American History II: (H 106  Section C356)

Survey of American History Since 1865

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

 

Books: Alan Brinkley,  American History:  A Survey, Vol. II:  Since 1865.  10th ed.

Robert D. Marcus and David Burner, America Firsthand:  Readings from

Reconstruction to the Present, Vol. II.   4th ed.

William R. Riordon, Plunkitt of Tammany Hall

Elie Wiesel, Night

Anne Moody, Coming of Age in Mississippi

 

Purpose:  This course will examine the changing social, cultural, political, and economic scene in the U.S. from 1865 to the present.  We will survey both the accomplishments and conflicts in American domestic and international affairs as the nation rose from a country healing from the wounds of civil war to a world superpower.

 

Grade Determination= Exams, Tests, & Attendance.     (Total Points in this class:  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 held before each exam if desired.

 

Tests:   There will be five tests, each worth 40 points:  Two of the tests will be multiple choice based on lecture material, and the other three tests will be essays based on:  (1) Riordon's Tammany Hall,  (2) Wiesel's Night,  (3) Moody's Coming of Age in Mississippi.    

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

 

Attendance:  Three unexcused class 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 Point Breakdown

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

 

 

Course Outline

          Assignments    

Brinkley          Am.F/hand

Part I:  1865-1920:  Reconstruction; Gilded Age;                              (Chapters)         (Readings)

Progressive Era; World War I; 1920's

(Note:  Read Tammany Hall by 2/05)

                  (Mon/Wed)

Week 1   1/08  Intro. to History; Postwar Reconstruction                                              15                            1-8          

 1/10  Reconstruction; Far West                                                                          16                            9-14

 

Week 2   1/15  No Class-MLK, Jr. day

 1/17  Gilded Age:  1870s-1890s: Industry; Labor; Ideology                           17                            15-18

 

Week 3   1/22  Gilded Age:  Urbanization; Immigration; Popular Culture                    18                            15-18

 1/24  Gilded Age:  Popular Culture                                                                     18                            15-18

 

Week 4   1/29  Gilded Age:  Politics; Populism; Imperialism                                           19                            15-18

 1/31  Gilded Age:  Politics; Populism; Imperialism                                           20                            15-18

 

Week 5   2/05  Progressive Era:  Ideology; Optimism; Reform                                       21                            19-21

 2/07  Progressive Era:  Reform; Human Intervention                                     21                            19-21

                           Test:   Tammany Hall

 

Week 6   2/12  Progressive Era:  Struggle for Nat'l Reform; TR, Taft, Wilson             22                            19-21

 2/14  Progressive Era:  Struggle for Nat'l Reform; TR, Taft, Wilson             22                            19-21

                                                                      

Week 7   2/19  World War I:  American Diplomacy; Mobilization                                 22, 23                      24-25

 2/21  War:  Publicity; Peace                                                                                 23                            24-25

        

Week 8   2/26  A New Era:  The Roaring 20s - Culture; Economy                                 24                            26-27

 2/28  Roaring 20s:  Culture and Conflicts                                                         24                            26-27

                              Lecture Test #1

 

Week 9     3/05   Roaring 20s:  Nativism, Prohibition, Religious Fundamentalism       24                            22-23

                 3/07  EXAM #1

 

Week 10    S P R I N G      B R E A K

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                       ............Course outline - Part II -  continued on next page

 

 

 

 

Assignments

Brinkley          Am.F/hand

Part II:  Depression to the Present                                                      (Chapters)              (Readings)

(Note:  Read Night by 3/26 ; Coming of Age by 4/11 )

                 (Mon/Wed)

Week 11   3/19  Crash and Depression:  "The Road to Rock Bottom"                            25                             28

                 3/21 1930s:  Decade of Crisis Meets FDR & New Deal                                     25, 26                       28

  

Week 12   3/26  FDR and the New Deal in Action and Legacy                                         26                             28

                 3/28  Global Stage for WWII & U.S. Involvement                                            27                             28                                                  Take-Home Test Due on  Night

 

Week 13   4/02  WWII:  Mobilization and American Society                                            27, 28       29-33

                 4/04  WWII and the end of U.S. Isolationism                                                     28                             29-33

 

Week 14   4/09  The Cold War; Truman                                                                               29                             29-33

                 4/11  Eisenhower; McCarthyism; Society                                                           30                             34

 

Week 15   4/16  1950s:  Consumerism; Conformity; Civil Rights                                     30                             35-36

                             Test:  Coming of Age in Mississippi

                 4/18   Turbulent 60s/70s: Liberalism; Liberation; Protest                                 31                             40-41 

 

 

Week 16   4/23  Vietnam & Political Leadership in Crisis                                                  31, 32                       37, 39

                             Lecture Test #2

                 4/25   Nixon:  Vietnam; Watergate                                                                        32                             38

 

Week 17   4/30   1980s & Beyond: New Right Politics; Post-Cold War                           33, 34                       42-45

                

 

 

                 Final Exam:   Friday, May 4         1:00-3:00 in CA 217

 

 

 

      

NOTES: