United State History and Constitutional Government I

HIS 204

T/TH 8:30-9:45

Final Exam: Monday, May 8, 2000 8:30-10:30

Prof. Gayle V. Fischer

Office Hours: It is my pleasure to be able to introduce you to the excitement of American history for this semester. I am available to you at any reasonable hour, so please feel free to contact me with any problem or question that might arise. My office is located in Sullivan Building, suite 104A. We will agree on a regular time that I will be available in my office for consultations. I am also available to meet with you at other times with an appointment, or you are always welcome to try stopping by. My office number is 978/542-6399. I can also be reached via e-mail at gayle.fischer@salemstate.edu. I look forward to teaching you. A copy of this syllabus is available at my webpage: www.salemstate.edu/~gfischer/

Course Description: Through our study of the United States through the Civil War, you will gain familiarity with the tools of the historian and an understanding of the aims of the discipline of history and its value in attempting to critically study who we are, where we come from, and where we are going.

Students should:

1. Develop a sense of geography and an appreciation of the importance of geography in world events.

2. Be able to trace important political movements of the past, explaining how and why they occurred.

3. Be familiar with theories of the nature of history and be able to apply them to the events we study.

4. Develop a sense of comparative chronology.

5. Develop writing skills.

6. Develop critical thinking about historical sources.

7. Learn the tools and methodology of the historian.

8. Gain an appreciation of the major historiographical issues associated with each period.

9. Most of all, HAVE A GOOD TIME DOING 1-8!!!!!!!!!!

Required Texts (available at the SSC bookstore):

Countryman, Edward, ed., What Did the Constitution Mean to Early Americans?

Loewen, James W., Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything your American History Textbook Got Wrong

Henretta, et al, America's History Volume 1: to 1877, 4^th ed.

Optional Texts:

Richards, Jeffrey, Early American Drama (the plays you will use for your final project are in this volume--a copy is on reserve so you are not required to purchase the book if you prefer to copy the play in the library)

You MUST prepare the readings BEFORE the class period in which the relevant material is discussed. All of these texts are absolutely necessary for the course. Bring the appropriate text to class on the days it will be discussed.

Grading Policy and Assignments: In general, we will take a more creative approach to history, involving a variety of projects that you will be required to complete during the course of the semester.

Attendance and participation: 1/3

Writing Assignments: 1/3

Final Project: 1/3

Attendance and Participation: Regular attendance is expected in this course. You are responsible for all material presented in class. This includes material from class discussion and from films, transparencies and other media resources; please be aware that this sort of material is difficult, if not impossible, to make up. The instructor assumes NO RESPONSIBILITY whatsoever for providing you with missed notes, etc. If you are not present I cannot teach you, and since this class is taught in a lecture/discussion style we will be exchanging ideas and the class will be deprived of your input. Contributing regularly to class discussion will enhance your grade considerably. However, you must also be aware that failure to show respect when your classmates are speaking (e.g. putting your head on your desk, talking to your neighbor, reading your science book, walking out of the room, etc.) will lower your grade. PLEASE attend and participate regularly.

Writing Assignments: There will be a variety of short writing assignments throughout the course of the semester. Many of these assignments will be completed in class and will not be able to be made up. See syllabus for specific assignments.

You will see 25-word précis assigned on various days: Write a 25-word précis or summary of the day's reading (one summary for the day's reading whether it is one chapter or three). You must limit yourself to 25 words, I will not read beyond the 25^th word. I know this sounds harsh but the object of the exercise is for you to get to the point. Most days I will select five précis for the class to use as the basis for discussion. Given the nature of the précis and their use in class discussion it is impossible for me to accept late précis. The précis will be graded in the following way:

25 points=excellent

20 points=close to the mark

15 points=good try

10 points=turned in the assignment

Final Project: Our final exam is scheduled for: Monday, May 8, 8:30-10:30. You will present your final projects at this time. You MUST be there. When making vacation plans or scheduling work take this date and time into consideration. Failure to attend any part of the final exam will result in an automatic F for the course. See separate handout for details on the final project.

Academic Integrity: Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. If caught cheating, you will be reported to the Vice President of Academic Affairs who will investigate the charges. There will be no exceptions to this policy. See separate handout on plagiarism.

Equal Access Statement: "Salem State College is committed to providing equal access to the educational experience for all students in compliance with Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act and The Americans with Disabilities Act and to providing all reasonable academic accommodations, aids and adjustments. Any student who has a documented disability requiring an accommodation, aid or adjustment should speak with the instructor immediately. Students with Disabilities who have not previously done so should provide documentation to and schedule an appointment with the Office for Students with Disabilities and obtain appropriate services."

A Hearing Impaired Professor: Taking a class with a hearing-impaired professor can be a challenge. However, if you remember a few things there should be no problems. I wear a hearing aid, sometimes two. When you speak look directly at me. Do not cover your mouth when speaking. You may have to speak a little louder than usual. Be patient if I ask you to repeat yourself. If you think I haven't heard what you said or misunderstood, you are probably right--correct me. I will be more embarrassed if I am not corrected than if I am. I thank you for your patience.

COURSE OUTLINE

Note: The format, readings, and assignments for class are open to change at my discretion. I will announce any changes to you in class.

Week 1: January 20: Introduction

Week 2:

January 25: Read: Lies, pp. 11-36. 25-word précis due at the beginning of class.

