SYLLABUS: History 163

U.S. HISTORY, 1877 - 1975

 

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Jacqueline M. Moore

Spring 2006

Office Hours:M&F 12-1,  Tues.1-3pm, & by appt. 

My office is in: 121 Sherman Hall

Telephone Numbers:  

Office: 813-2262     (voice mail)         

                                                          

E-mail: jmoore@austincollege.edu

 

Required Texts

 

In Pursuit of Liberty, Wilson, James Gilbert et. al., 1990

 

Up From Slavery, Booker T. Washington, 1901

 

Cheap Amusements, Kathy Peiss, 1986

 

As Seen on TV, Karal Ann Marling, 1996

 

Course Contents

This course is an introduction to United States History from Reconstruction to Watergate. We will study political, social and economic trends relating to the emergence of the United States as a world power and an industrial nation. I expect students to participate actively. In addition to the two midterms and final exam, students will write two 3-5 page, typed, double-spaced book reviews on two of the three assigned books other than Pursuit of Liberty. They may choose which two books they will write on but are responsible for all readings for class discussion and for the exams. The final will concentrate mainly on the last third of the course, but will have one comprehensive essay.  If you do not complete any exam or major assignment I reserve the right to drop you from the course.  If you miss more than one third of the course you will automatically fail. In addition, since this is college not kindergarten, I expect all students to conduct themselves in a manner that does not disrupt the class.  I reserve the right to drop any student from the course who repeatedly disrupts class as a result of their behavior.  

 

Grade Distribution

Participation

15%

Midterm 1

15%

Midterm 2

20%

Book Analysis 1

15%

Book Analysis 2

15%

Final Exam

20%

 

 

 

 

If you do not attend you cannot participate and therefore will not receive credit toward your grade. Participation means more than just attendance, however. If you attend every class and pay attention the whole time (without falling asleep) but never say a word, take a quiz, or do a homework assignment, you will receive a grade of C- for your participation. If you are absent more than three times this grade will drop to a D+ or lower. In general, more than three absences may affect your grade.

 

            It is important, therefore, that you make an attempt to say something in class discussion, preferably something to do with the class. For that reason you might want to keep up with the reading assignments which will help you think of something to contribute. There are no dumb questions or answers, I'm not going to laugh at you if you get your facts wrong, and I will listen to every point of view with an open mind. I expect the same from all the members of the class.

 

            I assign all grades on an A-F letter basis, A being excellent, B being above average, C being average, D below average, and F being failure to complete assignment. I then weight each letter grade according to the grade distribution chart and compute the average grade for the semester. To get an A you will need to perform consistently with excellence on major assignments and tests as well as participate actively in class discussions. To get a B you will have to perform consistently above average etc. etc.

 

Late Assignments and Make-up Exams

 

            I will not accept late homework assignments without prior arrangement. The same applies to book analyses. In addition,  I will lower the analysis one grade for each day it is late unless you have a legitimate excuse. I will gladly accept early homework or book reviews and would be happy to discuss them with you.

 

            I only give makeup exams by prior arrangement except for extreme emergencies. If you miss an exam due to an emergency, it is YOUR responsibility to get in touch with me IMMEDIATELY, to discuss the possibility of making up the exam. I am more likely to agree to a makeup exam if you have been in touch with me since the day of the original exam. I have voice mail, email, and an answering machine so there's no excuse for saying that you couldn't reach me.

 

Academic Integrity

This course will operate under Austin College Academic Integrity Policies. Academic honesty is absolutely essential. This means I will not tolerate cheating of any kind. I find it personally insulting, because it implies that you think I am so stupid that I will never catch you. WRONG. Be warned: I take immense pleasure in tracking down dishonest students. We will follow strictly the guidelines printed in the student handbook. Please read these carefully. If you do not understand these rules I would be happy to discuss them with you so that you do not accidentally break them in your own work.

 

Oh yeah, and you can stop that yawning right now, sit up straight, brush your teeth and always cross the street at the crosswalk. And eat all your vegetables or no dessert. Got that?

 

COURSE GOALS

 

1. Students will learn a basic narrative of historical events in U.S. history from 1877 to 1975.

 

2. Students will learn to analyze causes and effects of historical events.

 

3. Students will learn to read historical sources critically.

 

4. Students will practice writing basic analytical essays.

 

 

EXPECTED STUDENT OUTCOMES

 

1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of basic events on two midterm and one final exam.

 

2. Students will demonstrate ability to determine cause and effects in examinations and in two analytical papers based on class readings.

 

3. Students will demonstrate ability to distinguish between fact and opinion in a comparative book analysis.

 

4. Students will demonstrate ability to pose an overall argument, with supporting evidence and examples on both examinations and in the 2 book analyses.

