parts of the Americas, the course examines the extent to which developments in diverse regions and countries were the same. The class also considers factors that accounted for similarities and differences. Topics to be examined include European conquest and colonization, settler-Indian relations, religion, economy and international trade, slavery and labor systems, independence movements, nation building, citizenship, politics, abolition, immigration, foreign relations, and economic development. On a daily basis the class will combine lecture and discussion of the assigned readings.
Course Requirements: Attend class regularly; complete assigned readings on time; participate in class discussions of assigned readings; take 3 mid-term exams; take a comprehensive final exam; and write a research paper. Each exam is worth 20% of your final grade; the comprehensive final is worth 20% of your final grade. The paper is worth 20% of your class grade. Paper requirements will be discussed in class. Short study guides for the exams and final will be provided.
Exam make-up policy: There is no need to contact me if you are unable (for any reason) to take exam #1, exam #2, or exam #3 at the scheduled time. Just take the exam that you missed on the scheduled make-up date. The make-up date for all exams is 4/29. Make-ups will be administered in our classroom (CM 212) during class-time.
Paper requirements and due date: 12-page, typed (New Times Roman font size 12), double-spaced paper. Paper is on a topic of your choosing on the comparative history of the Americas. The paper is based on either secondary sources or a combination of primary and secondary sources. You must cite at least 15 scholarly works in your paper. Citations should follow Chicago Manual of Style format. Internet sources are NOT allowed (unless authorized by the instructor). A preliminary bibliography is due 3/18. The first draft is due 4/10 (the first draft will not be graded). The final draft is due 5/1. Late papers are marked down 1 letter grade.
Required Texts:
Felipe Fernández-Armesto, The Americas (Modern Library Paperback Edition, 2005).
Patricia Seed, Ceremonies of Possession (Cambridge U. Press, 1995) [available on-line].
Jorge Cañizares-Esguerra, Puritan Conquistadors (Stanford University Press, 2006).
Lester Langely, The Americas in the Age of Revolution (Yale Univ. Press, 1996).
Laird Bergad, The Comparative Histories of Slavery (Cambridge, 2007).
Camilla Townsend, Tale of Two Cities (Univ. of Texas Press, 2000).
Class Exam and Assigned Reading Schedule:
Section I-Colonial America
1/15: Class introduction
1/17: Fernández-Armesto, chaps. 1 & 7; Cañizares-Esguerra, chap. 6.
1/22: Fernández-Armesto, chaps. 2 & 3.
1/24: Seed, introduction, chaps. 1 & 2.
1/29: Seed, chaps. 3 & 4.
1/31: Library Session: Meet in Helmke Library
2/5: Seed, chap. 5 and conclusion; Bergad, chap. 2
2/7: Cañizares-Esguerra, chaps. 1 & 2
2/12: Cañizares-Esguerra, chap. 3
2/14: Cañizares-Esguerra, chaps. 4 & 5
2/19: EXAM # 1
Section II-Americas in the age of Revolution
2/21: Langley, Part 2; Fernández-Armesto, chap. 4
2/26: Langley, Part 1
2/28: Langley, Part 3
3/4: Langley, Part 4
3/6: Bergad, chaps. 3 & 4
3/18: Bergad, chaps. 5 & 6
3/20: Bergad, chaps. 7 & 8
3/25: EXAM # 2
Section III-19th Century Development
3/27: Fernández-Armesto, chap. 5
4/1: Townsend, Introduction
4/3: Townsend, Part 1
4/8: Townsend, Part 2
4/10: Townsend, Part 3
4/15: Townsend, Part 4
4/17: Townsend, Part 5
4/22: No assigned readings
4/24: EXAM # 3
4/29: make-up for exam #1, #2, or #3
5/1: prep for final (no scheduled class)
Final Exam: Tuesday, May 6, 8-10AM