H105: Survey of American History I

Section 20996, Monday & Wednesday 12:00-1:15, Cavanaugh Hall 215

Painting of John Brown in the 1859 raid at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Instructor: Elizabeth Cafer du Plessis Office phone: 317-274-8160

E-mail:ffice Hours: Mon. & Wed.,

Office: Cavanaugh Hall 503P11:00-11:45 and 2:00-2:45,

& by appointment.

Course Description:

This course provides an introduction to American history fromthe Age of Exploration in the 15thcentury through the Civil War in the 1860s. As our guiding theme we will focus on freedom in American history: its changingmeanings,the social conditions that have made freedom possible, and persistent efforts to limit freedom by race, gender, and class. The course situates American history in its global setting by examining the international migration of peoples, the development of slavery, the spread of democracy, and the expansion of capitalism as worldwide processes.The instructor takes a holistic approach to history byemphasizinginterconnections among social, cultural, political, economic, and environmentalchanges.Lessonsand exams will stress analytical thinking beyond memorization by asking not just what happened in the past, but also how we form questions and make interpretations and arguments about that past.

Objectives:

- To introduce students to central themes in American history, 1450-1865

- To sharpen reading and writing skills

- To actively discuss American history in an academic setting

- To foster historical thinking by analyzing secondary sources and placing primary source materials in historical context

- To construct historical arguments about the past

Required texts:

Eric Foner, Give Me Liberty! An American History. Volume 1: To 1877. Second Seagull Edition. (W. W. Norton & Co., 2009). ISBN: 978-0-393-93255-3

Ira Berlin, Generations of Captivity: A History of African-American Slaves. (Belknap Press, 2004). ISBN: 9780674016248

Photocopies of primary documents will be passed out in class posted on Oncourse.

Assessment activities:

Two exams: 60% of final grade.

Each exam is worth 30% of final grade. Exams will include short answer questions, matching or multiple choice, and essays. The final exam will include an additional comprehensive essay question. Basic outlines, preapproved by the instructor, will be allowed for essay questionsduring exams.

Assignments and quizzes:30% of final grade.

Multiple choice assignmentsare to be completed on Oncoursebeforeclass. Scheduled quizzes will generally consist of identification/definition questions from a list of terms provided in advance.

Participation:10% of final grade.

In-class exercises will generally consist of analyzing primary documents. You cannot make up points for missed exercises, althougha documentedexcused absence will result in a neutral “blank” score for that day.

Bonus: 3% of final grade

An optional bonus assignment will be due April 20th.The assignment will consist of short answer questions based on a 40-minuteMP3 audio lecture by Allen Guelzo, “Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.”

Attendance:

There will be no penalty for the first five absences aside from losing participation or quiz points. Each additional absence—excused or unexcused—will lower the student’s final grade by 10% when it is calculatedat the end of the course.

Late and make-up work:

The instructor will make arrangements forlate or make-up workfor excused absences only. Studentsmust provide evidence of excused absences(i.e., illness or family emergency) such as a doctor’s note, obituary, or funeral program. Typicalexamples of unexcused absences includeoversleeping, picking up a friend from the airport, and job responsibilities. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor to arrange make-up work; otherwise, the student will receive a zero on the assignment, exam, or quiz.

Oncourse gradebook:

I will post all grades in the Oncourse gradebook within a week of due dates. Oncourse doesnot round up final grades, which means that an 89.999 is a B+, not an A-. There will be no exceptionsas a matter of fairness. The minimum grade percentages are as follows: A+ (100), A (95), A- (90), B+ (87), B (83), B- (80), C+ (77), C (73), C- (70), D+ (67), D (63), D- (60), F (0).

Grading criteria:

A: Thorough knowledge of the material; polished and thoughtful essays; critical analysis of readings in discussions.

B: Thorough knowledge of the material; well-written essays; regular participation in discussion.

C: Basic knowledge and understanding of the material; occasional participation.

D: Limited or mistaken knowledge of the material; unorganized essays; little

participation.

F: Lacking knowledge of the material; assignments incomplete; no

participation.

