SYLLABUS: History 163

U.S. HISTORY, 1877 – 1975

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Jacqueline M. Moore

Fall 2008

Office Hours: MF 12-1pm, Tues. 1-3pm

My office is in: 121 Sherman Hall

Telephone Numbers:

Office: 813-2262 (voice mail)

Required Texts

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

We Pointed Them North, E.C. “Teddy Blue” Abbott, 1939

African Americans In the Jazz Age, Mark Robert Schneider, 2006

Missiles In Cuba, Mark White, 1997

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 analyses of 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.

Grading Policies

A – “Excellent” work significantly exceeds minimum specifications for the assignment. It has no factual errors and only minor grammatical errors. It engages the material, shows evidence of critical thinking, and has a strong overall thesis. There is clear and detailed evidence to support all points of the argument. All necessary citation is present.

B – “Above average” work exceeds minimum specifications for the assignment. There are only very minor factual errors if any and may be some grammatical errors. The paper shows insight into the topic and evidence of engagement with the material—i.e. evidence of critical thinking. It has a clear thesis; however one of the supporting points may be weak. All necessary citation is present.

C -- “Average” work is simply meets minimum specifications for an assignment and does not show any extra effort or insight. Such work may have lots of errors in grammar and some errors in fact but not enough errors to make the entire essay unreadable or invalid. There is either no overall argument or a weak thesis and only basic or weak evidence to back up the points (an example would be only using evidence from class discussion rather than looking for other examples in the assigned reading). Some citations are missing or inaccurate.

D -- “Below Average” or “Deficient” work does not meet minimum specifications for an assignment. It has substantial errors in fact and/or does not show evidence of having read the material on which it is based. It may only be tangentially related to the assignment or have such serious grammatical problems that it is not possible to understand what the paper is saying. There are few, if any citations.

F -- “Failing Work” does not meet minimum specifications; it does not address the assignment, shows violation of the academic integrity policy, or simply has so many factual errors as to be invalid. There are no citations.

Late Assignments and Make-up Exams

I will only accept late papers by prior arrangement (i.e. you need to tell me that you will turn it in late and you need to make an arrangement as to when and how you will turn it in). Generally I will lower paper grades one grade for each day it is late unless you have a legitimate excuse. I will gladly accept early papers and would be happy to discuss them with you. I will not accept late homework assignments.

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 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 Fall 2008

*Pursuit means Pursuit of Liberty; *Pointed = We Pointed Them North; *Jazz = African Americans in the Jazz Age; *Missiles =Missiles In Cuba. *Rec'd = Recommended Reading

DATE	READINGS	TOPIC
Sept.
3, WED. :	Rec’d: Pursuit, 21-29	Opening, Civil War, Presidential Reconstruction
5, FRI.:	START READING Pointed Pursuit, 29-43	African-American Experience Congressional Reconstruction
8, MON.:	Pursuit, 46-62, Continue Pointed	Redemption, Election of 1876 End of Reconstruction Westward Expansion
10, WED.:	Pursuit, 124-59	Wounded Knee, Native Americans, Transportation and Mining Revolution
12, FRI. :	Pursuit, 97-107, 68-69 Continue Pointed	Industry and Big Business, populism and the Grange
15, MON.:	Pursuit, 69-77 Continue Pointed	Greenbacks, Free Silver, Populism
17, WED. :	Pursuit, 82-96,107-119	Haymarket, Immigration and Organized Labor
19, FRI	FINISH Pointed	Discussion of We Pointed Them North
22, MON.:	Pursuit, 164-97, Rec'd 262-72	Lizzie Borden and Conspicuous Consumption, US Expansion
24 WED.:	Pursuit, 240-61, 272-76	Philippines, Spanish-American War, Dollar Diplomacy, Mission Diplomacy
26, FRI.:	MIDTERM #1
29, MON.:	Pursuit, 200-16, 220-26, START READING Jazz	Origins of Progressivism Social Reform: Prohibition, Jane Addams
Oct.
1, WED.:	Continue Jazz Pursuit, 226-29, PAPER OPTION #1 DUE	Social Reform:Working Conditions; Economic Reform: Theodore Roosevelt
3, FRI.:	Pursuit, 229-35	Election of 1912; Economic Reform: Woodrow Wilson; Political Reform: state and local
6, MON.:	Pursuit, 223-24, 276-80, Continue Jazz	Women's Suffrage, African Americans, Decline of Progressivism, World War I
8, WED.:	Pursuit, 280-86	World War I
FALL BREAK IS FRIDAY OCTOBER 10
13, MON.:	Pursuit, 290-320,	Lindbergh, 1920s culture
15, WED.:	Pursuit, 339-48	1920s culture and politics
17, FRI.:	Finish Jazz	Discussion of African Americans In the Jazz Age,
20, MON.:	Pursuit, 348-52	Origins of Depression, Hoover's Response
22, WED.:	Pursuit, 352-59	FDR and First New Deal
24, FRI.:	Pursuit, 359-68 PAPER OPTION# 2 DUE	Challenges and Second New Deal
27, MON.:	Pursuit, 372-408 BEGIN READING Missiles	Hiroshima and World War II
29, WED.:	MIDTERM # 2
31, FRI.:	Pursuit, 409-412, Continue Missiles	Origins of the Cold War, Cold War Ideology
November
3, MON.:	Pursuit, 412-18, 441-52 Continue Missiles	Korean War, McCarthyism, Truman, Society in 40s and 50s
5, WED.:	Pursuit, 452-56, Continue Missiles	"Disturbia", Beat Generation Eisenhower Foreign Policy
7, FRI	Pursuit, 456-64	JFK, New Frontier, Camelot
10, MON.:	FINISH Missiles	Discussion of Missiles In Cuba
12, WED.:	Pursuit, 422-40,	Civil Rights Movement: Court Action to Direct Action, Montgomery and MLK
17, MON.:	Pursuit, 458-60, 496-98 PAPER OPTION #3 DUE	CRM: Direct Action--Sit-Ins Freedom Rides, Albany, Birmingham
19, WED.:	Pursuit 498-502	CRM: Civil Rights Act, Empowerment--Selma, Alternate Strategies
24, MON.:.	Pursuit, 489-96	Guns, Butter, and LBJ's Great Society
THANKSGIVING BREAK STARTS AT NOON ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26
Dec.
1, MON.:	Pursuit, 468-88	Vietnam, Election of 1968
3, WED.:	Pursuit, 531-45,	Nixon and Watergate, Closing Remarks
8, MON.:	REVIEW DAY--NO CLASS

FINAL EXAM IS THURSDAY, DEC 11 FROM 3-5PM. 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