Elizabeth R. Osborn Fall 2001
American History I: United States History to 1865
H105
Mon and Weds section C329 1-2:15 CA 235
Office: CA 243C
Office phone: 274-7463
Office Hours: Weds 8:30-9:30 am; Mon 12-1; and by appt.
History office: CA 504M
(mailbox)
E-mail: eosborn@indiana.edu
Description: This
course introduces you to major political, economic, and social changes in the
United States from the time of European "discovery" to the Civil
War. It will help you to develop analytical skills [not just what
happened, but some of the reasons why] as well as learning how to articulate
your ideas both verbally and in writing.
We will look at major events such as the American Revolution, the Market
Revolution, and the growth of sectional tensions from the point of view of the
ordinary American.
At the end of this course
students will be able to:
! Recognize
the major events and people in American history through 1865
! Analyze
primary source documents and understand why this is an important skill
! Articulate
and support (on exams, papers, and in class discussions) a sound position
on an historical topic
! Compare
historical events from the perspective of different groups and account for any
variation
Required Texts: (available at the IUPUI bookstore and Folletts)
A Short History of the
American Nation vol. 1 ( John A Garraty and Mark
Carnes)
A More Perfect Union, Volume I (5th
ed.)
(Ronald F. Boller)
Classic
Slave Narratives (ed. by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.)
Grading/Requirements*:
1) You will have 3 blue book
exams. These exams will cover content from
the textbook, Boller, lecture, class discussion, and any other material
indicated by the instructor. Exam
format may include essays, identifications, multiple choice, mapping,
chronologies, etc. Each exam will be
worth approximately 20% of your final grade.
2) You will have 3 short
answer reading quizzes. These quizzes will cover content from Boller. Each quiz will be worth approximately 10% of
your final grade. I will count your 2
highest scores for a total of approximately 20% of your final grade. There
will be no make-up quizzes. Quiz
dates are on the syllabus–plan accordingly.
Exact readings covered by each quiz will be posted on Oncourse.
3) You will write one short
paper, 3-5 pages typed, on the slave narrative of your choice from the Gates
text. You must sign up for the
selection of your choice by noon Weds 9/5.
Due date will depend on the narrative you choose (10/1, 11/5 or 12/3). Complete information about this assignment
4) Your participation will
make up the final 5% of your grade.
Participation requires both your general attendance and regular contributions
to class discussions. I will
periodically assign short miscellaneous assignments as a part of this
grade. There are no make-ups for these assignments.
* In the calculation of the
semester grade, improvement over the course of the semester is an important
consideration and can raise the final grade above the mathematical average.
*Every effort will be made to return all work within
one week or by the 3rd class meeting after it is collected. Papers may take up to 2 weeks. Late exams/assignments and
extra credit will be graded as time permits.
Course Policies:
Attendance: You are expected to attend all class meetings
(as per new university policy, attendance will be taken) and to complete the
readings before the first class meeting each week. Everyone is automatically given 3 “free” absences. If you are
gone for job related requirements, sporting events, doctor’s appointments,
illness, etc. it will be deducted from these 3 “free” absences. Remember, you may not make up a quiz, exam,
or class assignment if it falls on a day you are absent.
Absences will only be excused
at the instructor’s discretion and in extreme circumstances
(hospitalization–not merely a doctor’s appointment, death in the family, etc.)
and with appropriate documentation.
Please do not e-mail me telling me you will be absent–that is why you
get 3 freebies. After 3 absences, if you feel that you have extenuating
circumstances warranting an excuse, please come and see me in person during office hours.
3% points will be deducted
from your final course average for each absence after your 3 freebies. More
than 6 absences may result in an F for this class.
Due Dates: All assignments/papers are due at the beginning
class. Late assignments will lose 3%
points for each day they are late, including weekends and holidays. Make-ups and
late papers are allowed only in exceptional circumstances with appropriate
documentation. Students who for
extraordinary reasons cannot meet a deadline should discuss their situation
with the instructors before the due date.
Oncourse/E-mail: Please familiarize yourself with the Oncourse
system that is maintained by the University and is accessible from the IUPUI
homepage. I will post announcements,
assignments, extra credit ideas, hand outs to be printed and brought to class,
and other important information at this site.
It is your responsibility to check Oncourse on a regular basis. The system also allows you to easily contact
me and your classmates–you simply click on a person’s name in order to send
them an e-mail.