Withdrawals and Incompletes:

March 6 is the last day to withdraw with automatic grade of W.I will only grant the grade of Incomplete if you make arrangements with another instructor to complete the work(I will not be at IUPUI after this May). See:

Cheating and Plagiarism:

Instructors must report all cases of academic misconduct, including cheating and plagiarism, to the dean of students. See the IUPUI Student Code of Conduct:

Schedule

Date / Topics and readings / Assignments
Mon.
1/12 / Welcome to H105!
Wed.
1/14 / A New World
Textbook pp. 1-18
Mon.
1/19 / No class
Wed.
1/21 / A New World
Textbook pp. 19-41
Generations of Captivity, Prologue, pp. 1-14. / Multiple choice #1
Mon.
1/26 / Beginnings of English America, 1607-1660
Textbook pp. 43-61
Wed.
1/28 / Beginnings of English America, 1607-1660
Textbook pp. 62-84
Generations of Captivity, Ch. 1, Charter Generations,pp. 23-49 / Multiple choice #2
Mon.
2/2 / Creating Anglo-America, 1660-1750
Textbook pp. 85-106 / Quiz
Wed.
2/4 / Creating Anglo-America, 1660-1750
Textbook pp. 106-124
Generations of Captivity, Ch. 2, Plantation Generations: The Chesapeake, pp. 53-67. / Multiple choice #3
Mon.
2/9 / Slavery, Freedom, and the Struggle for Empire to 1763
Textbook pp. 125-144
Wed.
2/11 / Slavery, Freedom, and the Struggle for Empire to 1763
Textbook pp. 144-166
Generations of Captivity, Ch. 2, Plantation Generations: The Lowcountry, pp. 67-81. / Multiple choice #4
Mon.
2/16 / The American Revolution, 1763-1783
Textbook pp. 167-180 / Quiz
Wed.
2/18 / The American Revolution, 1763-1783
Textbook pp. 181-199
Generations of Captivity, Ch. 2, Plantation Generations: The North and Lower Mississippi Valley, pp. 81-96. / Multiple choice #5
Mon.
2/23 / The Revolution Within
Textbook pp. 201-215
Generations of Captivity, Ch. 3, Revolutionary Generations: The North & Chesapeake, pp. 99-123. / Multiple choice #6
Wed.
2/25 / The Revolution Within
Textbook pp. 215-234
Generations of Captivity, Ch. 3, Revolutionary Generations: Lowcountry, pp. 123-140. / Multiple choice #7
Mon.
3/2 / Review & quiz / Quiz
Wed.
3/4 / MIDTERM EXAM
Note: Friday, March 6 is the last day to withdraw with automatic grade of W. Advisor signature is required. If you need to know your midterm exam grade before the withdraw deadline, alert me as you turn in your exam. / Email your essay outlines 24 hours in advance of the exam (optional).
Mon.
3/9 / Founding a Nation, 1783-1789
Textbook pp. 235-251
Wed.
3/11 / Founding a Nation, 1783-1789
Textbook pp. 251-267
Mon.
3/16 / Spring break
Wed.
3/18 / Spring break
Mon.
3/23 / Securing the Republic, 1790-1815
Textbook pp. 268-301
Wed.
3/25 / The Market Revolution, 1800-1840
Textbook pp. 302-322 / Quiz
Mon.
3/30 / The Market Revolution, 1800-1840
Textbook pp. 323-337
Wed.
4/1 / Democracy in America, 1815-1840
Textbook pp. 338-373
Mon.
4/6 / The Peculiar Institution
Textbook pp. 375-407 / Quiz
Wed.
4/8 / The Peculiar Institution
Generations of Captivity, Migration Generations, pp. 161-181 / Multiple choice #8
Mon.
4/13 / An Age of Reform, 1820-1840
Textbook pp. 409-440
Wed.
4/15 / The House Divided, 1840-1861
Textbook pp. 441-460 / Quiz
Mon.
4/20 / The House Divided, 1840-1861
Textbook pp. 460-479 / Bonus assignment due (optional)
Wed.
4/22 / A New Birth of Freedom: The Civil War, 1861-1865
Textbook pp. 480-519
Generations of Captivity, Epilogue, pp. 246-266. / Multiple choice #9
Mon.
4/27 / “What Is Freedom?” Reconstruction, 1865-1877
Textbook pp. 520-555 / Quiz
Wed.
4/29 / Review
Mon.
5/4 / No class, no regular office hours, but I am happy to make appointments!
Wed.
5/6 / FINAL EXAM: 10:30am to 12:30pm
Usual classroom. / Email your essay outlines 24 hours in advance of the exam (optional).