American History I: (H 105  Sections C346, C347)

Survey of American History to 1877

Spring  2001

 

Cherry L. Spruill

Office:      CA 502K           Phone:  274-7105         (Home phone: 765-497-2734)                     

E-mail:   cspruill@purdue.edu

Office Hours:  Monday, Wednesday 12:00-1:00; Thursday 2:15-3:00; & by appointment

 

Readings:      Alan Brinkley, American History:  A Survey, Vol. I: To 1877.  10th ed.

                       Robert D. Marcus & David Burner, America Firsthand: From Settlement to

                               Reconstruction, Vol. I.  4th ed.

                       Thomas Paine, Common Sense                              

                       Harriet H. Robinson, Loom and Spindle, or Life Among the Early Mill Girls.

                      

Purpose:  This course will examine the changing social, cultural, political, and economic scene in the U. S. from the era of English colonization to 1877.  We will survey both the accomplishments and the conflicts in America's domestic and international affairs as the English colonies transformed, through revolution, into a united nation, only to be torn apart by civil war.  As 1877 came to a close, political reconstruction in the South ended and the U. S. stood on the verge of becoming, within a matter of decades, a world superpower.

 

Grade Determination=Exams, Tests, & Attendance.      (Total  Points in this course:  420)

Exams:  There will be two exams in this course.  The first exam will consist of one essay question and  identifications or fill in the blank.  Exam #1 will cover lectures and text readings assigned in Part I of the course outline.  Point value of lst exam:  110 pts.

The second (final) exam will comprise an essay question, identifications and/or fill in the blank, and a section of multiple choice questions.  Exam #2 (final exam) will cover lectures and reading material assigned in Part II of the course outline; the multiple choice questions will be comprehensive.  Point value of final exam:  110 pts.

A study guide will be distributed approximately one week before each exam, and review sessions will be he held before each exam if desired.   

 

Tests:  There will be four tests in this course, each worth 50 points:  Two of the tests will be multiple choice based on lecture material; the other two tests will be essays based on:  (1) Thomas Paine's Commom Sense  and (2) Harriet Robinson's Loom and Spindle.

 Total test points:  200 pts.   (Note:  Make up tests/exams only in emergency situations and at the discretion of the instructor.)

 

Attendance:  Three unexcused absences will be permitted.  Additional absences will result in a reduction in grade of 2 points per unexcused absence.  Note:  An attempt will be made to contact each student who misses 3 consecutive classes.

 

Total Grade Point Breakdown

A=420-378       B=377-336       C=335-294       D=293-252       F=251-0

 

COURSE OUTLINE

PART I: Forging a Nation:  1500-1820                                                                        Brinkley                Am.F/hand

Note:  Read  Common Sense by 2/06                                                                              (Chapter)                (Readings)

               (Tues/Thur)

Week 1:  1/09   Introduction to History; European Exploration                                      1                              1, 2, 3             

               1/11  E. Exploration; England & its Colonies: Chesapeake, Caribbean           1, 2                          4, 5                        

Week 2:  1/16  England and its Colonies:  New England, Restoration Colonies          2                              6, 7, 8     

               1/18 Colonial America:  Social, Economic, Religious Mentalite                       3                              9, 10, 11

 

Week 3:  1/23  Colonial America:  The Enlightenment; Great Awakening                    3                              12, 13, 14, 15                      1/25       "            "                  "           "             "

 

Week 4:  1/30  Road to Revolution: From Empire to Independence                               4                              16, 17, 18   

               2/01      "             "                  "          "           "                                                        4                              19, 20        

 

Week 5:  2/06  The American Revolution & its Legacy                                                   5                              21            

               2/08  Building the New Republic: Confederation and Constitution               5, 6                          22

                        TEST:  COMMOM SENSE

 

Week 6:  2/13  The Constitution; Federalists vs. Republicans                                       6                              22

               2/15  Competing Visions:  Federalists vs. Republicans                                    6                              22

                       

Week 7:  2/20  The Jeffersonian Era                                                                                    7, 8                         

               2/22  Internal Conflicts of Westward Expansion; War with Britain               7, 8                          25

        LECTURE TEST #1

 

Week 8: 2/27  The "Era of Good Feelings"; Nationalism & Sectionalism                     8                             

              3/01   EXAM #1

 

Part II:  Nationalism, Division, and Reunion:  1820-1877

Note:  Read Loom and Spindle by 10/31

 

Week  9:  3/06  Jacksonian America: Politics of the Common Man                                9                              26,27

                3/08       "              "         : Indian Removal; Bank Controversy                        9                              27

 

Week 10:   S P R I N G    B R E A K

 

Week 11:  3/20  America's Economic Revolution: Dynamics of Growth                        10                            30

                 3/22       "              "                "                 "         "          "                                     10                            30

 

Week 12:  3/27  An American Renaissance: Religion, Romanticism, Reform               12                            36, 37

                 3/29        "              "               "         "                 "                "                              12                            34

                            TEST:  LOOM AND SPINDLE

 

Week 13:  4/03  Age of Reforms:  Society in Search                                                         12                            29, 31, 32

                 4/05  The Old South:  Cotton, Culture, & the "Peculiar Institution"             11                            33, 35

 

Week 14:  4/10  Manifest Destiny & Westward Migration                                             13                            28, 29

                 4/12  Territorial Conflicts & Crisis of Union                                                     13                            23, 24

                                                                                    ....course outline continued

 

Part II:  Continued....                                                                                                    Brinkley                     Am.F/hand                                                                                                                                                                                     (Chapers)                         (Readings)

 

 

Week 15:  3/17  Civil War & Society, 1861-1865                                                                l4                             38, 39, 40, 41

                 3/19 Reconstruction & Reunion, 1865-1877                                                     15                            42, 43, 44

                           LECTURE TEST #2

 

Week l6:  3/24  Reconstruction & Reunion                                                                        15                            42, 43, 44

                3/26  Catch Up/Review

 

 

                

 

 

Final Exam:       Section C346   =    Tuesday,  May 1        1:00-3:00 pm,   CA 215

 

                            Section C347   =     Tuesday, May 1         3:30-5:30pm,   CA 215