Plagiarism:*
A student must not adopt or
reproduce ideas, words, or statements of another person without appropriate
acknowledgment. A student must give
credit to the originality of others and acknowledge an indebtedness whenever he
or she does any of the following:
a. Quotes another
person’s actual words, either oral or written;
b. Paraphrases
another person’s words, either oral or written’
c. Uses another
person’s ideas, opinion or theory; or
d. Borrows facts, statistics, or other
illustrative material, unless the information is common knowledge.
*(See Indiana University Academic Handbook, p.123)
class=Section3>
Please note:
This syllabus and other course materials can be found
on Oncourse and the homepage of the Department of History at http://www.iupui.edu/~history
Then choose the Schedule of Classes
option. Then Fall 2001. You can locate this class by section number,
meeting time, or my last name (Osborn).
Please see section on Oncourse above as well.
Additions/changes to course policies, procedures, due
dates, exam dates, and assignments may be made at any time. Students are responsible for keeping their
paper copies up-to-date and periodically checking oncourse for posted changes.
Course Schedule and Reading Assignments*
*Reading assignment should be completed BEFORE the first class meeting of the week
Weds 8/22 Introduction
Boller: selections 1-2
Week 1: Mon 8/27 European Motivations for Exploration
Wed 8/29 European Colonization
Boller:
selections 3-5
Garraty: Chapter 1
Week 2: Mon 9/3 No Class: Labor Day
Wed 9/5 Life in Early America
Boller:
selections 6, 7, 9, 10
Garraty: Chapter 2
Week 3: Mon 9/10 The French and Indian War
Wed 9/12 Challenging British Rule
Boller: selections 8, 11, 12
Garraty: Chapter 3
Week 4: Mon 9/17 The American Revolution
Wed 9/19 Articles of Confederation and 1st Boller quiz
Boller:
selections 13-14
Garraty: Chapter
4
Week 5: Mon 9/24 Exam (will include map of colonies)
Wed 9/26 The Constitution
Boller:
selections15-16
Garraty: Chapter 5 pp.121-132
Week 6: Mon 10/1 The New Republic--the visions of Hamilton & Jefferson
Paper due at the beginning of class (10/1)
Wed 10/3 Life in the New Republic
Boller:
selections 17-18
Garraty: Chapter
5 pp.133-147 and Chapter 6 pp150-154
class=Section4>
Week 7: Mon 10/8 Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase
Wed 10/10 War of 1812 and the Era of Good Feeling
Boller:
selections 19-20
Garraty: Chapter 6 pp.154-169 and Chapter 7
class=Section5>
Week 8: Mon 10/15 End of the Era of Good Feeling/The Market Revolution
Wed 10/17 The Age of Jackson
Boller:
selections 21-23
Garraty: Chapter 8 and chapter 9 pp.220-236
Week 9: Mon 10/22 Rise of the Second Party System and 2nd Boller quiz
Wed 10/24 Antebellum Reform Movements
Garraty: Chapter 9 pp.236-40 and Chapter 10
Week 10: Mon 10/29 Antebellum Reform Movements
Wed 10/31 Exam
Boller:
selections 27, 29-30, 32
Garraty: Chapter 11
Week 11: Mon 11/5 The Peculiar Institution
Paper due at the beginning of class (11/5)
Wed 11/7 Life Under Slavery
Boller:
selections 25, 26, 33
Garraty: Chapter 13 pp.306-14
Week 12 : Mon 11/12 Texas and the Mexican War
Wed 11/14 The Far West
Boller:
selection 24
Garraty: Chapter 12
Week 13: Mon 11/19 The Crisis of the 1850s
Wed 11/21 No Class: Thanksgiving Holiday
Garraty: Chapter 13 pp.314-26
Week 14: Mon 11/26 The Crisis of the 1850s
Wed 11/28 Lincoln’s Election and Secession
Boller:
selections 34-37
Garraty: Chapter 14
Week 15: Mon 12/3 The Civil War: Preparing for the War
Paper due at the beginning of class (12/5)
Wed 12/5 The Civil War: Fighting the War and 3rd Boller quiz
Boller: selections 38-41
Garraty: Chapter 15
Week 16: Mon 12/10 Conclusion
FINAL EXAMINATION
Cavanaugh Hall Rm 235 section C329 Final Exam: 1-3 pm Monday 12/17
*All
exams in regular classroom