                                      LECTURES AND READING ASSIGNMENTS

                                               US History, 1877-1975     Spring 2006

*Pursuit means Pursuit of Liberty; *Slavery = Up From Slavery; *Cheap = Cheap Amusements; *TV = As Seen On TV. *Rec'd = Recommended Reading

           


DATE

READINGS

TOPIC

Jan.

30, MON.:

No Class

Look over syllabus

Feb

1, WED.:

START READING Slavery

Pursuit, 21-29

Opening, Civil War, African-American Experience

 

3, FRI.:

Pursuit, 46-62,           

              29-43

Presidential Reconstruction Congressional             Reconstruction, Redemption, Election of 1876

 

6, MON.:

Pursuit, 124-59

Wounded Knee, Native Americans, Westward Expansion, Transportation and Mining Revolution

 

8, WED.:

Pursuit, 97-107, 68-69

Industry and Big Business, populism and the Grange

 

10, FRI.

Pursuit, 69-77

Greenbacks, Free Silver, Populism

 

13, MON.::

Pursuit, 82-96,107-119

Haymarket, Immigration and Organized Labor

 

15, WED:

FINISH Slavery

Discussion of Up From Slavery

 

17, FRI

Pursuit, 164-97, Rec'd 262-72          

Lizzie Borden and Conspicuous Consumption, US Expansion

 

20, MON.:

Pursuit, 240-61, 272-76

Philippines, Spanish-American War, Dollar Diplomacy, Mission Diplomacy

 

22, WED.:

MIDTERM #1

 

24, FRI.:

Pursuit, 200-16, 220-26, START READING Cheap

Origins of Progressivism Social Reform: Prohibition, Jane Addams

 

27, MON.:           

Continue Cheap

Pursuit, 226-29,

PAPER OPTION #1 DUE

Social Reform:Working Conditions; Economic Reform: Theodore Roosevelt

Mar.

1, WED.:

Pursuit, 229-35

Election of 1912; Economic Reform: Woodrow Wilson; Political Reform: state and local

 

3, FRI.:

Pursuit, 223-24, 276-80,

Continue Cheap        

Women's Suffrage, African Americans, Decline of Progressivism, World War I

 

5, MON.:

Pursuit, 280-86

World War I

 

8, WED.:

Finish Cheap

Discussion of Cheap Amusements,

 

10, FRI.:

Pursuit, 290-320,

Lindbergh, 1920s culture

 

13, MON.:

Pursuit, 339-48

PAPER OPTION# 2 DUE

1920s culture and politics

15, WED.:

Pursuit, 348-52

Origins of Depression, Hoover's Response

 

SPRING BREAK STARTS AT NOON ON MARCH 17--NO CLASS FRIDAY

 

27, MON.:

Pursuit, 352-59

FDR and First New Deal

 

29, WED.:

Pursuit, 359-68

Challenges and Second New Deal

 

31, FRI.:

Pursuit, 372-408 BEGIN READING TV

Hiroshima and World War II

 

April

3, MON.:

MIDTERM # 2

 

 

5, WED.:

Pursuit, 409-412, Continue reading TV

Origins of the Cold War, Cold War Ideology

7, FRI.:

Pursuit, 412-18, 441-52

Korean War, McCarthyism, Truman, Society in 40s and 50s

 

10, MON.:

Pursuit, 452-56, Continue TV

"Disturbia", Beat Generation Eisenhower Foreign Policy

 

12, WED.:

FINISH TV

Discussion of As Seen On TV

 

14, FRI.:

Pursuit, 456-64

JFK, New Frontier, Camelot

 

 

17, MON.:

Pursuit, 422-40,

PAPER OPTION #3 DUE

Civil Rights Movement: Court Action to Direct Action, Montgomery and MLK

 

19, WED.:

NO CLASS

 

 

21, FRI

NO CLASS

 

 

24, MON.:

Pursuit, 458-60, 496-98

 

CRM: Direct Action--Sit-Ins Freedom Rides, Albany, Birmingham

 

26, WED.:

Pursuit            498-502

CRM: Civil Rights Act, Empowerment--Selma, Alternate Strategies

 

28, FRI.:.

Pursuit, 489-96

Guns, Butter, and LBJ's Great Society

 

1, MON.:

Pursuit, 468-88

Vietnam, Election of 1968

 

3, WED.:

Pursuit, 531-45,

Nixon and Watergate,

 Closing Remarks

 

May

8, MON.:

REVIEW DAY--NO CLASS

 

                                                                                   

            FINAL EXAM IS WEDNESDAY FROM 9-11am. THE FINAL EXAM WILL CONCENTRATE ON THE MATERIAL SINCE THE LAST MIDTERM, HOWEVER THERE WILL BE ONE COMPREHENSIVE ESSAY ON A BROAD TOPIC BASED ON ONE OF THE THEMES WE DISCUSSED ON THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS