HIST 2112: U.S. History Since 1865

Section 06

Pafford 204

M,W 7:00-8:15

Professor Keith S. Hébert

khebert@westga.edu

 

Course Objectives:

 

Required Course Textbooks:

 

Each of these books are available for purchase at the West Georgia Bookstore or through outlets such as Amazon.com, Powell’s Used Books, and Barnes and Noble. 

 

Taylor Branch. Parting the Waters: American in the King Years 1954-63

Stephen E. Ambrose.  Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne          from Normandy to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest

James Agee and Walker Evans.  Let Us Now Praise Famous Men.

W. E. B. DuBois.  The Souls of Black Folks.  (Penguin Classics Edition)

Wyn Craig Wade.  The Fiery Cross: The Ku Klux Klan in America. (2nd Edition: 1998)

 

Additional Readings:

 

Scopes Trial Website: http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/scopes.htm

            *Mencken’s Trial Account

            *Anti-Evolution Statute

            *John Scopes Reflects

Booker T. Washington

·        Atlanta Compromise Speech: http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/39/

The Historical Significance of Let Us Now Praise Famous Men

·        http://history.hanover.edu/hhr/hhr93_6.html

The Birth of a Nation: Film Review

·        http://www.filmsite.org/birt.html

The New Georgia Encyclopedia:           http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Home.jsp

            *Leo Frank

            *The Leo Frank Case

            *Stone Mountain

            *Martin Luther King

            *W.E.B. DuBois in Georgia

            *Lester Maddox

            *The Camilla Massacre

            *Tunis Campbell

            *Margaret Mitchell

            *Martha Berry

            *Allman Brothers Band

            *Little Richard

            *James Brown

            *Ray Charles

            *Great Depression

The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture

·        The Scopes Trial

·        Ryman Auditorium

·        Fisk University

·        Public Works Administration

·        Memphis Sanitation Strike

·        Memphis Race Riot of 1866

·        Ida B. Wells-Barnett

·        Lynching

·        Shape Note Singing Audio and Text

·        Great Depression

·        Elvis Presley

·        Ku Klux Klan

Encyclopedia of Chicago:  http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/

·        Race Riots

·        Haymarket and May Day

·        Hull House

·        Great Depression

African American Odyssey: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/aaohtml/exhibit/aopart5.html

·        Reconstruction Part One and Part Two

            (Pay attention to the images on this site and read the text)

(Additional reading materials may be assigned by the professor during the semester.  All of these materials will be available either on-line or through the library reserve desk)

 

Recommended but not required textbook(s):

 

Any general history textbook published in the past decade that details American history from 1865 to today.  Most libraries have copies of textbooks that could be checked out.  On-line used bookstores typically offer these books at affordable prices.  If you do not purchase a textbook try to locate a reliable on-line website that provides some background material to some of the items discussed in this course.

 

Course Grading:

 

Lecture Assignment                              50%

Unannounced Reading Quizzes             30%

Class Participation/Attendance  10%

Final Exam                                           10%

 

 

Course Assignments:

 

Lecture Assignment. 

 

Each student will research, write, and present a lecture on a topic assigned by the course professor.  Topic assignments will be distributed at random during the first day of class.  Each class lecture should be no more or no less than 15 minutes in length.  Students whose presentations exceed the allotted time limitation will be asked to stop their lecture and will receive a 10 point deduction.  It is important to practice your lectures beforehand in order to ensure their timeliness.  Lectures should include visuals such as projector overheads, maps, images, or any other items deemed appropriate by the presenter in order to best display their chosen topic.  When presenting a lecture be sure to dress appropriately.  While you are lecturing the class is in your hands and I expect you to act in a professional manner and dress accordingly.  Lectures will be scored according to their overall competency in regard to covering the assigned topic, the presenter’s presentation quality, and the overall preparation/effort that is put toward the assignment.

 

In addition to presenting a 15 minute lecture, each student will pass out before their lecture a handout or study guide that corresponds to the presentation.  The handouts should not exceed one page (front and back).  They should include a brief timeline of the topic discussed as well as some short biographical information of some of the key individuals covered in the lecture.

 

Each student will also complete a 10 page research paper on their assigned topic.  These papers are due April 26 at the beginning of class.  Papers should be double spaced, New Times Roman, 12 font, with one inch margins.  Each page should be numbered.  You should cite any materials you use during your research and writing either in a footnote or endnote format.  Papers will be graded for content, writing, and overall effort. 