January 27: Read "Worlds Collide: Europe and the Americas" in America's History. 25-word précis due at the beginning of class.

o Character Sketch Due.

Week 3:

· February 1:Read: Lies, pp. 37-74 and "The Invasion and Settlement of North America, 1550-1700" in America's History. 25-word précis due at the beginning of class.

· February 3: Read: Lies, pp. 75-97. 25-word précis due at the beginning of class.

o Research Assignments Due.

Week 4:

· February 8: Library Tour. Meet in Library--Failure to attend the library session will result in your final project grade being lowered a point--that is a B will become a B- and so forth. Do NOT miss our scheduled library meeting times.

· February 10: Short Paper #1 DUE. See short paper assignments at the end of course outline.

Week 5:

· February 15: Skim the following chapters in America's History: "The British Empire in America," "Growth, Diversity, and Crisis," and "Toward Independence."

· February 17: Read: "War and Revolution," and "The New Political Order," in America's History. And pp. vii-x, 3-14 in What Did the Constitution Mean.25-word précis due at the beginning of class.

Week 6:

· February 22: Setting Up a Society

o Mini-Research Assignment #1DUE

· February 24: Read: pages 15-68 in What Did the Constitution Mean.25-word précis due at the beginning of class.

Week 7:

· February 29: Read: pages 89-140 in What Did the Constitution Mean.25-word précis due at the beginning of class.

· March 2: Read: pages 141-164 in What Did the Constitution Mean.25-word précis due at the beginning of class.

Week 8:

· March 7: Short Paper #2 DUE.

· March 9: Library Tour. Meet in Library--Failure to attend the library session will result in your final project grade being lowered a point--that is a B will become a B- and so forth. Do NOT miss our scheduled library meeting times.

March 13-17 Spring Recess

Week 9:

· March 21: Read: "The Economic Revolution" and "A Democratic Revolution." 25-word précis due at the beginning of class.

· March 23: Read pages 137-170 in Lies. 25-word précis due at the beginning of class.

Week 10:

· March 28: Read: "The Ferment of Reform" in America's History.

o Mini-Research Assignment #2 DUE

· March 30: Library Tour. Meet in Library--Failure to attend the library session will result in your final project grade being lowered a point--that is a B will become a B- and so forth. Do NOT miss our scheduled library meeting times.

Week 11:

· April 4: Library Research Day

· April 6: Read: "The Crisis of the Union" in America's History.

Week 12:

April 11: Read pages 171-199 in Lies. 25-word précis due at the beginning of class.

· April 13: Read: "Two Societies as War" in America's History.

o Mini-Research Assignment #3 DUE

**Last day to WITHDRAW from full semester classes**

Week 13:

· April 18: Boys and Women in the Civil War

· April 20: Short Paper #3 DUE

Week 14:

April 25: Library Research Day

April 27:First Draft of Diary DUE

Week 15:

May 2: Read pages 271-318 in Lies. 25-word précis due at the beginning of class.

W May 3 Last Day of Classes

Final Exam: Friday May 5, 2000; 8:30-10:30am: Class Presentations; Diaries/Research Notebooks DUE

Short Papers: All short papers must be 2-3 pages in length, typed, double-spaced, and have a title. Although you are asked to refer to readings and class content, do not quote extensively.

Short Paper #1: James Loewen in Lies is critical of most textbooks. Write a review of the chapters you read in America's History from Loewen's perspective. Be fair in your review. When you criticize or approve of aspects of the textbook cite pages in Loewen that reflect his attitude. You may use parenthetical citations--(Loewen, 16). Your essay must also include specific references to America's History,class discussions, and lectures. When you cite discussions or lectures do so in the following way (Lecture, 2/14/00) or (Discussion, 3/1/00).

When I grade this paper I will be looking for:

1. evidence that you understand Loewen and America's History--Use Loewen's voice when you write the review. Use quotations sparingly--I'm interested in your perspective.

2. how well you incorporate class materials into your argument

3. your ability to analyze information rather than summarize it

4. writing/grammar: your paper needs to be grammatically correct, spelling needs to be accurate, title needs to be appropriate, etc., I will take points off papers that do not meet basic standards of organization and coherence and grammatical correctness.

Short Paper #2: Write an essay that answers the following questions: Did the "American people" create the Constitution? Or in some sense did the act of creating the Constitution also create the American people? Your essay must include specific references to What Did the Constitution Mean, America's History,class discussion, lectures, and Lies (if you think it is applicable). See short paper #1 for citing information.

When I grade this paper I will be looking for:

1. evidence that you understand the various historical interpretations of the Constitution

2. how well you incorporate class materials into your argument

3. how well you answer the questions being asked

4. writing/grammar: your paper needs to be grammatically correct, spelling needs to be accurate, your title needs to be appropriate, etc., I will take points off papers that do not meet basic standards of organization and coherence and grammatical correctness.

Short Paper #3: You have been asked to lecture a high school freshman class on US History from 1820-1865. Write a lecture. Your lecture MUST be interesting--think about your audience. Your essay must include specific references to What Did the Constitution Mean (if you think it is applicable), America's History,class discussion, lectures, and Lies. See short paper #1 for citing information.

When I grade this paper I will be looking for:

1. the topic you choose to write about--you cannot lecture on everything that happened between 1820-1865 so the choices you make are important

2. how well you incorporate class materials into your argument

3. style/format: the way you choose to present the material--this lecture must be interesting