DR. JENRETTE---HIST 261 (MW 3-4:15)US HISTORY I, 1585-1877

Office: Hendricks 142Phone: 732-1225Email:

Office Hours: MW 1:30-2:30; TR 9:30-10:30; Mon 4:30-5:30 (Wiley 107)and by appointment or

walk-in!

History 261 is an introduction to the history of the US from 1585 to Reconstruction. History is more than a study of presidents, elections, wars, politics, etc. that have traditionally been emphasized. "Great history" includes a study of the "masses"; therefore, we will discuss the political, economic, and social development of the US through the experiences of some "forgotten" Americans such as women, African-Americans, American Indians, and other ethnic groups.

Required Texts:

Eric Foner,Give Me Liberty: An American History, Vol. I (4th edition)

Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Ann Rinaldi, A Break With Charity

Declaration of Independence, US Constitution and Bill of Rights (in Foner)

Declaration of Sentiments (

Large Blue books (These may be purchased in the University Bookstore).

Course Objectives:

  1. To encourage you to form your own opinions about the conception, birth, and growth of the US
  2. To increase your awareness and understanding the US's diverse history, and its role in world affairs
  3. To increase your knowledge of the geography of the US
  4. To help you broaden your vocabulary and ability to spell correctly
  5. To help you improve your analytical skills
  6. To help you improve your communication skills, both oral and written, through class discussions, papers, quizzes, homework assignments, and exams
  7. To examine your comprehension of the material covered in class lectures, discussions, workbook assignments, and the textbooks

Course Outcomes: Each student will have:

  1. a working knowledge of the important events, people, issues, etc. in US history.
  2. an understanding of the complexities of colonialism, imperialism, and how these concepts impact our national development.
  3. an understanding of the role(s) that race, class, gender, and religion play in national and regional development.
  4. enhanced the ability to express and support your own ideas through class discussions, exams, quizzes, etc.

Course Requirements:

  1. Regular and PROMPT class attendance is required. No more than 2 unexcused absences will be tolerated; after the 2nd absence your course grade will be lowered by 10 points per cut. Tardiness will not be tolerated. If you are late to class, leave early, or are absent, you are responsible for all material covered during your absence. I will NOT provide the lecture material for you.
  1. Disposition/Classroom Behavior. (at end of the syllabus)
  1. Effective reading of Foner, Douglass, and Rinaldi is expected according to the schedule. It is your responsibility to look at the schedule and keep up with reading assignments. If you cannot discuss a reading assignment or the Douglass book on the designated date, I will immediately give you a test. If you have not read assignments, you will leave class during the discussion.
  1. No make-up exam will be given without a note from an authorized person. Excuses offered at the end of the session for missed classes will not be considered. Exam will be in essay and objective form. Exam date is tentative and may be changed by the professor if necessary. Authorized persons do not include you!
  1. Exams: 2-3 hourly exams and a final comprehensive exam. Each exam will be comprehensive. You must bring bluebooks to class the day before an exam is given; failure to do so will add to your expenses as I will have copies which I will sell you for $1.00 each; the bookstore’s cost is .43. Please note that I will donate the proceeds to the History Club.
  1. Weekly Quizzes. You will have quizzes in class (and outside class) every weekon the previous week's lectures, reading assignments, Foner, Douglass, and Rinaldi. Some of these quizzes may be given through D2L. Quizzes cannot, under any circumstance, be made up; however, I will drop the lowest quiz grade at the end of the semester. I may occasionally assign a take-home essay quiz; if so, they must be typed. Late papers will be penalized by 25 points per day.
  1. Poster Presentations/Activities
  1. Students will be put in groups of 2-3 the first week of the semester. You will then discuss the development of a Poster on one of the topics included in the Foner, Douglass, or Mofford textbooks. These will be due two times, November 4 (first draft) and November 20 (final version). These posters will be displayed and evaluated during the final week of classes.
  1. Weekly activities will be incorporated into the course where you will be expected to engage in small group discussions, writing assignments etc.
  2. Development of a file (1 inch 3 ring binder or an appropriate file folder) with the course syllabus, poster ideas and plan, and all the activities you engage in throughout the course. This notebook/folder will be collected near the end of the semester and will be checked sporadically (unannounced). Failure to keep an up-to-date notebook will result in the loss of points.

7.Failure to complete ALL assignments will result in a F for the course.

