History 2675.001 (Fall 2013) OFFICE HOURS:

Honors History Wooten Hall 246

MWF 3-3:50p.m. WH 112 MWF 2:00-2:50p.m. and

Professor: Harland Hagler by appointment.

Phone: 940-565-3394

E-mail:

REQUIRED READING:

Stephen G. Weisner & Wm. F. Hartford, eds. American Portraits. Volume 1.

John P. Demos. The Unredeemed Captive: A Family Story from Early America.

Kenneth M. Stampp. The Peculiar Institution.

Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

“The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” William Faulkner, Southern novelist.

“History is lived forward but is written in retrospect. . . . We know the end before we consider the beginning, and we can never wholly recapture what it was to know the beginning only.” C. V. Wedgwood, British historian.

“Seeking historical truth may be damaging to your health, because people feel they already know what the truth is. For them, these truths are unquestionable.” Thongchai Winichakul (Thai historian). From hnn.history.grapevine (Sept. 15, 2004).

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES:

The immediate goal in this course is to present the essential facts and ideas of the specific era being covered in such a way as to hopefully interest students and encourage critical thought and analysis of the material covered. Except for the few who plan to become history teachers and scholars, history is not a “practical” or professional field of study. For most students the value of studying history lies in the insight it provides to understanding the present and the human condition throughout time. In addition, the study of history, especially through the use of essay questions, encourages students to think critically, to analyze, and to synthesize; these are skills which are useful in all facets of life.

READING ASSIGNMENTS , DUE DATES OF PAPERS, AND APPROXIMATE DATES OF EXAMINATIONS:

Wednesday, September 28th to Friday, September 13th:read Demos, The Unredeemed Captive, all and pp. 32-49 in Weisner & Hartford, American Portraits – the article on “Mary Rowlandson.”

**** Note: there will be no class on Monday, September 2nd. Holiday.

***Friday, September 13th: PAPER DUE on The Unredeemed Captive and the “Mary Rowlandson” article.

Friday, September 13th to Monday, September 30th: read for the first examination in Weisner & Hartford, American Portraits, pp. 1-31, 50-68 (the articles on John Smith, Anne Hutchinson, and William Penn).

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THE LISTED LECTURE TOPICS WILL BE COVERED BETWEEN THE DESIGNATED DATES FOR EACH EXAM. NOTE: SOME OF THE LECTURE TOPICS LISTED WILL TAKE LESS THAN ONE CLASS PERIOD TO COMPLETE AND OTHERS WILL TAKE MORE THAN ONE CLASS PERIOD TO COVER THE TOPIC.

LECTURE TOPICS COVERED FOR THE FIRST EXAMINATION:

  1. Origins and migration of Native American People (Indians).
  2. Native American Cultures: nomads versus settled village farmers, governmental structures, family structures, and religions.
  3. European explorations, conquests, early and colonization: the Spanish, Portuguese, French, Dutch, and English.
  4. The West African background of African Americans; the slave trade and the early years of slavery in the “English” colonies.
  5. Ethnic diversity in the “English” colonies.
  6. Colonial government and political structures in the “English” colonies.
  7. Economics, class structure, politics, and religion in the “English” colonies.
  8. Regional variations in the colonial economies.
  9. The influence of Protestantism in general and of Calvinism in particular on the “English” colonies.
  10. The Enlightenment and its influence on religion and government.
  11. The Enlightenment and the coming of the American Revolution.

FIRST EXAM: Monday, September 30th: The first exam will be over the lecture material and the assigned articles in American Portraits, but you should reference any pertinent material from The Unredeemed Captive.

Monday, September 30th to Friday, October 25th: read for the second examination pp. 67-181 and 199-238 in Weisner & Hartford, American Portraits.

LECTURE TOPICS COVERED FOR THE SECOND EXAMINATION:

  1. The American Revolution and the reasons for American victory.
  2. The Articles of Confederation and the reasons for the drafting of the Constitution.
  3. The struggle to ratify the Constitution.
  4. The definition of nationalism and the development of American (U.S.) nationalism.
  5. George Washington and the development of U.S. nationalism and the presidency.
  6. The development of the first two political parties.
  7. The similarities and differences of the first two political parties: the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans (Jeffersonians).
  8. The causes and consequences of the War of 1812.
  9. Political, economic, and social developments following the War of 1812.
  10. Post-War of 1812 nationalism and sectionalism: economic nationalism, John Marshall and the Supreme Court.
  11. The election of 1824 and the beginnings of “Jacksonian” Democracy.