 

Attendance Policy: 

            Students are expected to attend class.  Attendance will be taken at the beginning of class.  Those who are late to class will be marked tardy.  Each student will be allowed three unexcused absences for the semester.  After your third tardy you will be counted as absent from a day of class.  For each unexcused absence beyond three a student will lose 3 points from their final course grade.  Any student who misses more than eight classes without an adequate excuse will receive an automatic failing grade in the course.

            Excused absences will be accepted if they meet the following criteria:  If you are sick and absent from class you will need to prove your case by providing me a doctor’s excuse or prescription from the date you were absent.  If you had car trouble you will need to provide some documentation: tow bill, repair bill, etc. that your car was indeed inoperable.  If you have a death in the family you will need to bring an obituary or funeral announcement.  If you must miss class due to work you will need to also document why you will be absent in order to receive an excused absence. 

            While in class you will be expected to act in a manner that I deem appropriate to the behavior of a college student.  No cell phones.  Turn them off and I do not want to see you text-messaging during any of the classes.  If I see this I will ask you to leave class and count you absent for that day and give you a zero for any assignments completed on that day.  No reading the newspaper or sleeping while in class.  Those who do so will be asked to leave and will be counted absent and receive a zero for any assignments completed on that day.  If a student needs to leave class early you must speak with me before class.  Students who leave class early will be counted absent and receive a zero for any assignment completed on that day.  If you are leaving early please sit in the front of the class close to the door so that when you leave you will not disturb the class or the professor. 

            While in class I expect each student to take notes, engage in discussion, and ask questions that they may have.

 

Unannounced Reading Quizzes

            Pop quizzes will be given at random throughout the semester.  Whenever I feel that the class has not done the assigned reading or is unwilling to participate in discussion I will give a pop quiz.  Students can not make-up a pop quiz unless they have a university accepted excused absence.  These quizzes will be of varying format: short answer, multiple choice, short essay.  It is vital to be prepared for each class session.

 

Class Participation

            Students will be expected to engage in class discussions.  Following each presentation their will be a question and answer session during which I would like for students to ask that day’s presenter(s) some follow up questions about their lecture.  On some days I will divide the class into small groups and hold a discussion session.  Students must actively participate in these discussions in order to receive full credit.

 

Exams

            This course will have a final exam.  Each exam will cover assigned reading materials and lecture material covered by the professor and during the student presentations.  The exam will be a mixture of fill-in-the-blank, short answer, true or false, matching, and multiple choice questions.  The exam date will be announced in class. 

 

Academic Dishonesty: The professor assumes that all work completed in this course is the original work of each individual student.  Students suspected of committing acts of plagiarism will be turned into the academic affairs office.  Anyone who cheats or plagiarizes the work of others will receive a failing grade in this course.

 

Course Schedule:

            *the professor reserves the right to alter this schedule throughout the semester when deemed necessary

            *All assignments are due on the date specified

            *All reading assignments should be completed by the date specified

 

January 9- Course Introductions and Syllabus Discussion

January 11- A New Birth of Freedom? (Part One)

                        African American Odyssey: Reconstruction Part One and Two

                        The Fiery Cross, “The Shrouded Brotherhood”

                        TN Encyclopedia- Ku Klux Klan

January 16- Martin Luther King Day- Classes Canceled

January 18 –A New Birth of Freedom (Part Two)

                        TN Encyclopedia- Fisk University

                        GA Encyclopedia- W.E.B. DuBois in Georgia

                        The Fiery Cross, “We Are the Law Itself”

                        Souls of Black Folks “Of the Dawn of Freedom”

January 23- Class Discussion: Topic One: The Legacy of Emancipation

                        TN Encyclopedia- Lynching

                        TN Encyclopedia- Memphis Race Riot of 1866

                        Assignment: Find other examples of reconstruction era race riots and                             introduce them during class discussions.

                        Discussion Questions:

1)      In your opinion what were the three greatest achievements of the Civil War?

2)      In your opinion what were the three greatest achievements of Reconstruction?

3)      In your opinion what were the three greatest disappointments of Reconstruction?

4)      Was Reconstruction successful?