GRADING PERCENTAGES:GRADING SCALE:

Quizzes=20%0-59=F

Final Exam=20%60--67=D 68-69=D+

Exams=30%70--77=C 78-79=C+

Posters/Act/Notebk=20%80--87=B 88-89=B+

Participation/Att=10%90-100=A

100%

COURSE TOPICS READING ASSIGNMENTS

DateTopicsFoner

8/26IntroductionBegin Chapter 1

8/28The First AmericansChapter 1

9/2“A New World”Chapter 1

Discovery and Conquest

9/4European Settlement of North AmericaChapter 2

Begin Rinaldi

9/9Colonial Settlement (cont)Chapter 2

9/11-9/16PuritanismChapter 2

9/18“Cry Witch”Chapter 2

Economics and WitchcraftDiscuss Rinaldi

9/23Ben Franklin’s WorldChapter 3

Great Awakening and Enlightenment

Global competition

Colonies in Crisis

9/25-9/30Slavery, Freedom, and the Struggle for EmpireChapters 4-5

The American RevolutionRead Declaration of Independence

African-Americans, Women, andRead Declaration of Sentiments

Native Americans

10/2Exam #1 (Tentative date)

10/7The Revolution WithinChapter 6

The Confederation Government

Republican Government and

10/9Political Dissent and RatificationChapter 7

Establishing the New NationRead the Constitution and

the Bill of Rights

10/9-10/12 Salem/Boston Trip (optional)

10/14Reading Day (No class)

10/16-10/23Securing the Republic: Adams, Jefferson,Chapters 8-9

The Second War for Independence

Jefferson and the Embargo Act

10/25The Market RevolutionChapter 9

Rails, Markets, Mills

Lowell’s Mills

10/30Jacksonian Democracy and Trail of TearsChapter 10

11/4The Age of ImprovementChapter 12

Second Great Awakeningbegin Douglass

11/6Westward ExpansionChapter 13

11/11Exam #2

11/13Worker Worlds in Antebellum AmericaChapter 11

Rebellions, Abolition, Slaves, MastersDiscuss Douglass

11/18A House DividedChapter 13

National Expansion/Sectional Division

11/20A New Birth of Freedom: The Civil WarChapter 14

12/2ReconstructionChapters 16-17

12/4Poster Presentations

12/10/14Wednesday, 2:45-4:45

FINAL COMPREHENSIVE EXAM

I reserve the right to make changes I deem necessary.

Only work assigned and graded by Dr. Jenrette will be used to calculate the final grade for HIST 261 Summer III.

Disposition: Basic Ground Rules for Classroom Behavior:

  1. Respect the right of others to have opinions that may differ from yours. Even if you disagree with someone, you should respect the individual's right to have that opinion.
  1. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated in this class. Disruptive behavior includes TEXTING, tardiness, leaving class early, talking, clicking pens, shuffling papers, book, etc., ringing phones, alarming watches, gathering belongings before class is dismissed, turning work in late. If you do not adhere to these basic rules of respect for others, you will leave the class and DROP THIS COURSE!! I WILL NOT TOLERATE THE DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR OF ANY STUDENT WHO ATTEMPTS TO PREVENT OTHERS FROM LEARNING. I will give you only one warning!!! It will be a verbal warning in the presence of your classmates. On the second violation, you will be dismissed from class until you can behave like a mature adult who treats others with respect. If you dare to violate these rules a third time, I will deduct 30 points from your final grade, which will make it practically impossible for you to pass this class. TEXTING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN THIS CLASS! CONSEQUENTLY, IF YOU CANNOT ACCEPT THESE BASIC GUIDELINES, DROP THIS CLASS!!!
  1. Tardiness is unacceptable and disruptive. Do not come to class late! Regular and prompt class attendance is a requirement. Tardiness will result in the lowering of your course grade by 10 points per incident; therefore, if you cannot make it to class on time, DROP THIS CLASS! Leaving class early also fits into this category.
  1. Two unexcused absences will be "tolerated" during this summer session. After the second cut, I will deduct 10 points from your final grade for each absence. As future teachers you should NEVER miss class except under the most extraordinary circumstances!
  1. Do not socialize, talk in class (unless you are participating in class discussion), or sleep. If you cannot stay awake in this class, YOU WILL NOT PASS.
  1. Plagiarism/Cheating: The penalty for plagiarism or cheating on any assignment will an F for the entire semester and you will be referred to the judiciary process for further action.
  1. Policy of Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action: Edinboro University welcomes students, faculty, and staff from all racial, religious, national, and socio-economic backgrounds. Edinboro University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all in every aspect of its operations. The University has pledged not to discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, age, religion, national origin, disability, organizational affiliation, affectional or sexual preference, and marital status. The policy extends to all educational, service, and employment programs of the University.
  1. If you are not here to learn, drop this class.
  1. If you cannot behave like a mature, responsible adult who respects other people, DROP THIS CLASS.