History 2111-United States History to 1865
Sandra Pollard, Instructor
Section 06, 10-10:50am, MWF, ANTH 7
University of West Georgia
Fall Semester 2010
Sandra L. Pollard
Office: Room 3208, History Department, 3d Floor, Technology Learning Center
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 9-9:50am, 1-3:00pm and by appointment
Office Phone: 678-839-6035
Email: spollard@westga.edu
Webpage: http://www.westga.edu/~spollard/
Course Description: This course will look at how the geographic area known as the United States emerged from an initial clash of cultures in the late-fifteenth century,
developed over time through various colonial empires and became an independent nation with its own unique social and political institutions. By analyzing the ways
in which American society and political culture developed, we will attempt to understand how the United States responded to both internal and external challenges
during the first decades of national existence. In order to encourage familiarity with a broad range of historical approaches, students will study aspects of social,
political, religious, economic, diplomatic, and military history.
Purpose: In addition to acquiring the basic information described above, students will learn basic principles of historical interpretation, including how to analyze
primary and secondary sources. More importantly, though, students will learn how to relate the past to their lives today. This course will encourage critical academic
skills necessary in a university setting including reading, thinking, listening and responsive writing. Students will learn to develop ideas based on historical evidence,
and will gain experience in communicating those ideas effectively.
Attendance: Students who want to succeed will come to class. It’s that simple. Since this is mainly a lecture-based class, you will need to hear the lectures in order to do well on the exams.
Electronic Devices: As a courtesy to your fellow students, please silence ALL electronic devices when entering class. If an electronic device goes off during an exam, you will turn in your exam immediately and leave. No exceptions! If you need to take notes on a lap top, it is permissible to bring those to class. The only exception, however, is exam day-No lap tops during exams!!
Academic Honesty: No form of cheating will be tolerated. Students caught cheating will receive an F for the assignment and possible failure for the course. Don’t do it!!!
Grades and Examinations: There will be three exams in this course.
Exam I- 25%
Exam II -25%
Exam III (final) - 30%
Primary document reaction papers- 10% (You will occasionally be asked to write a short reaction paper, 1-2 paragraphs, about any of the primary sources assigned for the week. Further instructions and assignment dates will be found on my website.)
Formal Response Paper- 10% -Students will write a formal response paper (3 pages) to the Harriet Jacobs slave narrative. Further directions will be given later in the semester.
Exams and final course grades will be on a ten point scale: 100-90% A; 89-80% B; 79-70% C; 69-60 D; 59-0% F. All exams are objective and will require a form, available at the book store and various venues on campus. This class will be using the NCS exam form # 229633 (the larger form). Make sure you have the correct form! You’ll need 3forms for the semester. Note: I will be using CourseDen to display grades, and grades will be posted the day of the exam or at the latest, the following day.
Required Reading: There are three books for this course.
· Henretta, Brody; America-A Concise History Vol. I : to 1877, Fourth Edition
(ISBN: 978-0-312-53853-8)
· Melvin Yazawa, Editor, Documents to Accompany America’s History Sixth Edition, Vol. I: To 1877
(ISBN: 978-0-312-45442-5)
· Harriet Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (Bedford/St. Martins)
(ISBN: 978-0-312-44266-8)
The textbook (America- A Concise History) will be used as a general guide for learning. You will be responsible for the assigned information in the text, so keep up with the readings for each week. The document reader (Documents to Accompany America’s History) is a collection of primary source documents which support the textbook. You will be responsible for various readings each week from this source. The other book (Harriet Jacobs) is a memoir/autobiography and will provide you with a more in-depth understanding of some of the issues we will cover. Also, you will need to familiarize yourself with the textbook website, as it will offer valuable study guidance.
Textbook Website: http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/henrettaconcise
Weekly Assignments: Reading assignments will be posted on the instructor’s webpage, beginning the first day of class and updated as necessary thereafter. Note: This schedule is tentative!!
Week 1- August 13 Introduction to the Course
Week 2- August 16-20 “The Emergence of an Atlantic World” Reading assignment: Text- pp 6-top of 28; Document Reader-pp 8-13.
Week 3- August 23-27 “The Invasion and Settlement of North America”
Week 4- August 30- September 3 “Creating a British Empire in America”
Week 5- No Class on Monday, Sept. 6 (Labor Day Holiday) September 8-10 “Growth and Crisis in Colonial Society”
Week 6- Wednesday, Sept. 15: Exam #1 September 13-17 “Towards Independence: Years of Decision”
Week 7- September 20-24 “Making War and Republican Governments”
Week 8- September 27- October 1 “Politics and Society in the New Republic”
Week 9- October 4-8 “Creating a Republican Culture”
Week 10- October 11-13 “Economic Transformation” No Class on Friday, October 15 (Fall Holiday)
Week 11- Wednesday, October 20: Exam #2 October 18-22 “A Democratic Revolution”
Week 12- October 25-29 “Religion and Reform”
Week 13- November 1-5 “The South Expands: Slavery and Society”
Week 14 -November 8-12 Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl ( Formal Response Paper to “Incidents…” due on Friday, November 12)
Week 15- November 15-19 “The Crisis of the Union”
Week 16- November 23 No Class November 24-26 (Thanksgiving Holiday) “Two Societies at War”
Week 17- November 29-December 3. “Two Societies at War” …continued. Last day of class is Friday, Dec. 3
Final Exam: Wednesday, December 8, 2010 8-10am in ANTH 7. (Final Exam is NOT cumulative.)