HISTORY 364: The Gilded Age and Progressive
Era
SYLLABUS
Click
here to go directly to reading assignments
Jacqueline
Moore
Fall
2005
Office
Hours:M&
F
My
Office is in 121
Telephone
Numbers: Office: 813-2262
Home (972)547-6812 (not between
(voice mail)
11pm and 8am)
E-Mail:jmoore@austincollege.edu
Required
Texts
The
Souls of Black
Folk,
W.E.B. Du Bois, 1903.
Richard
Hofstadter,
The Age of Reform, 1955.
Kathy
Peiss, Cheap
Amusements, 1986.
Occasional
reserve
readings
Course
Contents
This
course will examine historical views and interpretations of events in
American
history from 1877 to 1919. We will look at social, political, economic,
cultural and diplomatic trends to formulate a narrative providing
insight into
the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. We will examine the origins and
nature of
turn-of-the-century reform movements and Americans' reactions to
industrialization. I expect students to take the midterm and final
exams and to
participate actively in class discussions. In addition students will
complete
two 3-5 page analyses of major issues surrounding the Populist and
Progressive
movements and strategies of reform. Students will choose one approved
topic on
which to write a major 10-15 page, fully cited, properly formatted,
research paper.
The final will concentrate on the second half of the course but will
include
one comprehensive essay.
Since
there is no main textbook for the course, the students should treat the
lectures like a textbook, and the readings as ways to deepen their
understanding
of particular experiences. The course follows a topical sequence that
is only
roughly chronological, the reasons for which I will explain in class. Should you have any difficulties
following class material, please do not hesitate to come and talk to me
for
clarification. Above all the class
will show how different interpretations of the same facts can lead to
quite
different conclusions.
Grade
Distribution
Participation
20%
Issue
Analyses
10% each
Bibliography
5%
Research
Paper
20%
Midterm
15%
Final
20%
Students
taking
this course for graduate credit should see me for alternate assignments
and
grade distribution.
Failure
to complete any major assignment may result in my dropping you from the
course. If you miss more than one
third of the course you will automatically fail.
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, 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 also expect you to treat each other with the utmost respect.
I
give letter grades for all parts of the course, weight them according
to the
grade distribution above, and then average your grade for the semester. A means excellent, B means above
average, C means average, D means below average, F means failure to
complete
the assigned work. To get an A you
will need to consistently perform with excellence on all major
assignments and
exams as well as participate actively in class discussion.
To get a B you will have to consistently
perform above average etc. etc.
Late
Assignments and Make-up Exams
I
will not accept late assignments without prior arrangement. I will
lower all
late assignments one grade each day unless you have a legitimate
excuse. I will
gladly accept early assignments 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 you can't
say 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 the guidelines printed
in the
student handbook. Please read these carefully. If you do not understand
these rules
I can discuss them with you so that you do not accidentally break them
in your
own work.
COURSE GOALS
1. Students will learn a
detailed
narrative of historical events in
2. Students will learn to
evaluate and distinguish
primary and secondary sources.
3. Students will practice
critical
analysis of primary and secondary sources.
4. Students will practice
historical
research skills.
5. Students will refine skills
in writing
historical analysis.
EXPECTED
STUDENT OUTCOMES
1. Students will demonstrate a
detailed
knowledge of events on one midterm and one final exam.
2. Students will demonstrate
ability to
distinguish and evaluate primary and secondary sources in selecting
sources for
a research paper, and in discussing readings.
3. Students will demonstrate
ability to
critically analyze secondary sources both in exams and in 2 critical
book
analyses.
4. Students will demonstrate
research
skills in writing a major
research paper.
5. Students will demonstrate
analytic
writing skills in 2 book analyses and research paper, as well as on the
exams.
COURSE
OUTLINE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS: Fall 2005
All
assignments are
due on the day they are listed in the syllabus
|
DATE |
ASSIGNMENT |
TOPIC |
|
Aug. |
||
|
WED.31: |
No
readings |
Opening
remarks: The Context of Reform |
|
Sept. |
||
|
FRI.
