Montgomery College

Department of History and Political Science

Rockville Campus

Course Syllabus, Spring 2009

HS 201 — History of the United States to 1865

Instructor Information

Dr. Michelle Moran

Office: HU 267

Office Hours: M, 4-6 p.m.; T/R, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.; W, 1-2 p.m.; and by appointment

Office Phone: 240-567-7276

Email: michelle.moran@montgomerycollege.edu

^{Course Information}

^{CRN: 30236}

^{Credit: 3 Semester Hours}

^{Schedule: T/R 9:30-10:45 a.m.}

^{Location: HU 129}

^{Course Description}

This course surveys the history of the European colonies of North America and the early United States from the late 1400s until the end of the Civil War. We will examine broad changes in the creation of the United States by studying its diverse peoples, political institutions, economic patterns, and cultural developments. Particular attention will be paid to the organization of communities and the conflicts that emerge among them, the changing definitions of citizenship, the emergence of a federal nation and nationalism, the expansion of U.S. territory, and shifting class, race, and gender relations. By examining primary and secondary sources, we will explore how history has been written and how we can come to our own understanding of the past.

^{Student Learning Outcomes}

After successfully completing HS 201, students will be able to:

1. Compare and contrast indigenous and European societies and cultures

2. Describe the processes of conquest and colonization in the “New World”

3. Trace the evolution of slavery and other labor systems as increasingly contentious political issues

4. Explain the factors and ideas leading to independence from Great Britain and the formation of the United States

5. Explicate the various causes and consequences of national expansion, sectionalism, and the Civil War

^{Required Texts}

Eric Foner, Give Me Liberty: An American History, vol. 1 (Seagull Edition) [GML]

Eric Foner, ed., Voices of Liberty: A Documentary History, vol. 1 (Second Edition) [VOF]

Melton A. McLaurin, Celia, A Slave: A True Story

Course Requirements and Grading

Class Participation and Attendance (100 points, 10 percent of grade): Completion of reading assignments before class and participation during class are essential to informed and lively discussions. You are required to attend class and be prepared to communicate your insights, questions, and comments on the assigned materials. Bring your textbooks to each class, as we will refer to them in lecture and discussion. Also, be sure to bring a notebook to take thorough notes on class lectures and discussions. Your grade for this component will be based on your contributions to discussion and responses in lecture, as well as your attentive consideration of what your fellow students and instructor have to say. More than two unexcused absences will be considered excessive and will result in a lower final grade. Official documentation is required for an excused absence. If you do miss class, be sure to get the notes you missed from another student. Chronically arriving late or leaving early is disruptive to the class and will also negatively affect your grade. If you know you will be late to arrive or will need to leave early on a given day, please notify the instructor ahead of time.

Quizzes (100 points, 10 percent): Brief quizzes will be given each week covering material from the assigned readings and lectures. Missed quizzes cannot be made-up, but there will be a bonus quiz given during the final week of the semester.

Document Analysis (100 points, 10 percent): You will write a two-page analysis of one of the documents in Chapter 5 of the Voices of Freedom reader, due at the beginning of class on February 24. Details about the assignment will be posted on MyMC. Late papers will receive a penalty of one letter grade for each class day late; no late papers will be accepted after March 10.

Essay (250 points, 25 percent): You will write a four- to five-page essay based on Melton A. McLaurin’s book, Celia, A Slave, due at the beginning of class on April 28. Details about the assignment will be posted on MyMC. Late papers will receive a penalty of one letter grade for each class day late, but no essays will be accepted after May 14.

Midterm (200 points, 20 percent) and Final Exam (250 points, 25 percent): Test questions will cover material from lectures, assigned readings, and class discussions. The exams will consist of a mixture of multiple choice questions, short answer identifications, and essays. Study guides will be posted on MyMC one week before the scheduled tests. No make-up exams will be given without prior instructor approval or documented medical excuse.

Grading Scale: 900-1000 points = A, 800-899 points = B, 700-799 points = C, 600-690 points = D, 599 points and below = F

^{Class Policies}

Academic Honesty: Plagiarism and cheating are serious offenses and will not be tolerated in this class. Those caught using the work of another as their own will receive an “F” on the test or assignment in which the dishonesty occurred and may receive an “F” for the course. Students are expected to understand and comply with college regulations that prohibit academic dishonesty. For information on academic standards, please consult the Student Code of Conduct under the heading, “Academic Dishonesty and Misconduct.” To avoid plagiarism, be sure that you properly acknowledge your use of another’s work in your papers. This includes any material gained from books, articles, lecture notes, or other sources. When directly quoting from such material, you must use quotation marks and provide the proper bibliographic citation. When paraphrasing, you also need to provide appropriate acknowledgment of the source of information through proper citation. If you have any questions about how to properly cite a source, please see the instructor.

