U.S. History to 1877

History H105/Spring 2006

W 5:45-8:25

Instructor: Jason S. Lantzer

Email: jlantzer@indiana.edu

Course Description and Goals:

H105 is a survey course in American History. It aims to look at the major themes, events, and personalities important in the development of the United States from the time of European Colonization to Reconstruction. In this class we will look at how people and ideas shaped the course of American history. The emphasis will be on these larger theoretical constructs, as opposed to memorizing dates and other “facts.” My hope is that you will come away from the class with a deeper understanding of not only American history but also of History in general, and how the past continues to shape the world we live in today.

To that end, one of the questions we will look at throughout this course is what is America? How did different people see America? What did America mean to the people who lived during the events of the past? How did their interpretations of America shape the country, and as a result, our view of America today? It is hoped that the course will provide you with a basis to better your communication, and critical thinking skills, as well as help you integrate knowledge from several areas into wider perspectives, and form a basis from which you can better appreciate both your own and other cultures.

Required Books:

Boydston etal., Making A Nation I, Portfolio Edition

Henry Wiencer, An Imperfect God

Reading assignments from the books are designed to provide useful context for the lectures, as well as a way to help spur discussion and deeper understanding. Additionally, the Wiencer book will be the basis for a paper you write for the class.

Attendance:

It is expected that you will attend class. Punctual and consistent attendance is a key component to success in college, as it is in one’s career, and it will be valued highly in this course. Should you ever need to miss a class for religious or health reasons, try and let me know ahead of time.

Grades:

There will be four exams in the class and a paper, each of which is worth one hundred (100) points and will be based on the assigned readings and lectures. The exams, which are non-cumulative, will be made up of essay and short answer questions.

The final grade is simply the average of the four exams and the paper, while factoring in such “intangibles” as attendance, participation, and improvement. Grading is according to the standard A-F scale: 100-90=A, 89-80=B, 79-70=C, 69-60=D, 59-0=F.

Class and Reading Schedule:

1/11: Introduction/Native America and Native Americans (Read Chapts 1-6)

1/18: Europe Pre-1492/Creating Protestants: Reformation

1/25: Welcome to the Great Colonial Game/England’s Colonies/The Great Awakening

2/1: FIRST EXAM/No Taxation (Read Chapts 6-8; and Wiencer)

2/8: When in the Course of Human Events…/The War in the North

2/15: The War in the South/We the People…

2/22: SECOND EXAM/Jeffersonian Republicanism (Read Chapts 8-9; and Wiencer)

3/1: Missouri Compromise/Age of Jackson (Read Chapts 10-11)

3/8: THIRD EXAM

3/15: Spring Break

3/22: King Cotton and the South/ Industrialized North (Read Chapts 12-14)

3/29: Manifest Destiny/The Crisis of the Union: The 1850s

4/5: The War for Union, 1861-1862/ The Turning Point: 1863 (Read Chapts 14-15)

4/12: End of the War: 1864-1865

4/19: Paper Due

4/26: Reconstruction: Politics/ Opportunity Missed (Read Chapt. 16)

5/3: FINAL EXAM