2: |
Start
Goodwyn and Richard
Hofstadter Age of Reform, 23-81 |
Agrarian
Problems: Monopolies |
|
MON.
5: |
" "
|
Agrarian
Problems: Tariffs |
|
WED.
7: |
" " |
Grangers
and Greenbacks |
|
FRI.
9: |
" "
|
Populism:
|
|
MON.
12: |
" "
|
Populism:
Alternative Versions |
|
WED.
14: |
Finish
Goodwyn |
DISCUSSION:
Populist Moment |
|
FRI.
16: |
Finish
Richard Hofstadter, Age of Reform, 23-81 |
DISCUSSION:
Age of Reform, |
|
MON.
19: |
ISSUE
PAPER 1 DUE |
Industrialization |
|
WED.
21: |
Begin
Du Bois
|
Urbanization |
|
FRI.
23: |
Reserve
|
Labor
and Unions Discussion of readings |
|
MON.
26: |
Continue
Du Bois |
Immigration,
East and West |
|
WED.
28: |
" " |
Nativism,
Native Americans |
|
FRI.
30: |
" " |
Jim
Crow |
|
Oct. |
||
|
MON.
3: |
Continue
Du Bois |
Black
Community Building, BTW and Du Bois |
|
WED.
5: |
On
Reserve: Taking Sides, BTW
vs. Du Bois, 142-63 (includes
Chapter 3 of Du Bois) and
six page handout |
Gradualists
vs. Radicals |
|
FALL
BREAK BEGINS ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6 AT |
||
|
MON.
10: |
FINISH
Du Bois |
DISCUSSION:
Souls of Black Folk |
|
WED.
12: |
ISSUE
PAPER # 2 DUE |
Alternate
Methods of Racial Uplift |
|
FRI.
14: |
MIDTERM
# 1 |
|
|
MON.
17: |
Handout:
Joseph A. Fry, "Phases
of Empire," 261-83; Start Peiss |
Spanish
American War American Imperialism |
|
WED.
19: |
Continue
Peiss |
Big
Stick, Dollar, and |
|
FRI.
21: |
" " |
Middle-Class
White Women: Settlement Houses |
|
MON.
24: |
Continue
Peiss |
Middle-Class
White Men: Mugwumps and Civil Service Reform |
|
WED.
26: |
BIBLIOGRAPHY
DUE Continue Peiss |
Working
Conditions |
|
FRI.
28: |
Finish
Peiss |
DISCUSSION:
Cheap Amusements |
|
MON.
31: |
Begin
rest of Hofstadter |
Prohibition
and Consumer Reforms |
|
Nov. |
||
|
WED.
2: |
Continue
Hofstadter |
City
Machines and Municipal Reforms |
|
FRI.
4: |
" "
|
State
and National Government Reform |
|
MON.
7: |
" " |
Woman
Suffrage and Conservation |
|
WED.
9: |
http://academic.bowdoin.edu/WritingGuides/ read
sidebar entries on “Research Papers” “The
Thesis” “Presenting Primary Sources in Your Paper pdf” |
Doing
Research |
|
FRI.
11: |
Continue
Hofstadter |
TR
and Trusts |
|
MON.
14: |
" " |
TR
and Taft, Regulation vs. Trustbusting |
|
WED.
16: |
" " |
Election
of 1912 |
|
FRI.
18: |
" " |
|
|
MON.
21: |
Finish
Hofstadter |
DISCUSSION:
Age of Reform |
|
WED.
23: |
RESEARCH
PAPERS DUE No |
World
War I abroad |
|
THANKSGIVING
BREAK STARTS AT |
||
|
MON.
28: |
No |
World
War I at home |
|
WED.
30: |
No |
Death
of Reform? Research
reports |
|
May |
||
|
FRI.
2: |
Research
Reports |
Research
Reports |
|
MON.
5: |
REVIEW
DAY--NO CLASS |
|
FINAL EXAM IS ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER
9, FROM
THE
FINAL WILL
CONCENTRATE ON THE LAST HALF OF THE COURSE BUT WILL HAVE ONE
COMPREHENSIVE
ESSAY