View source for Spring 2008 HIST 131 Class Syllabus


'''HIST 131<br>
US HISTORY TO 1865<br>
Spring 2008<br>
MWF, 10-10:50<br>

Jeffrey McClurken<br>					
Office:  Monroe 209F<br>
Office Hours:  MWF, 9-10; TR, 1:30-2:30, or by appt.	<br>
'''
'''Course Description'''
This course examines American history through the Civil War Era.  While the class will discuss the political and economic aspects of American development during this time, a strong attempt will be made to also examine the daily lives of ordinary people, the social history of America.

'''Course Requirements'''
Students are expected to attend all lectures, read all assigned texts, participate in class, write a short paper (3-4 pages) (with 1 inch margins, 12 pt. font and double spacing), and take an essay-based midterm and final examination.  Papers are collected at the start of class on the day they are due.  Papers are considered late if turned in anytime after they have been collected.  Late papers will be penalized one full letter grade or, after 24 hours, not accepted.  

'''Discussions'''
Students are expected to attend all weekly class discussions having read the material and having prepared 2-3 questions, comments, or topic suggestions for class debates.  The questions or comments should be posted on the appropriate week of the class wiki (http://mcclurken.umwhistory.org/wiki/index.php?title=Spring_2008_HIST_131_Primary_Source_Reading_Discussion) with your name at least two hours before class on discussion days (by 8 AM on Fridays).  Questions and comments should be aimed at provoking class discussions on the reading, and should focus on the primary sources (such as the readings in Johnson, Calloway, Douglass).  [Comments on the reading might include (but are not limited to) parallels, problems, factual questions, reminders of past readings, and relevant connections to ideas from other classes or from your own life.]  Weekly discussions will take place on Fridays unless otherwise indicated.  [Since these are intended to help prepare you and me for class discussion, late postings will not count.]  Class participation includes completion of these questions and actively participating in class discussions.  

'''Final Grades'''
Final grades will be determined based on class participation (25%), performance on the paper (25%) and on the midterm and final exams (25% each).  [Unsatisfactory mid-semester reports will be reported for anyone with a grade of D or below at that time.]

'''Texts'''
Roark, et al., ''The American Promise'', Vol. 1, Compact Third Edition. 
Johnson, ''Reading the American Past'', Vol. 1, Third Edition.
Calloway, ''The World Turned Upside Down''.
Douglass, ''Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass''.
Countryman, ed., ''How did American Slavery Begin?''


'''Accommodations'''
If you receive assistance through the Office of Disability Services and require accommodations for this class, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss your approved accommodation needs.  Bring your accommodation letter with you to the appointment.  I will hold any information you share with me in the strictest confidence unless you give me permission to do otherwise.  If you need accommodations, (note taking assistance, extended time for tests, etc.), please consult with the Office of Disability Services (x1266) about the appropriate documentation of a disability.

'''Honor Code'''
I believe in the Honor Code as an essential, positive component of the Mary Washington experience.  You should know that if you cheat or plagiarize in this class, you will almost certainly fail, and I will take you to the Honor Council, so do not do it.  On the other hand, I also believe that having friends or family read and comment on your writing can be extremely helpful and falls within the bounds of the Honor Code (assuming the writing itself remains yours).  If you have questions about these issues, then you should talk to me sooner rather than later.

'''Paper Assignment''' 
Topic:  Use one of these pairs of documents from Reading the American Past as the basis for your papers:
Choice 1:  “Suffolk County Court Records, 1671–1673” (p. 68-71) and “Testimony from Virginia Court Records, 1681” (p. 48-50)
OR
Choice 2:  “John Dane's Memoir, c. 1670” (p. 60-62) and “Nathaniel Bacon, Declaration, 1676” (p. 51-53)

Papers are due '''Friday, February 8''', at the beginning of class 

Carefully read the two documents.  In your paper, compare and contrast the different societies and cultures revealed by the passages.  You may want to consider—although do not limit yourself to—common themes of race relations, gender roles and expectations, the importance of religion, geography, and economic life.  The larger goal is to explore what primary sources can teach us about the world(s) that produce them.  Be sure to indicate your impression of the reliability and possible biases of the passages.  (How trustworthy are these sources?  What shapes their perspectives?)
	Make sure to follow the rules for formatting your paper:  3-4 pages in length, with 1 inch margins, 12 pt. font and double spacing.  The Honor Pledge and your name should be on the cover/title page (and only on that page).
Papers will be graded on content (including originality and evidence), grammar, and proper formatting (including parenthetical page references for all quotes from the documents). 

