H105
American History I
Fall, 2003
Section: C353
Days: Monday - Wednesday
Cavanaugh Hall, Rm. 215
Time: 11:00 A.M. - 12:15 P.M.

Instructor: M. H. Little
Office: Cavanaugh Hall, Rm. 503C
Telephone: (317) 274-0098
Email: mlittle@iupui.edu

Introduction

Welcome to H105 American History I. This course is designed as a one semester introduction to the history of the United States. The course is topical within a chronological framework. Emphasis is on the period from the age of exploration to the Civil War, with some class sessions devoted to earlier and later periods as well. Primary attention will be devoted to the political, social and economic development of the early United States. However, the consequences of that development upon the continent's indigenous peoples, Africans and the environment will also be considered. Please note that the information contained in this syllabus is tentative and subject to change.

Course Objectives

Course work will involve attending weekly classroom lectures and discussions, reading assigned texts and documents, informed discussion of material from lectures and reading assignments, completing two 3-5 page written assignments (not counting cover or endnotes pages), weekly quizzes, and a midterm and final examinations. Regular and prompt attendance as well as active participation at all class sessions is absolutely essential for successful completion of the course. Students will be graded on: (a) class attendance and participation--30%; (c) written assignments--30%; and (d) quizzes--10% and examinations--30%. It is understood that there are always unforeseen events which may prevent a student from attending class, but in the event that this occurs, students are required to report their absence immediately at the telephone number listed at the top of this syllabus. For a more detailed explanation of the objectives of this course as they relate to IUPUI’s undergraduate education goals, please consult the following link: Principles of Undergraduate Learning.

Administrative Withdrawal

A basic requirement of this course is that you will participate in class and conscientiously complete writing and reading assignments. Keep in touch with me if you are unable to attend class or complete an assignment on time. If you miss more than half our class meetings within the first four weeks of the semester without contacting me, you will be administratively withdrawn from this section. Our class meets twice per week. Thus if you miss more than four classes in the first four weeks, you may be withdrawn. Administrative withdrawal may have academic, financial, and financial aid implications. Administrative withdrawal will take place after the full refund period, and if you are administratively withdrawn from the course you will not be eligible for a tuition refund. If you have questions about the administrative withdrawal policy at any point during the semester, please contact me.

Academic Dishonesty

It should be noted that any form of academic dishonesty committed in the course will not be tolerated. This includes obvious types of dishonesty such cheating on examinations and plagiarism as well as submitting the same paper for credit in two different courses. Any student who is found guilty of such criminal behavior by the instructor will be awarded an F for the course as well as having his/her dishonesty recorded as a permanent part of his/her student record. For a more detailed explanation of the different types of academic dishonesty, please consult the IUPUI Student Responsibilities and the Student Rights and Responsibilities handbooks.

The following books are required reading for the course. They are available for purchase at the IUPUI Booktore as well as online at either Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.com.

Carol Berkin, et al. Making America. Vol. I, 3rd Edition
John Hollitz, Thinking Through the Past Vol. I, 2nd Edition
Thomas Paine, Common Sense
Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Weekly class meetings are as follows:

Week of:

Aug. 18th    -  Introduction to the course
Read: Berkin, pp. xiii-xxiv; Hollitz, pp. 3-7

Aug. 25th    -  The Atlantic World
                        Lecture:  The America’s Before Columbus
                        Read: Berkin, pp. 3-29; Hollitz, pp. 9-21

Sept. 1st    -   The European Conquest and Settlement of the Americas
Lecture:  European Conquest and Settlement of the Americas
Read: Berkin, pp.31-55 ; Hollitz, pp. 22-38

Sept. 8th     -   The Development of the English Mainland Colonies
                         Lecture:  The English Colonies:  A Social Portrait
                         Read: Berkin, pp. 57-85; Hollitz, pp. 39-57

Sept. 15th   -    From Revolt to Revolution
                          Lecture:  The Road to Revolution
                          Read: Berkin, pp. 87-115, 117-147; Paine,all

Sept. 22nd -    The American Revolution
Lecture: The American Revolution
                          Read: Berkin, pp. 149-177; Hollitz, pp. 58-75

Paine essay due in-class Wednesday, September 24th
Consult the Oncourse weekly schedule page for essay writing instructions

Click here for info about the Declaration of Independence

Sept. 29th    -   From Revolution to Nationhood
                          Lecture:  The Constitutional Convention
                          Read: Berkin, pp. 179-211; Hollitz, pp. 76-95

Click here for a brief overview of Constitutional Convention delegates

Oct. 6th       -    Review and Midterm Examination

Oct. 13th     -    Life in the Early Republic
                           Lecture:  The Origins of the American Party System
                           Read: Berkin, pp. 213-239

Click here for the Educational Theory of Thomas Jefferson

Oct. 20th - Territorial Expansion, Conflict and War
Lecture:  The Louisiana Purchase and the War of 1812
Read: Berkin, pp. 241-269; Hollitz, pp. 96-124

Oct. 27th    -    Political Change in the New Nation
Lecture:  Andrew Jackson and Mass Politics
Read: Berkin, pp. 271-301; Hollitz, pp. 182-205

Nov. 3rd     -   Economic Transformation in the New Nation
Lecture:  Manufacturing, Transportation and Markets
Read: Berkin, pp. 303-329; Hollitz, pp. 125-155

Click here for info on the Erie Canal

Nov. 10th     -    Intellectual Movements and Social Reform
Lecture:  Race, Slavery and Abolitionism
Read: Berkin, pp. 331-359; Hollitz, pp. 206-228; Douglass, all

Douglass essay due Wednesday November 12th
Consult Oncourse schedule page for essay writing instructions

Nov. 17th      -   Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny
                           Lecture:  The American Frontier in Popular Myth and Historical Reality
                           Read: Berkin, pp. 335-360; Hollitz, pp. 156-181

Nov. 24th      -    Sectionalism and Secession
                            Lecture:  The Path to Civil War
                            Read: Berkin, pp. 391-421; Hollitz, pp. 252-281

Dec. 1st - Civil War
                            Lecture:  The Civil War--Its Social, Economic and Political Impact
                            Read: Berkin, pp. 423-455; Hollitz, pp. 252-281

Click here for text of the Emancipation Proclamation

Dec. 8th        -     Classes End
Final Examination: Wednesday, December 10th, 2003
Time: 10:30 A. M. -12:30 P. M.
Location: CA 215

I, ______________________________________ have read the preceding syllabus in its entirety in my instructor’s presence and fully understand its contents.
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Signature ___________________________________________ Date ____________