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U.S. History 1877 to Present

42-122

Fall Semester 2004

 

Prof. Jeanette Keith

Office hours: Monday-Friday, 11-12.

Or by appointment

Office OSH 133; phone 4167; best way to reach me: keith@bloomu.edu

Purpose of Course: This course is designed to acquaint students with the outlines of American history from the Civil War to the present. Understanding our nation’s history is essential for students preparing to assume the duties of adult citizenship. Studying history is also an excellent way to learn skills (careful reading, accurate writing, defending a position in group discussion) that are of use in the work force. Therefore, we will learn history through reading, writing and discussion.

Texts: Faragher, et al., Out of Many, Vol II, and accompanying document set.

Grade Policies:

The student’s grade in this class will derive from the following components:

First, students will be expected to attend all classes, and to participate in discussions. Class discussion grades will count for 10% of the final grade.

Second, students will write short essays.

Third, students will have three objective exams (multiple choice, true/false, short answer).

Should a student have adequate reasons for missing class, she or he should contact the instructor prior to the absence and explain the circumstances. If a student must miss an exam, she or he should contact the teacher prior to the absence, and provide documentation as to the reasons why a make up exam will be necessary. See Student Pilot for university policy.

Students should also read the Pilot section on academic integrity. Should a student violate this policy, he or she will receive a zero for the assignment. The infraction will be reported to the appropriate authorities for disciplinary action, which could include expulsion from the University.

First exam: 15%

Second exam: 20%

Final: 35%

Essays: 20%

Class Discussion: 10%

Aug. 31. Introduction to Class.

Sept. 2. Basic Civics.  In the back of your textbook, read the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, including amendments.

Sept. 7. Reconstruction and Race. Chapter 17. In back of textbook, read again Amendments 13, 14, and 15, and be prepared to discuss.

Sept. 9. The Old West. Chapter 18. Film: In the White Man’s Image.

Sept. 14. Industrialization and Urbanization.

In textbook, read chapter 19. For discussion, read 19-2 (Andrew Carnegie); 19-3 (John Morrison) and 19-4 (Terence Powderly, Knights of Labor.) Be sure to read the chapter before the documents, so that you will understand what these people are talking about.

Sept. 16. Can Democracy Work? In textbook, reach chapter 20 to page 616. For discussion, read 20-1 (Bellamy); 20-3 (Conkling); 20-2 (Godkin); 20-4 (Populists).

Sept. 21. American Imperialism.

In textbook, finish chapter 20. For discussion, read 20-7 (Mahan); 20-8 (Turner); 20-9 (Roosevelt); 20-10 (Hoar), 22-2 (Roosevelt). Discussion exercise on foreign policy to be handed out in class.

Sept. 23. Progressives, Part 1. In textbook, read chapter 21.

Sept. 28. Progressives, Part 2. For discussion, read 21-3 (Brandeis); 21-4 (Sanger); 21-2 (Plunkitt) and 21-7 (Niagara Movement). Discussion exercise on government, to be handed out in class. First essay due.

Sept. 30. Test 1.

Oct. 5. The Great War. In textbook, read chapter 22. For discussion, 22-3 (Wilson); 22-4 (Norris);

Oct. 7. The Great War: home front. Chapter 22. For discussion, Read 22-5 (Creel); 22-7 (Shaw).

Oct. 12. The 1920s. In textbook, chapter 23.

Oct. 14. The 1920s. Film clips. For discussion, 23-1 (Motion Picture Diaries); 23-4 (Wembridge); 23-6 (Congress); 23-7 (Evans); 23-8 (Johnson)

Oct. 19. The 1930s. Chapter 24. For Discussion, 24-3 (Roosevelt); 24-4 (Long); 24-7 (Republican Platform.) Discussion exercise on liberalism vs. conservatism, handed out in class.

Oct. 21. Film, the Democrat and the Dictator.

Oct. 26. World War II Chapter 25.

Oct. 28. World War II Chapter 25. Second essay due.

Nov. 2. Test 2.

Nov. 4. The Cold War. Chapter 26 except for the section on Cold War Culture. For discussion, 26-1 (Clifford); 26-2 (Wallace); 26-3 (Truman Doctrine)

Nov. 9. The Cold War. Chapter 27, from 854 on. For discussion, 26-7 (McCarthy) and 27-2 (Eisenhower)

Nov. 11. The Fifties. Chapters 26 and 27, the parts not read last week. For discussion, 27-1 (Teenage Consumer) and 27-7 (Kerouac). Film excerpts.

Nov. 16. Civil Rights, the 1950s. Chapter 28, up to p. 878 (stop at Sit-ins..) For discussion, 28-1 (Robinson); 28-2 (Brown v. Board); 28-3 (Southern Manifesto)

Nov. 18. Civil Rights, the 1960s. Chapter 28, rest of chapter. For discussion, 28-5 (King); 28-6 (Hamer); 28-8 (1964 Civil Rights Act) Exercise on civil disobedience handed out in class.

Nov. 23. New Frontier to Great Society. Chapter 27, re-read section on Kennedy; Chapter 29, read the section on Wars on Poverty, pp. 912-917. For discussion, 27-3 (Kennedy); 29-3 (Johnson).

Thanksgiving Break

Nov. 30. Vietnam. Reread chapter 27, p. 856-859 (sections on Covert Act, Intervening Around the World); 862-863 (section on Kennedy and the Cold War); Chapter 29. For discussion, King and Kerry.

Dec. 2. Vietnam. Chapter 29. Third Essay due.

Dec. 7. The return of Conservatism. Chapter 30. For discussion, 29-10 (Roe v. Wade); 30-7 (Viguerie)

Dec. 9. The return of Conservatism. Chapter 30.

 

Essay topics. During the semester, students will write three page essays (typed, double-spaced, no larger than 12 point font, 3-5 pages) based on assigned readings in the textbooks and document sets. No essays taken from encyclopedias or web pages will be accepted. Plagiarism, whether of published material or of another classmate’s work, will result in a zero, and the matter will be referred to the University for discipline. Students are urged to bring rough drafts to Prof. Keith at least a week before the essay is due.

First essay, due Sept. 28. Pick 1:

Compare and contrast American ideals with American realities, 1877-1917.

Discuss the impact of industrialization on American politics, 1877-1917.

Second essay, due Oct. 28. Pick 1:

How did the American experience of World War I influence U.S. foreign policy in the 1930s?

Historians see the 1920s and 1930s as critical decades in American culture and American political life. Explain why.

Third essay, due Dec. 2. Pick 1.

Interview a person who remembers the Vietnam War era. How do their memories compare to the history presented in your assigned readings?

Interview a person who remembers the Civil Rights era. How do their memories compare to the history presented in your assigned readings?