5)      Why did people join the K.K.K.? Who joined the K.K.K.?

6)       In your opinion what was the mindset of African Americans during this period?

7)      In your opinion why did people and crowds engage in lynching?

8)      In your opinion why did Freedmen not respond to violence with violence?

January 25-American Architecture: 1865-Current

            Frank Lloyd Wright     

January 30- American Industrialization: 1865-Current        

           

February 1- American Women: 1865-Current

·        Martha Berry

·        Ida B. Wells-Barnett

·        Margaret Mitchell

February 6- American Sports: 1865-Current

February 8- American Music: 1865-Current

            The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture

                        Shape Note Singing

            New Ga. Encyclopedia

                        Allman Brothers Band

                        Little Richard

                        James Brown

                        Ray Charles

            TN Encyclopedia

                        Elvis Presley

February 13- American Film Industry: 1865-Current

·              Margaret Mitchell

The Birth of a Nation: Film Review

·        http://www.filmsite.org/birt.html

February 15- VIDEO: Birth of a Nation

            The Birth of a Nation: Film Review

·        http://www.filmsite.org/birt.html

February 20- American Transportation Technology: 1865-Current

February 22- American Communication Technology: 1865-Current

February 27- NO CLASS- Work on your lecture and final paper.

 

March 1- Student Lectures-The Jazz Age and American Culture

            Harlem Renaissance, Leo Frank Murder, Atlanta Race Riots,                                                    The Russian Revolution 

Encyclopedia of Chicago:  http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/

·        Race Riots

·        Haymarket and May Day

·        Hull House

March 6- Student Lectures- The Great Depression

The Bonus Army, Tennessee Valley Authority, Dust Bowl Migration,     Civilian Conservation Corps

March 8- The Great Depression: VIDEO: To Render a Life

            The Historical Significance of Let Us Now Praise Famous Men

·        http://history.hanover.edu/hhr/hhr93_6.html

Encyclopedia of Chicago:  http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/

* The Great Depression

March 13- Let Us Now Praise Famous Men discussion

1)      Why were the people in this book so poor?

2)      Why was James Agee interested in telling their story?

3)      Does poverty such as this still exist?

4)      Are there ways to combat poverty?

5)      What did it mean to be poor during this period?

What is the meaning of the book’s title?

March 15- Student Lectures- Student Lectures- World War II

U.S. Homefront, Japanese Interment Camps, Liberation of Jewish Concentration Camps, Rosie the Riveter

March 20- Spring Break- Classes Canceled

March 22- Spring Break- Classes Canceled

March 27- Band of Brothers discussion

1)      Who fought WWII?

2)      Why did these men fight?

3)      What were some of the positive experiences of serving in the war?

4)      What were some of the negative experiences of serving in the war?

5)      How did these men view the enemy?          

March 29- Student Lectures: The American Civil Rights Movement

            Emmett Till, Montgomery Bus Boycott, Brown v. Board,                                                                      Stand at the Schoolhouse Door

 

 

 

April 3-Student Lectures: The American Civil Rights Movement

            Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Freedom Riders,              Medgar Evers Murder, Bombingham  

April 5-Student Lectures: The American Civil Rights Movement

            Civil Rights Act of 1964, Voting Rights March, Watts Riots,                                                      Martin Luther King Assassination

April 10-Parting the Waters Discussion         

April 12- Student Lectures- John F. Kennedy

            The Election and First Inaugural Address of JFK, Bay of Pigs Invasion,             Cuban Missile Crisis, The Kennedy Assassination

April 17- Student Lectures- The Age of Lyndon Johnson

            Moon Landing, 1962 Presidential Election, The Moynihan Report,                                                                                War on Poverty

April 19- Student Lectures- The Vietnam War and the Home Front

Tet Offensive (1968), My Lais Massacre (1968), Black Panther Party (1966-76), Anti-Vietnam Protest Movement

 

April 24-Student Lectures: Nixon

The Southern Strategy (1968), American Indian Movement                                                       (1968), Kent State Massacre, Watergate

April 26- Student Lectures: Carter and Beyond

Iran Hostage Crisis, Reagan Revolution, Iran Hostage Crisis,                                                     Jerry Falwell and the Moral Majority

            FINAL LECTURE PAPERS DUE

 

May 1-CLASS CANCELED

May 3-9-Final Exams