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FALL
2003
HISTORY 217 -U.S.
HISTORY TO 1877
Professor: Dr.
Donald E. Wilson, DBH 114, 726-2005
Office Hours: Monday
& Wednesday, 3:00-4:00 p.m., Tuesday & Thursday,
2:00-4:00 p.m.
Other times can be arranged
This course is an historical survey of United States history to 1877. The course is designed to help you understand the essentials of U.S. history and be able to interpret, organize, and communicate your knowledge in written form.
TEXTS:
John R. M. Wilson, Forging
the American Character, Vol. I
David W. Blight, Narrative
of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Michael Shaara, The
Killer Angels
Marsha C. Markman, et. al.
The
American Journey, Vol. I
In order to understand the continuity of history and the cause and effect relationships of one period to another, it is essential that students attend class. Students are held responsible for the material presented in every lecture along with the reading assignments.
ATTENDANCE POLICIES (EXAMS):
Exams are crucial to the course and students are expected to make every effort to complete them as scheduled. A student will be excused from a scheduled exam only in the most unusual circumstances and only with a written excuse. Examples of acceptable excuses would be
(1) illness requiring a doctor or nurse's attention. The nature of the medical problem must be included in the excuse and a recommendation that the student not go to class. A simple note from a nurse or doctor indicating that the student visited the clinic or office is not acceptable.
(2) approved school functions with an excuse request from the Student Records office; (3) a death in the immediate family, with a note from the parent or guardian. Examples of unacceptable excuses are: oversleeping, forgetting to come to class, forgetting the exam, car trouble, traffic problems, fear, nervousness, broken romances, etc.
MAKE-UP POLICIES (EXAMS):Students missing an exam with an acceptable excuse will be permitted to make-up the missed exam during the last week of the course. Students missing an exam without an acceptable excuse will receive an automatic "F" on the exam missed and will receive a numerical score no higher than a 50% or 10 points below the lowest score in the class, whichever is lower.
QUIZZES: Short daily quizzes will be given on some assignments as announced. These quizzes will be given during the first 10 minutes of a class session. Students will be permitted to drop the two lowest quiz grades at the end of the semester. Make-ups will not be given for missed quizzes.
EXAMS: Exams will assess writing skills as well as course content. Approximately 50% of exams content will follow an essay format.
FINAL GRADE: The final grade will be derived from examinations, quiz grades and term project. It will consist of 1300 points as follows:
| Exam #1 | 300 points | Sep. 25 |
| Exam #2 | 300 points | Oct. 23 |
Final E xam |
300 points | Dec. 11 |
| Exams on "Blight" and "Shaara Books" | 200 points | As Scheduled |
| Quizzes | 300 points | As Scheduled |
| Term Project: Slavery (Paper & group discussion) | 200 points | As Scheduled
Paper due - Nov. 6 |
| TOTAL | 1600 points |
LESSON ASSIGNMENTS
|
DATE |
SUBJECT |
ASSIGNMENTS |
| Aug. 26-Sep. 4 | I. The Beginnings
Background of Settlers Environment in New World Characteristics of Settlements Struggle for Survival Early America: Foundation for the Future |
Am.
Character, Chapters 1, 3, 4, & 6
Am. Journey, Part I |
| Sep. 9-18 | II. The American
Revolution
Why the Revolution? Revolution: England's Vietnam? "Common Sense"; Fact, Propaganda, or Both? Culture of Revolutionary America (Movies and discussion) |
Am.
Character, Chapter 5-6
Am. Character, Part II |
| Sep. 23 | III. Articles of Confederation | Am.
Character, Chapter 8
Am. Character, Part III |
| Sep. 25 | Exam #1 | |
| Sep. 30 - Oct. 2 | IV. Constitution and New Nation | Am. Character, Chapter 8, 9, & 10 |
| Oct. 23 | Exam #2 | |
| Oct. 28 - Nov. 4 | V. Jacksonian Democracy | Jacksonian Democracy, Chapters 13 |
| Nov. 6 -
Nov. 13 |
VI. Coming of Disunion
Expansion & Disunion Slavery: A Cause of Civil War Frederick Douglas and Slave Culture Movies on Slavery Term Project Discussion: Slavery |
Frederick Douglas, Entire Book |
| Nov. 17 -
Dec. 2 |
VII. Civil War
Events:1860-61 Why the North Won Key Battles Quiz: Killer Angels Killer Angels, Gettysburg as a case study in American military history. Movie clips on Gettysburg Movie |
Killer
Angels, Entire Book
Am. Character, Ch. 15 |
| Dec. 4 | VIII. Reconstructing the Nation | Am. Character, Chapter 16 |
| Dec. 11 | Final Exam |