Support Services: A student who may need an accommodation due to a disability should make an appointment to see me during my office hours. A letter from Disability Support Services (DSS) authorizing your accommodations will be needed. The DSS office is located in the Counseling and Advising Building (CB 122), or you may phone 240-567-5058 (voice) or 301-294-9672 (TTY).

If you feel you need assistance with your writing, I urge you to visit the Writing and Reading Center on the ground floor of the Humanities Building (HU 002) or to call 240-567-7402. The Center offers tutoring in reading, writing, and grammar and will also help with paper writing and revision.

Classroom Climate: Civility is required at all times. Lively debate about various issues in U.S. history is expected and encouraged, but respect for divergent interpretations and beliefs must be given. Avoid disrupting class by turning off all cell phones, pagers, and other audio equipment when entering the classroom. Refrain from eating, web-surfing, text messaging, and other distractions for the duration of the class. It is expected that you will remain in the classroom once class has begun — please do not wander away unless an emergency arises. Any disruptive behavior may result in your being asked to leave the class and may lead to an academic penalty.

MyMC and Student Email: The course syllabus, assignments, study guides, and lecture outlines will be posted on MyMC. Check the site weekly for updates. Please also regularly check your student email account (montgomerycollege.edu) for any messages that may be sent regarding class issues. When contacting me by email, please use your student account and include your name so that I can recognize you as a student. Email is to be used for messages only: do NOT send assignments via email. Only hard copies of assignments will be accepted.

Cancellation of Classes: If bad weather or other incidents cause the college to suspend classes or close, public service announcements will be provided to local radio and television stations as early as possible. Check the Montgomery College website at http://www.montgomerycollege.edu for any closing information. If the campus or college closes, class will be cancelled.

^{Syllabus — The instructor reserves the right to modify the syllabus as the semester progress if it becomes necessary.}

^{Class Schedule}

Week	Topic	Readings and Assignments
Week 1: 1/27-1/29	Introduction and Colliding Cultures	GML, Ch. 1; VOF, Docs. 1, 3, 5
Week 2: 2/3-2/5	Settling the Chesapeake and Puritan New England	GML, Ch. 2; VOF, Docs. 8, 9, 10, 11
Week 3: 2/10-2/12	Life in Colonial Society	GML, Ch. 3; VOF, Docs. 15, 16, 17, 18, 20
Week 4: 2/17-2/19	African Enslavement and Imperial Contests	GML, Ch. 4; VOF, Docs. 21, 22, 25, 26
Week 5: 2/24-2/26	Road to Revolution and Fighting for Independence	GML, Ch. 5; VOF, Docs. 27, 30, 31, 32 Document Analysis Due, 2/24
Week 6: 3/3-3/5	Revolutions Within	GML, Ch. 6; VOF, Docs. 33, 35, 38, 39
Week 7: 3/10	Midterm Exam
3/12	Building a New Nation	GML, pp. 211-220
Week 8: 3/17-3/19	Spring Break	Begin reading Celia, a Slave
Week 9: 3/24-3/26	The Constitution	GML, pp. 220-240; VOF, Docs. 41, 42, 44; the Constitution (GML, A-39-54)
Week 10: 3/31-4/2	Political Contests in the New Republic	GML, Ch. 8; VOF, Docs. 45, 47, 48, 49, 50
Week 11: 4/7-4/9	Economic Revolutions	GML, Ch. 9; VOF, Docs. 52, 54, 55, 56, 57
Week 12: 4/14-4/16	Democracy in America	GML, Ch. 10; VOF, Docs. 58, 59, 62, 63
Week 13: 4/21-4/23	The Peculiar Institution and Reforming America	GML, Ch. 11 and pp. 378-396; VOF, Docs. 64, 66, 67, 70, 73, 77; finish Celia, A Slave
Week 14: 4/28-4/30	Manifest Destiny and Civil Crisis	GML, Ch. 13; VOF, Docs. 78, 79, 83, 84 Essay Due, 4/28
Week 15: 5/5-5/7	The Civil War	GML, Ch. 14; VOF, Docs. 85, 86, 87, 88, 91
5/14	Final Exam, 8-10 a.m.

Key: GML, Give Me Liberty; VOF, Voices of Freedom