The Spanish Borderlands
Austin College
Fall 2004
History 329
Light T. Cummins
Office: Sherman Hall 124, 813-2359
lcummins@austincollege.edu
Course Requirements:
This course is a critical analysis
of the Spanish experience in those geographic areas of colonial Spain which
are now part of the United States. This course will examine the Hispanic
colonial history of
Required Texts:
The book by David J. Weber will serve as the textbook for the class. Reading assignments are noted for each of the examinations.
David J. Weber. The Hispanic
Frontier of
Examinations and Course Requirements
There will be three tests: two unit examinations and a final examination. As well, each student will engage in outside reading as noted below. Each student will also work through three exhibits dealing with the Borderlands in the Humanities Interactive site maintained by the Texas Humanities Resource Center.
Humanities Interactive Exercises - - 10%
1st Unit Examination - 30%
2nd Unit Examination - 30%
Final Examination - 30%
As well,
the instructor reserves the right to raise or lower the final course grade
according to class discussion and participation. No extra credit work will
be assigned.
Outside Reading
Students will read extensively in the historical literature from the library's general collection dealing with the Spanish Borderlands. Each undergraduate will be required to read a minimum total of 1500 pages during the semester from monographs or biographies dealing with the era. Graduates students must read a minimum of 2000 pages.
Use the bibliographies in the Weber book as your selection guide for titles. For purposes of rough approximation, this total reflects the estimate that each book read will be some 300 pages or so in length. Of course, should students choose some books which are longer or shorter, the number of books read will vary from individual to individual. Students will assemble their own reading list based on a personal bibliographic search which reflects their interests. Students have complete freedom of choice in selecting their reading. You may, for example, read books all centered on one topic, or vary them widely to reflect all aspects of the course. All books chosen must be valid works of recognized historical scholarship.
The instructor must approve the
reading list, which should be formally submitted by the end of the second
week of class. At that time, the student should submit a typed list which
includes author, title, date and place of publication, publisher, number
of pages, and Abell Library call number. It should be arranged alphabetically
by author. Students will be tested on their outside reading in the following
manner. One class period before each test, the student will turn in to the
instructor during class a blank blue book which will be returned at test
time. The exam will be taken in this blue book. On the inside front cover
of this blue book, the student should have listed by author and title all
of the books from their reading list which they have read during the period
of the course covered by the examination. The instructor will select one,
check it, and when the blue book is returned at test time, the student will
write a critical evaluation of that book. This will count 25% of the examination
grade. The critical evaluation, among other things, should address the following
points: What are the major points covered by the book? What is the major
theme or thesis advanced by the author? How does the book relate to other
material presented in the course? Does the book have any noticeable academic
prejudices regarding its subject? Is the author successful or not in achieving
his or her purposes? It is important that students pace their outside reading
in such a manner that approximately one third of it is done during each of
the three testing periods. For that reason, the instructor expects to see
listed at the time of each examination a total number of books reflecting
one-third of the total outside reading assignment.
Humanities Interactive Exercises
Each student will visit and examine thoroughly three online exhibits maintained by the Humanities Interactive project of the Texas Humanities Resource Center, a subdivision of the Texas Council for the Humanities. The Humanities Interactive Project makes available online for students especially created "museum-like" exhibits dealing with various aspects of the history and humanities of our cultural heritage. You will need a graphics intensive browser with Java capabilities in order to undertake this assignment. Such platforms are available in the Abell Library Center, along with many other locations on the Austin College campus.
In particular, students in this course will be visiting and writing papers on three exhibits. They are:
New Spain: The Frontiers of Faith
The Road North: Juan de Onate's Journey North
Invasion Yanqui: The U.S. Mexican War
Late Work
For the purposes of this course, all assignments have been made on the first day of class. Therefore, under no circumstances whatsoever will late work be accepted for course credit without penalty. Only students with verifiable excuses will be allowed to take make-up examinations. In the case of the final, no student will be permitted to take the exam at another time without the instructor's consultation with the mentor and registrar's office.
Incompletes
No incomplete
grades will be awarded in this course for any reason whatsoever, except in
those cases where the student has been rendered unable to continue in the
routine of attending college and is not completing work in their other classes
as well because of such situation. These cases will be coordinated through
the Dean's Office.
Attendance Policy
All students are
encouraged to keep several factors in mind: roll will be called every day
and an attendance record kept; missing class for any reason whatsoever will
be excused as each student is fully responsible for changes of schedule, assignment,
and all course content material noted each day whether or not they attended;
and the instructor reserves the right to make a subjective judgment in raising
or lowering a student's final course grade based upon class attendance and
participation.
Graduate Students
Those students taking this course for graduate credit are expected to
complete an additional research project of a substantial nature. These students
should consult with the instructor as soon as possible in order to discuss
individually this requirement.
Final Note
It is an important goal for this course that each student get the best
grade they are able to earn. For that reason, please bring to the immediate
attention of the instructor as soon as possible any matter, event, occurrence,
circumstance, or consideration which might have a direct or indirect impact
on your performance in the course. Please do not delay in mentioning such
matters even as a situation develops, since the instructor will assume no
problems are bearing upon your situation unless informed otherwise.
Class Schedule
Wed Sep 1 --
What are the Spanish Borderlands.
Fri Sep 3 – Spanish Borderlands Historical Literature
Mon Sep 6 -- The Spanish Background,
Pt 1
Wed Sep 8 -- Th
e Spanish Background, Pt 2
Fri Sep 10 -- First
Foundations in the
Mon Sep 13 –
La
Wed Sep 15 – Rivalry in the
Mon Sep 20 –
Fri Sep 24 --
Mon Sep 27 –
Wed Sep 29 --
Fri Oct 1 -- Test One. Weber, chaps. 1-5.
Mon Oct 4 – The
Wed Oct 6– La Luisiana
Fri Oct 8 -- The Origins
of
Week of October 11 to October 15th is Texas-Mexico Week. Classes will not meet at the normal times. Instead consult the attached sheet.
Mon Oct 18 – The Origins of
Wed Oct 20 – No Class
Fri Oct 22 --
The Mission Era
Mon Oct 25 -- Rivalry in the
Fri Oct 29 --
Provincias Internas, pt 1. H-2 Paper Due
Mon Nov 1 – Provincias Internas,
pt 2
Wed Nov 3 -- Test Two. Covers
Weber, Chaps 6-8.
Fri Nov 5 –Black Robes on the Northern Frontier
Mon Nov 8 – The Bourbon Reforms
Wed Nov 10 –
Fri Nov 12 –
Mon Nov 15 – Anglo-American Advances
into the Borderlands, pt 1
Wed Nov 17— Anglo-American Advances into the Borderlands, pt2
Mon Nov 22 -- The
Floridas and and the War of 1812, H-3 Paper Due
Wed Nov 24 – Final days of the Borderlands, pt 1
Fri Nov 26 – No Class. Thanksgiving
Mon Nov 29 -- The Final Days of the Borderlands, pt 2
Wed Dec 1 -- The War with Mexico
Fri Dec 3 --The Heritage of the Borderlands
Mon Dec 6 -- Review Day
Thur Dec 9 --
Final examination,
Weber, chaps. 8-12
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