History 201G

American History to 1877

Dr. Paul A. Lester                                                                            M-W-F

Spring, 2006                                                                                   9:30 -10:20am

Room: Hardman 114                                                                        Section 5

Required Text:

                Henretta, James, America: A concise History Volume 1

Course Objective:

                History 201G will attempt to provide the student with a basic understanding of the origins of American civilization from the Age of Discovery through Reconstruction.  It will focus attention on factual information and the complexity of causal relationships in explaining historical events.  To an extent, the course also will educate the student to the variety of scholarly interpretations that exist regarding specific issues and overall trends in American History.

 

Assignments:

 

Three Hourly Exams:  Examinations will be essay format.  The three exams will constitute 75% of the final grade.  The other 25% will come from weekly quizzes to be given during discussion groups.  Students will be responsible for bringing a blue book to each exam.

 

 

Make Up Exams:

                Students are urged to take the exams when scheduled; it is to your benefit.  All students who miss an exam, and have a legitimate excuse may take a make-up exam.  It should be noted; however, that you cannot take more than one make up exam, and that the final Exam of May 5 does not apply, ie. There will be no make up for anyone who misses the final exam.  All make up exams will be given on May 3 in the classroom.

 

Office Hours:  Room 229, Breland Hall

                          Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10:30-11:20a.m.

                          By appointment at any reasonable time              

                          Telephone: 646-6728

 

Attendance:  As all of the test questions are covered in the lectures, regular attendance is necessary to pass this course.

 

 

Disabilities:  If you have a disability that may affect your performance in this course please provide documentation to the Office of Disabled Students, Garcia Annex, 646-1921.  Appropriate accommodations may then be provided for you.  If you have a condition that may affect your ability to exit safely from the premises in an emergency or that may cause an emergency during class, you are encouraged to discuss this with me in confidence and/or the director of the Disabled Students Programs.  If you have any questions about the Americans With Disabilities Act, call the ADA Coordinator 646-7795.

 

Syllabus:

Date             Lecture Topic                                                     Chapter

Jan. 20

Discussion Group Meeting

 

Jan. 23

Introduction  and Course Requirements

Age of Discovery, Part 1

Chapter 1

Jan. 25

The Age of Discovery, Part 2

Chapter 1

Jan. 27

Discussion Group Meeting

Chapter 1

Jan. 30

The Plantation Colonies: Virginia

Chapter 2

Feb. 1

The Plantation Colonies: MD, NY, and SC

Chapter 2

Feb. 3

Discussion Group Meeting

Chapter 2

Feb. 6

New England: The Pilgrims

Chapter2

Feb. 8

Puritan Origins, Part 1

Chapter 2

Feb. 10

Discussion Group Meeting

Chapter 2

Feb. 13

Puritan Origins, Part 2

Chapter 2

Feb. 15

Regulation of Colonial Trade, Part 1

Chapter 3

Feb. 17

Discussion Group Meeting

Chapter 3

Feb. 20

Regulation of Colonial Trade, Part 2

Chapter 4

Feb. 22

First Exam

 

Feb. 24

Discussion Group Meeting

Chapter 5

Feb. 27

Origins of the American Revolution, Part 1

Chapter 5

March 1

Origins of the American Revolution, Part 2

Chapter 5

March 3

Discussion Group Meeting

Chapter 6

March 6

The War for Independence

Chapter 6

March 8

Republicanism

Chapter 7

March 10

Discussion Group Meeting

Chapter 7

March 13

Articles of Confederation

Chapter 7

March 15

The Constitution

Chapter 7

March 17

Discussion Group Meeting

Chapter 7

March 27

The New Nation

Chapter 7

March 29

Jefferson and the Republican Ascendancy

Chapter 8

March 31

Discussion Group Meeting

Chapter 8

April 3

The Era of Good Feelings

Chapter 8

April 5

Second Exam

 

April 7

Discussion Group Meeting

Chapter 11

April 10

Age of Jackson, Part 1

Chapter 11

April 12

Age of Jackson, Part 2

 

April 14

Discussion Group Meeting

Chapter 11

April 17

Abolitionism

Chapter 12

April 19

Manifest Destiny

Chapter 12

April 21

Discussion Group Meeting

Chapter 12

April 24

Civil War, Part 1

Chapter 13

April 26

Civil War, Part 2

Chapter 13

April 28

Discussion Group Meeting

Chapter 14

May 1

Reconstruction

Chapter 15

May 3

Make up Exams

 

May 5

Final Exam

 

 

 

 

Final Grades:  Students may also obtain their grades over the phone (1-800-890-1645) or on the web.  In order to use either of these systems the student must obtain a personal identification number (PIN) by following the instructions at http://www.nmsu.edu/ONLINE.

 

To avoid delays, students are encouraged to obtain a PIN number as soon as possible.  For further information on the PIN, please contact Computing and Networking at 646-1840.

 

Grades will NOT be given out over my office phone or by the History Department Secretary.