The History of the United States to 1865

HIST 1311-003 Fall 2009

MWF 10:00-10:50am

SH 121

Mike Downs

University Hall 340 (UH340)

Office Phone: (817) 272-5261

Email: mdowns@uta.edu

Office Hours: Fridays 11:00-2:00 and by appointment

Graduate Teaching Assistant: Mary Evelyn Peirce maryevelyn.pierce@mavs.uta.edu

Office: UH 228A

Office Phone: (817) 272- 2861

Office Hours: Mondays 2-4 pm and Wednesdays 3-4 pm

COURSE DESCRIPTION: History 1311 is a survey course designed to introduce students to American history. This means that the course is detailed but limited in its scope and nature. The course surveys political, economic, religious, social and intellectual changes covering such issues as Pre-Columbian Native American societies, European discovery and contact, colonial society, the American Revolution, the War of 1812, Jacksonian democracy, the institution of Slavery, the Era of Reform, and the Civil War.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the discipline of history as an academic profession.

2. Distinguish between primary and secondary sources.

3. Demonstrate an understanding of the political, territorial, and economic growth and development of the U.S. through 1865, including contextualizing these developments in world history. Therefore, students will be able to specifically:

A. Explain the motivations for European colonization of the New World.

B. Explain how colonization affected the Native American populations of the continent.

C. Describe the trans-Atlantic slave trade and American slavery from colonial times to the outbreak of the Civil War.

D. Identify the causes of the American colonial independence movement of the 1770s.

E. Trace the development of the U.S. government from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution.

F. Describe the growth and evolution of the U.S. government from the adoption of the Constitution through the Civil War.

G. Describe the development of political parties in the U.S.

H. Trace the territorial growth of the U.S. through 1865.

I. Identify the causes and results of major U.S. conflicts during this period of history.

J. Explain the nature of relationships between the U.S. and other nations during this

period of history;

K. Trace the events from 1850 to 1861 that led the U.S. into the Civil War.

L. Describe presidential and Congressional reconstruction and the impact on the South in particular and the nation as a whole.

Learning Outcomes assessed through class discussion and examinations.

Required Books:

Keene, Visions of America, Volume I. Prentice-Hall, 2010.

Frederick Douglass, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (online)

Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom’s Cabin (online)

*Although Uncle Tom’s Cabin and The Narrative of Frederick Douglass are available online, students may wish to purchase these books rather than read them on a computer screen. The links to these books are in the semester schedule below, but I also included then here for your convenience.

The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Uncle Tom's Cabin

These books can be purchased at the UTA bookstore, but with a little effort you will probably find them to be less expensive through on-line booksellers.

In addition to the required texts above, we will be reading primary documents on a weekly basis. These will be made available on-line through this syllabus. See schedule below for dates and links.

GRADING POLICY

There will be four exams. Students will have the choice of either an objective exam with a brief writing component or an essay exam for each exam. Students must bring a scantron sheet (Form 886-E) to take the objective exam or an exam book (blue or green) to take the essay exam.

Exams 1, 2 and 3 are worth 100 points each.

The Final Exam is worth 150 points.

Total points possible = 450 points.

Final Grades determined as follows:

A= 90-100% of 450 points

B= 80-89% of 450 points

C= 70-79% of 450 points

D= 60-69% of 450 points

F= less than 60% of 450 points

Missed Exams can only be made up with my permission and at my convenience. Therefore, all make-up exams will take place at the end of the semester at one time. The exact date, time and location are still to be determined. Only those students who have compelling reasons for missing an exam are entitled to take a make-up exam. Nervousness, lack of preparation, forgetting the time of the exam, having other exams, vacations, weddings, etc., are not compelling reasons.

Attendance

Although attendance will not be taken, students are expected to attend class and participate in classroom discussions. Your success in this course is directly related to your ability to come to class and to take notes diligently. During the lectures and discussions important facts and themes will be emphasized which will appear on the exams in some form. In essence, come to class every time.

Drop Policy: Students are responsible for dropping this course, if the need should arise. I cannot drop a student for any reason. The last day to drop the course is October 30. The History department office (UH 202) is the place to initiate this process.

Americans With Disabilities Act:
The University of Texas at Arlington is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 92-112 - The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With the passage of federal legislation entitled Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens.

As a faculty member, I am required by law to provide "reasonable accommodations" to students with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. Student responsibility primarily rests with informing faculty of their need for accommodation and in providing authorized documentation through designated administrative channels. Information regarding specific diagnostic criteria and policies for obtaining academic accommodations can be found at www.uta.edu/disability. Also, you may visit the Office for Students with Disabilities in room 102 of University Hall or call them at (817) 272-3364.

Academic Integrity:
It is the philosophy of The University of Texas at Arlington that academic dishonesty is a completely unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form. All persons involved in academic dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with University regulations and procedures. Discipline may include suspension or expulsion from the University.
"Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts." (Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Series 50101, Section 2.2)

Student Support Services Available:
The University of Texas at Arlington supports a variety of student success programs to help you connect with the University and achieve academic success. These programs include learning assistance, developmental education, advising and mentoring, admission and transition, and federally funded programs. Students requiring assistance academically, personally, or socially should contact the Office of Student Success Programs at 817-272-6107 for more information and appropriate referrals.

E-Culture Policy:

The University of Texas at Arlington has adopted the University email address as an official means of communication with students. Through the use of email, UT-Arlington is able to provide students with relevant and timely information, designed to facilitate student success. In particular, important information concerning registration, financial aid, payment of bills, and graduation may be sent to students through email.

All students are assigned an email account and information about activating and using it is available at www.uta.edu/email. New students (first semester at UTA) are able to activate their email account 24 hours after registering for courses. There is no additional charge to students for using this account, and it remains active as long as a student is enrolled at UT-Arlington. Students are responsible for checking their email regularly.

History 1311-003 Schedule Fall 2009

Week One Aug 24-28

Topic: Class Introduction

Pre-Columbian Societies

Read: Visions of America (VOA for rest of schedule) Ch 1, p. 2-9 and p. 12

Week Two Aug 31-Sep 4

Topic: Europe on the Eve of Exploration

Columbus, Cortes, and New Spain

Read: VOA Ch 1 p.10-27

Zinn, "Columbus, the Indians and Human Progress"

Las Casas, "Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies"

Sep 7 No Class –Labor Day Holiday