H106 American History II
Section 1072
Tues. - Thurs. 11:00 A. M. – 12:15 P. M.
Cavanaugh Hall, Rm. 217
Spring, 2006

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

Introduction

Welcome to H106 American History II.  This course is designed as an introduction to the history of the United States since 1865. No background in U. S. history is required for enrollment. The approach is topical within a chronological framework. Emphasis is on the period from approximately 1865 to 1990. Primary attention is devoted to the intereaction between domestic political, social and economic forces in the development of the modern United States. At the same time, however, U. S. foreign relations and the rise of the United States as a global power will also be considered.

Course Requirements

Course work will consist of attending weekly lectures and discussions of the assigned readings, writing two 3-5 page analytical book review essays, and a midterm and final examination. Prompt, regular attendance at all class meetings, informed participation in discussions and the completion of written assignments in a timely manner are absolutely essential for successful completion of the course. Your course grade will be based on your: (a) attendance--15%; (b) participation in discussions--15%; (c) written assignments--30%; and (d) examinations--40%. For a more detailed discussion of the learning objectives of this course, please consult IUPUI’s Principles of Undergraduate Learning, which is available on the History department’s web page.

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half our class meetings within the first four weeks of the semester without contacting me, you will be administratively withdrawn from this section.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 Thus, if you miss more than four* classes in the first four weeks, you may be withdrawn.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 aid and student scholarship 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 Administrative withdrawal will take place after the full refund period, and if you are administratively withdrawn from the course you will not be eligible for a tuition refund.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 Misconduct

It must be noted that any form of academic misconduct by a student in the course will not be tolerated.  This includes obvious types of academic misconduct such as cheating on examinations and/or plagiarism as well as submitting the same paper for credit in different courses.  Any student who is found guilty of such misconduct by the instructor will receive an F on that assignment as well as the course and have his/her infraction recorded as a permanent part of his/her academic record.  For a more detailed explanation of the different types of academic misconduct, please consult "Attendance, Policies and General Course Requirements" for this course and the IUPUI Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct handbook.

Course Texts

The following books are required reading for the course. They are available for purchase at the IUI bookstore. Items marked with an * are available as downloadable materials on Oncourse.

Mary Beth Norton, et al. A People & A Nation: A History of the United States. 7th Edition, Vol. II
John Hollitz (ed.) Thinking Through the Past: A Critical Thinking Approach to U. S. History. 3rd Edition Vol. II
Ellen F. Fitzpatrick (ed.) Muckraking: Three Landmark Articles

Steven F. Lawson (ed.) To Secure These Rights: The Report of President Harry S. Truman’s Committee on Civil Rights

Daily assignments are as follows.

Jan. 10    -   Organizational Meeting
Discussion: What is history?

Jan. 12 - History as a Way of Thought and Action
Read:  Hollitz, "Introduction," pp. 3-6

Jan. 17  -   Reconstruction in the United States
Lecture: Reconstruction, Race and Reform
Read: Norton, Chapter 16

Jan. 19 - Reconstruction in the United States
Read: Hollitz, Chapter 1. Discussion of Hollitz and related material.

Jan. 24 - The Social And Economic Transformation of the United States
Lecture: The Rise of Modern American Business after the Civil War
Read: Norton, Chapters 17 &18

Jan. 26 - The Social And Economic Transformation of the United States
Read: Hollitz, Chapter 2. Discussion of Hollitz and related material.

Jan. 31   - Population Growth and Social Change in Urban-Industrial America
Lecture: Migration, Immigration and the Urban-Industrial Metropolis
Read: Norton, Chapter 19

Feb. 2 - Population Growth and Social Change in Urban-Industrial America
Read: Hollitz, Chapter 3. Discussion of Hollitz and related material.

Feb. 7   - The “Gilded Age” and Third Party Politics

      Lecture: The Populist Movement
      Read: Norton, Chapter, 20

Feb. 9 - The “Gilded Age” and Third Party Politics

Read: William Allen White, “What’s the Matter With Kansas?”*
Mary Lease, “In Defense of Home and Hearth: Mary Lease Raises Hell Among the Farmers*

William Jennings Bryan, “Bryan’s ‘Cross of Gold’ Speech: Mesmerizing the

Masses”*

Feb. 14  -  Post-Civil War Society, Politics and Reform

      Lecture: Progressivism
      Read: Norton, Chapter 21

Feb. 16 - Post-Civil War Society, Politics and Reform

Read: Hollitz, Chapter 5

Fitzpatrick, Muckraking assignment due

Feb 21 - Submission of Comprehensive Midterm Examination Essay Question

Feb. 23 - Comprehensive In-Class Midterm Examination

Feb. 28  - The United States and First Steps Towards World Power Status

        Lecture: The Spanish-American War
        Read: Norton, Chapter 22

Mar. 2 - The United States and First Steps Towards World Power Status

Read: Hollitz, Chapter 4. Discussion of Hollitz and related material

Mar. 7 - The United States and the “Great War”

Lecture: The United States and World War I
Read: Norton, Chapter 23

Mar. 9 - The United States and the “Great War”
Read: Stanley Coben, “A Study in Nativism: The American Red Scare of

1919-20. Political Science Quarterly Vol. 79 (Mar., 1964), pp. 52-75*
Stanley B. Norvell William Tuttle, Jr. “Views of a Negro During the ‘Red

Summer’ of 1919.” Journal of Negro History Vol. 51 (July, 1966), pp. 209-

218* Discussion of Coben, Norvell/Tuttle and related material

Mar. 14 -   Spring Break--No class

Mar. 16 - Spring Break—No Class

Mar. 21 - The 1920s in the United States
Lecture: The 1920s and the Birth of Modern American Culture
Read: Norton, Chapter 24

Mar. 23 - The 1920s in the United States

Read: Hollitz, Chapter 6. Discussion of Hollitz and related material

Mar. 28 - The Great Depression and FDR’s New Deal

       Lecture: The Great Depression and FDR's New Deal
       Read: Norton, Chapter 25

Mar. 30 - The Great Depression and FDR’s New Deal

Read: Hollitz, Chapter 7. Discussion of Hollitz and related material.

April 4 - Interwar Diplomacy and World War II

        Lecture: The Causes and Consequences of World War II
         Read: Norton, Chapters 26 & 27

April 6 - Interwar Diplomacy and World War II

Read: Hollitz, Chapter 8. Discussion of Hollitz and related material.

April 11 - Truman, Eisenhower and the Cold War United States

          Lecture: The Cold War and McCarthyism
          Read: Norton, Chapter 28

April 13 - Truman, Eisenhower and the Cold War United States
Read: Hollitz, Chapters 9 & 12. Discussion of Hollitz and related material

Lawson, To Secure These Rights assignment due

April 18 - Years of Social Protest and Reform

          Lecture: The Civil Rights Movement and Post-WWII Reform
          Read: Norton, Chapter 29        

April 20 - Years of Social Protest and Reform

          Read: Hollitz, Chapters 10 & 12. Discussion of Hollitz and related material.

April 25 - The United States After 1980
Lecture: Reagan to Clinton and the End of 1960s Reform
Read: Norton, Chapters 32 & 33

April 27 - The United States After 1980
Read: Hollitz, Chapter 13. Discussion of Hollitz and related material.

May 3 -   Classes end/Final Examination Period Begins

Final Examination Tuesday May 2, 2006 1:00 - 3:00 P.M.

Last revised 1/4/06