History A302
The American Revolution
James Haw Fall 2009
Office: CM 203; phone 481-6694; e-mail haw@ipfw.edu
Office Hours: MWF 9-9:50, 11-11:50, and by appointment
Course requirements for undergraduates (graduate requirements will be outlined on a separate sheet): Three examinations, each worth 2/9 of the course grade, a preliminary bibliography (1/9 of course grade), and a research paper, worth 2/9 of the course grade. Failure to complete any of these requirements will result in a grade of zero for the assignment in question, and in that event the course grade will be calculated on a numerical average of grades. Plus/minus grading will apply in determining the final course grade.
Research Paper: The research paper (8-12 pages typed double-spaced with one-inch margins) will investigate a topic from a list supplied by the instructor, or a comparable topic approved by the instructor. The paper must pose and answer an analytical question. Footnotes or endnotes and bibliography will follow the note (N) style of Kate Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 7th edition (available in bookstore or in library, ready reference desk, call no. LB 2369.T8); the reference list (RL) style or MLA style is not acceptable. Papers clearly deficient in footnote style will not be accepted. Papers will be graded on the basis of quality of research, factual and interpretive content, clarity of style and organization, and correctness of grammar, spelling, and punctuation. A complete preliminary bibliography is required. The paper will be written using five or six of the best sources identified by the bibliography.
Deadlines for paper: Sep. 9: topic selected and approved
Oct. 2: submit preliminary bibliography
Dec. 4: completed paper due in class. Late papers will be accepted through 12 noon on Dec. 11, but not after that. There will be a penalty of one letter grade for late papers.
Plagiarism and academic dishonesty: Any form of cheating on examinations or other class assignments is unacceptable. Cheating on an examination will result in a grade of zero for that examination, and in that event the course grade will be computed on a strict numerical average.
Plagiarism means copying someone else's words or ideas and presenting them as your own. Plagiarizing a paper, or part of a paper, from a website or any other source is a very serious form of academic misconduct, which may result in an automatic grade of F for the course--not just for the particular assignment. Some technical issues are explained on the attachment to this syllabus. The instructor assumes that all students know what constitutes plagiarism; "I didn't know that was plagiarism" or "I didn't intend to plagiarize" are not acceptable excuses. Your name on a paper certifies that the paper is your work in your own words, except where sources for particular passages or quotations are clearly and explicitly cited. You must consult with the instructor before the paper is submitted if you are not sure whether or not a particular passage in your paper might constitute plagiarism.
Required reading:
Norman K. Risjord, Jefferson's America, 1760-1815, 2nd ed.
Robert Brown, ed., Major Problems in the Era of the American Revolution, 2nd ed.
Robert A. Gross, The Minutemen and Their World
Course outline and assignments:
Aug. 26 Introduction; the colonies at mid-century and in the empire
28 The colonies in the empire, structure of British politics, George III (Risjord, prelude and ch. 1-2)
Sep. 2 Salutary neglect, rise of colonial assemblies (Brown, 47-59)
4 Colonial politics; secondary issues, 1759-1764 (Risjord, 71-77)
9 French & Indian War, Grenville program, Sugar Act (Risjord, 77-79; Brown, 76-77, 79-87)
11 Stamp Act Crisis (Risjord, 79-88; Brown, 99-105, 112, 119-23)
16 Quartering Act, Townshend program (Risjord, 89-93; Brown, 113-17)
18 Townshend Acts crisis (Risjord, 93-96; Brown, 128-36)
23 FIRST EXAMINATION
25 The Enlightenment: Locke and Montesquieu; English Commonwealth tradition
30 English Commonwealth tradition, Whig history, conspiracy against liberty
Oct. 2 Wilkes case, local issues, 1770-1773 (Risjord, 100-106)
7 Local issues, Tea Act (Risjord, 106-112)
9 Intolerable Acts, First Continental Congress (Risjord, 112-17; Brown, 140-46)
14 Concord's road to rebellion (Gross, prologue and ch. 1-4)
16 Protest to independence (Risjord, 119-28; Brown, 155-67, 170-72, 180-88; Gross, ch. 5)
21 Loyalists; War for Independence (Risjord, 128-34; Brown, 205-22, 229-33)
23 War for Independence (Risjord, 134-59)
28 War for Independence (Risjord, 159-65, 167-69; Brown, 262-75)
30 Diplomacy of Independence; Republicanism
Nov. 4 SECOND EXAMINATION (does not cover Republicanism from Oct. 30)
6 Republicanism, Articles of Confederation (Risjord, 193-96; Brown, 343-49)
11 State constitutions; Revolution and social change (Risjord, 171-79; Gross, ch. 6-7; Brown, 258-59, 260-61, 275-85)
13 Revolution and social change (Risjord, 179-92; Brown, 290-92, 296-305, 314-15, 20-25)
18 The 1780s: national issues (Risjord, 165-67, 196-207; Brown, 350-53)
20 The 1780s: national and state issues (Risjord, 207-11; Brown, 364-74)
Dec. 2 Rogues' Island, Shays' Rebellion (Risjord, 211-14; Brown, 357-58, 359-63)
4 Constitutional Convention (Risjord, 215-31; Brown, 395-428)
9 Ratification (Risjord, 231-37; Brown, 440-44, 447-54, 456-58)
11 Catch-up or reading day
THIRD EXAM Monday, Dec. 14, 10:30-12:30 (includes Republicanism from Oct. 30)