 

== Class Schedule and Reading Assignments ==

Week 1 – beginning January 14
— Introduction
— America before Columbus
	— Discussion of reading
—	Roark, Ch. 1; Johnson, Ch. 1; Calloway, p.22-32

Week 2 – beginning January 21 
— Europe and America, 1492-1600
— Jamestown, Virginia, and the founding of the Chesapeake
 	— Discussion of reading
—	Roark, p.27-57; Johnson, p.12-48; Calloway, p.32-42

Week 3 – beginning January 28
— Religion and the founding of New England
— Mid-Atlantic Colonies 
	— Discussion of reading
—	Roark, p.77-84, 92-95; Johnson, Chapter 4

Week 4 – beginning February 4
— From Servitude to Slavery
— The Coastal South: Transplanted Colonies
—	NO CLASS WEDNESDAY, FEB. 6
 	— Discussion of reading
—	Roark, p.58-72; Johnson, p.48-54; Countryman, p.17-63, 99-145
'''Papers are due Friday, February 8, at the beginning of class''' 

Week 5 – beginning February 11
— American Colonial Societies
— The British Empire and the Anglicization of the Colonies
— Discussion of reading
		— Roark, p.85-92, 95-128; Johnson, Ch. 5; Calloway, p.43-114

Week 6 – beginning February 18
— The Road to Revolution
— Revolutionary War:  The 1st American Civil War?
— Discussion of reading
		— Roark, Ch. 6 & 7; Johnson, Ch.6 & 7; Calloway, p.115-169

Week 7 – beginning February 25
— Monday 	— Overflow lecture (as needed) 
— Bring any questions you have about the midterm
— MIDTERM EXAM –Wednesday, February 27
	— Bring blue books for test
— Forming a Republic, Part I
— No Reading this Week 

SPRING BREAK!

Week 8 – beginning March 10
— Forming a Republic, Part II
— A New Nation
— Discussion of reading
		  —Roark, Ch. 8 & 9; Johnson, Ch. 8 & 9

Week 9 – beginning March 17
— The Indians’ New World 
— Thomas Jefferson and Slavery
	— Discussion of reading
		— Roark, Ch. 10; Johnson, p.182-196, 208-213, 240-244; Calloway, p.170-183

Week 10 – beginning March 24
— America Grows: The North and West
— America Grows: Railroads, Factories and Markets
	— Discussion of reading
		— Roark, p.260-267, 286-291, 299-307; Johnson, p.201-204, 221-230, 234-238

Week 11 – beginning March 31
— America Grows: The South and Slavery, Part 1
— America Grows: The South and Slavery, Part 2
	— Discussion of reading
		— Roark, Ch. 13; Johnson, p.244-259

Week 12 – beginning April 7
— Jacksonian Politics & Culture
— Daily Life in America: 1st half of the 19th Century
— Reform, Religion, and Abolition
—	NO CLASS FRIDAY, APRIL 11 
	— Discussion of reading only on the wiki
		— Roark, p.268-281,307-311; Johnson, p.196-200,204-208, 213-219; Douglass, ALL

Week 13 – beginning April 14
— National Growing Pains:  The Problem of Manifest Destiny
— The Civil War: Soldiers
	— Discussion of reading
		— Roark, p.292-299, Ch. 14; Johnson, p. 230-234, Ch. 14

Week 14 – beginning April 21
— The Civil War: Civilians 
— An Unfinished 2nd American Revolution?:  The Legacy of the Civil War & Reconstruction
	— Discussion of reading
—	Roark, Ch. 15 & 16; Johnson, Ch. 15 & 16