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  1. The election of 1828 and the administration of Andrew Jackson.
  2. The opposition to Jackson and the development of the “Second Political Party System.”
  3. The “Promise of the Revolution,” the Second Great Awakening, and the origins of reform.
  4. Major reform movements, Utopias, their leaders, goals, and their impact on U. S. society and government.

SECOND EXAM: Friday, October 25th: The second exam will cover the assigned reading in Weisner & Hartford, American Portraits and the lecture material since the first exam.

Friday, October 25th to Friday, December 13th: read for the final examination pp. 182-198, and 239-303 in Weisner & Hartford, American Portraits.

LECTURE TOPICS COVERED FOR THE FINAL EXAMINATION.

  1. Territorial expansion, the westward movement, and the fight over the expansion of slavery.
  2. The change in the South’s attitude toward slavery between 1787 and 1846, and the reasons for the changed attitudes.
  3. The southern pro-slavery defense.
  4. The romantic “plantation ideal” versus the southern yeomen farmers and the nature of southern society.
  5. Slavery as an institution.
  6. Immigration, industrialization, and change in 19th century American life.
  7. Religious and political developments of the 1840s and 1850s.
  8. The causes of the Civil War and the significance of the war for American history.

THROUGHOUT THE SEMESTER BE READING: Kenneth M. Stampp’s The Peculiar Institution, all, and Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, all.

PAPER DUE ON Stampp & Stowe: FRIDAY, November 15th.

FINAL EXAM: Friday, December 13th: 1:30-3:30 p.m.The final exam will cover the assigned reading in Weisner & Hartford, American Portraits, and the lecturematerial since the second exam.

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PLEASE NOTE: DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION:

The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to betgin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at

You may also contact them by hone at 940.565.4323.

EXAMINATIONS, PAPERS, AND THE GRADE FOR THE COURSE:

The grade for the course will be based on a total of 500 points. The first, second, and final exams will count 100 points each; the paper on The Unredeemed Captive will count 100 points, and the paper on The Peculiar Institution and Uncle Tom’s Cabin will count 100 points.

Attendance will be taken into consideration in the case of borderline grades. No student will receive a grade lower than his or her total points. However, in the case of borderline grades a student with excellent attendance may receive a grade slightly higher than his or her points.

MAKE UP EXAMINATIONS must be arranged with the professor as soon as possible after missing the scheduled examination. Make up examinations will be different from and more difficult than the regularly scheduled examinations; they will contain one to two additional essays and additional identification questions. Make up exams are given

in the History Help Center (Wooten Hall 220) which is open Mondays through Thursdays 8a.m. to 9p.m. and Fridays 8a.m. to 5p.m. The Help Center closes promptly at theabove times so be sure to arrive in plenty of time to take the exam. While make ups are administered in the HelpCenter you must arrange the date and time of the exam with me.

ALL MAKE UP EXAMS MUST BE TAKEN PRIOR TO DEAD WEEK: which means the last day to take a make up exam this semester is Friday, April 26th.

POINT SYSTEM FOR GRADES:

A = 450-500

B = 400-449

C = 350-399

D = 300-349

F = 0 - 299

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ATTENDANCE AND CLASS CONDUCT:

Regular and punctual attendance of each student is expected at each scheduled class meeting and examination. Attendance will be taken regularly. The following conduct is expected of each student in the class:

(a) do not leave class early without prior permission from the professor (except in an emergency); (b) do NOT talk during the lectures (if you have a question or something to say raise your hand and you will be acknowledged); do not read or do other assignments during the class; (c) turn off all cell phones (or put on silent mode) and do not answer phone calls during class.

SUMMARY OF EXAM DATES AND DUE DATES FOR PAPERS:

Friday, September 13th: paper due on The Unredeemed Captive and the “Mary Rowlandson” article.

Monday, September 30th: FIRST EXAMINATION.

Friday, October 25th: SECOND EXAMINATION.

Friday, November 15th: paper due on Kenneth Stampp’s The Peculiar Institution and Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

Friday, December 13th: 1:30-3:30 p.m. FINAL EXAMINATION.