History H105

U. S. History to 1877

James Haw Fall 2009

Office: CM 203; phone 481-6694; email Haw@ipfw.edu

Office hours: MWF 9-9:50, 11-11:50, and by appointment

Study Guide

Learning outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be better able to:

Identify and interpret major developments in U. S. history to 1877
Connect events and explain the relationship between them
Analyze information and arrange it into a coherent overview
Use skills such as reading for content and thesis, effective listening and note-taking, and clear writing, which are important for future learning and success
Assess source material and analyze its meaning

Assessment of learning outcomes (course requirements and grades):

Four examinations, each counting 20% of the course grade. No books, notes, or electronic devices may be used while taking examinations. Each examination will consist of:

– 25 multiple choice questions worth 2 points each. Multiple choice questions will be drawn from class lectures or from the reading questions and IDs on the study guide;

–one essay from a choice of two essay questions, worth 30 points. Essays will be drawn from the lecture topic questions on the study guide. Good essays will normally require 3-5 pages of blue book. A good essay should respond clearly and directly to the question; should display sound reasoning or interpretation; should support the major points with evidence or explanation; should be consistent with the facts available to you; and should answer the question as thoroughly as time permits.

Examinations will be graded on the following scale:

A 72-80 points (90-100%)

B 64-71 points (80-89%)

C 56-63 points (70-79%)

D 48-55 points (60-69%)

F 0-47 points (0-59%)

Examination makeups: Individual makeups for examinations will not be given. Instead, makeup examinations for all students who have missed any one of the first three examinations will be given in class on Nov. 23. There will be separate makeups for exams one, two, and three on that date. This policy assumes that no one will miss more than one of the first three examinations. Anyone who misses more than one examination can make up one on Nov. 23, but must furnish evidence that there were unavoidable reasons for ALL examinations missed in order to make up more than one. Any who misses one examination and the makeup must furnish evidence that both absences were unavoidable in order to make up that examination. It is the student’s responsibility, if more than one examination is missed, to request and justify the additional makeup.

Two quizzes on Thomas Paine, Common Sense, each count 10% of the course grade. Each quiz is worth 40 points, and will be graded on a scale of 36-40 for an A, 32-35 (B), 28-31 (C), 24-27 (D), 0-23 (F). These quizzes will be given in class on Sept. 25 and 28. Books may not be used when taking the quizzes, but notes that you made yourself may be used when taking quizzes as scheduled in class.

Makeups for quizzes will be given if, and only if, your absence from the quiz was unavoidable. Your notes may not be used when taking a makeup quiz. It is the student’s responsibility to request a makeup quiz if justified.

Plagiarism or academic dishonesty will result in a grade of zero for the assignment in question, and in such cases the course grade will be computed on a strict numerical average. University regulations require a course grade of F for unauthorized withdrawal. If a student stays in the course through the final examination but fails to complete one or more course requirements, grades of zero will be given for the uncompleted requirements and the course grade will be computed on a strict numerical average.

The examinations and quizzes total 400 points. Students should expect that the course grade will be determined on the following scale:

360-400 A or A-

320-359 B+, B, or B-

280-319 C+, C, or C-

240-279 D+, D, or D-

0-239 F

Plus and minus grading: A plus grade will be earned if at least two exam or quiz grades are above the final letter grade earned for the course and the point total is at least 352, 312, or 272. A minus grade will be earned if at least two exam or quiz grades are below the final letter grade earned for the course and the point total is 360-368, 320-328, 280-288, or 240-248.

Extra credit: There is no provision for extra credit in this course.

Attendance: Regular attendance is essential to success in this course. You will not lose points from your grade simply for being absent, but missed material will make it harder to do well on examinations. Ideas and information will be introduced in class that are not covered in assigned readings. Therefore, it is very important to catch up on what you missed if you have to be absent.

Required reading:

H. W. Brands et al., American Stories: A History of the United States, vol. 1

Thomas Paine, Common Sense, ed. Isaac Kramnick

One copy of each book is on two-hour reserve in the library.

Course outline and assignments:

Aug. 24 Introduction

26 Expansion of Europe (American Stories, 5-13, 15-27)

28 Virginia, 1607-1630 (American Stories, 33-41, 66-69)

31 Massachusetts, 1630-1640 (American Stories, 42-49, 63-66)

Sept. 2 The Restoration Empire (American Stories, 49-57, 75-77)

4 Massachusetts, 1640-1691, and the Glorious Revolution (American Stories, 77-83)

9 Origins of slavery (American Stories, 13-14, 70-75)

11 Studying for the first examination

14 Colonial politics, 1690-1760 (American Stories, 89-92, 104-107)

16 Enlightenment and Great Awakening (American Stories, 96-104)

18 FIRST EXAMINATION

21 Toward Revolution (American Stories, 107-115, 121-140)

23 Independence (American Stories, 140-149)

25 Common Sense (Paine, 25-37, 65-81; QUIZ on this assignment)

28 Common Sense (Paine, 81-100; QUIZ on this assignment)

30 Fruits of the Revolution (American Stories, 154-164)

Oct. 2 Confederation on Trial (American Stories, 165-175)

5 Ratification and Hamilton's program (American Stories, 175-179, 183-191)

7 Jefferson and political parties (no reading assignment)

9 Foreign affairs and political parties (American Stories, 191-207)

14 Foreign affairs and political parties

16 SECOND EXAMINATION

19 Origins of the War of 1812 (American Stories, 213-216, 227-235)

21 Continental expansion, Monroe Doctrine (American Stories, 220-222, 241-246, 258-259)

23 Republican ascendancy, 1800-1819 (American Stories, 216-220, 223-226, 256-257)

26 Economic change, 1800-1850 (American Stories, 246-253, 353-361)

28 Political realignment (American Stories, 254-256, 265-275)

30 Jacksonian democracy (American Stories, 275-287)

Nov. 2 Slavery and the antebellum South (American Stories, chapter 11)

4 Reform (American Stories, 317-319, 335-337)

6 Reform

9 THIRD EXAMINATON

11 The abolitionists (American Stories, 330-335)

13 Manifest destiny, Mexican War (American Stories, 343-353)

16 Toward civil war (American Stories, 367-377)

18 Toward civil war (American Stories, 377-380)

20 Secession (American Stories, 381-383, 390-397)

23 MAKEUP EXAMINATIONS

30 Civil War (American Stories, 397-413)

Dec. 2 Plans for Reconstruction (American Stories, 419-423)

4 Results of Reconstruction (American Stories, 423-440)

7 Results of Reconstruction

9, 11 Catch-up or reading days

FOURTH EXAMINATION at time stated in class schedule booklet