U.S. History since 1865

H106                           V604

Summer I 2002              MTTh 1:00-3:15pm               CA217

Instructor contact Information:

Leigh Fought, Ph.D.

Office: CA 406

Phone: 317-274-5834          

E-mail: lfought@iupui.edu

Hours: 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after class, and by appointment

Books:

1. Out of Many, v. 2, 4^th edition, by John Mack Faragher

2. A People’s History of the United States, 1999/2000 edition by Howard Zinn

3. The Strange Career of Jim Crow, Commemorative edition, by C. Vann Woodward

[Optional: Coming of Age in Mississippi, by Anne Moody]

Grades:

Test #1

Test #2

Test #3

Optional Paper

Your final grade will be the average of these 3 (4 if you choose to do the paper)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This is a course in U.S. History from the era of Reconstruction until the present (or as close to the present as possible given the length of the semester and the amount of time allotted to class).  Major events and ideas tend to be divided into two categories: foreign policy of expansion, and domestic policy of reform.  Major groups of people addressed in this class include a variety of immigrant ethnicities, African-Americans, the working class, the middle class, and women. The class material is divided into three sections: Unregulated Expansion, Maintain Expansion with control, and Liberalism vs. Conservatism. A test will follow each section. 

In addition to the textbook, you will read two other volumes.  These books are intended to broaden your knowledge beyond what is possible to cover during class time. The first of these books, A People’s History of the United States will allow you to read about American history from the point of view of people normally marginalized or eliminated from textbooks and lectures.  The Strange Career of Jim Crow will give you a detailed description of racial segregation, and raise some interesting questions about various issues connected with the separation of groups of people based on race or any other characteristic.  Approach both of these books as sources of information first, rather than as entertainment.  You may find that they are both very well written, and not so horrible to read for fun.

Tests will be a combination of multiple choice, “fill-in-the-blank”, and essay.  Multiple-choice sections will test your recognition of facts and ideas.  “Fill-in-the-blank” will test your ability to recall facts, or components of ideas.  Essays will test your ability to integrate all of the above information into a coherent narrative or argument. Tests will include material from the lecture, A People’s History, and The Strange Career of Jim Crow.  Therefore, focus your time and energy on those three aspects of the class.

During this class, you will learn things you do not like; you will balk at some things that you read.  This is good because the material will force you to question or refine your existing beliefs or assumptions about the United States, its leaders, and its policies.  At no time are you required to agree with the teacher or authors or even other students, but you must take into consideration those ideas when asked to write essays or when asking questions.

This class includes information about violence, sex, and drugs, as well as many other things many people consider inappropriate subjects for polite company.  Additionally, illustrations, songs, and words that make you uncomfortable may accompany these issues.  You may become nauseous or squeamish. None of this material is intended as prurient, although some of it will shock.  Please, always keep in mind that life is messy, history is about life, therefore, history will be messy.  Also keep in mind the historical and educational context of the information.

Beyond that, your main goal in this class is to learn to just plain LIKE history as a subject, so that you will continue to enjoy and learn about history.  In that enjoyment, you may even come to see – one day, if not during this summer – that history is absolutely important to understanding the world that you live in, your family history, and even your own life.

CLASSROOM POLICIES

Cell phones and pagers:  Turn these off!!

Tardiness:  Be in class on time, and stay the full class period.

Absences:  Attendance is not part of your grade.  Attendance, however, is crucial to passing the class because test material will come primarily from the lecture.

Missed tests:  You must have proof as to why you missed a test (doctor’s note, receipt from the mechanic, computer repair shop, etc.).  You must make up the test within a week of your return to class.  The time of the make up test will be arranged with the instructor.

Dropping the class:  The instructor will not withdraw students from the class without a written request from the student.  You are responsible for dropping yourself from the class.  If you cease attending the class, but also do not withdraw from the class, you will probably receive a grade of F.

Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in disciplinary action and a grade of F.

Students are responsible for activity on their computer/e-mail accounts.

CLASS SCHEDULE

The instructor reserves the right to alter any part of this syllabus except the class meeting time.