An Introduction to Early U.S. History, to 1867 (201G) Kellie
Section 231 Breland Hall
phone:
SYLLABUS email:
office hours:
1.0: Course description:
This course will provide an overview of the start of U.S. History, from the earliest
inhabitants to the Civil War focusing on the issues, major forces, big changes and
large processes (with supporting detail) that have shaped the United States. A
recurring theme will be problems that people faced and how they tried to solve
them. Specific topics will include the Puritan Ethic, roots of the US economic
system, an analysis of the American Revolution, the U.S Constitution & judicial
system, Jeffersonian- and Jacksonian-democracy, slavery and the abolitionist
movement and the Civil War/War Between the States, 1861 - 1865.
This course has been certified as one in New Mexico State University’s General
Education Core Curriculum (GECC). The GECC attempts to foster intelligent
inquiry, abstract logical thinking, critical analysis and the integration and synthesis
of knowledge; it strives for literacy in writing, reading, speaking and listening; it
it teaches mathematical structures; acquainting students with precise abstract
thought about numbers and space; it encourages an understanding of science and
scientific inquiry; it provides a historical consciousness, including an understanding
of one’s own heritage as well as respect for other peoples and cultures; it includes an
examination of values and stress the importance of a carefully considered values
system; it fosters an appreciation of the arts; and general education provides the
breadth necessary to have a familiarity with the various branches of human
understanding.
2.0: Course objectives:
2.1. Content:
a. as a consequence of this course, students will have a context for today’s USA
b. a context for the U.S. in the world
c. students will be able to identify key parts of U.S. thought
d. students will know five essential elements of U.S. capitalism
e. students will be able to define today’s “isms”
f. students will be able to distinguish history from chronicles.
2.2 Skills:
a. as a consequence of this course, students will read for meaning.
b. students will acquire the discipline to keep up with class reading
c. students will know that there is fact and there is opinion--and that there is a
difference.
d. students will be source critical including verbal, print & digital information
e. students will be exposed to primary source material.
f. students will be able to label & define the three types of historical sources
g. students will be able to define what a historian does & how one thinks
h. students will know to seek at least three alternate explanations for data
i. students will know to interpret data
j. students will have five alternate definitions for the concept “political/politics.”
k. students will speak in a group situation
l. students will learn to think on the spot
m. students will be able to define a paragraph
n. students will be able to take notes effectively
o. students will be aware of University support services
o. students will learn to stay awake during my deathless words.
3.0 Course goal: study the material assigned and suggested and come to class prepared
to discuss the meaning and implications of the material. (Your avuncular instructor
does better with questions than lectures.)
4.0 Course requirements:
4.1 text: Henretta, Brody & Dumenil, America: A Concise History. Vol 1 (required)
4.2 grades:
a. writing assignments: follow criteria specified in class; in your own words; 30%
b. book critique OR research project: follow criteria specified in class; 30%
c. tests: based on classroom material & text; 40%
d. extra credit may be available to attendees.
4.3 material is due on assigned dates; there is a penalty for late work. Work is due at
the beginning of the hour. Any tests will be taken on assigned date. Students are
responsible for completing all work and making up any missing work.
4.4 Attendance will count for you.
4.5 The dates below are subject to change. The final is not; it is:__. All tasks are due
by 11/21. Please feel to submit early: correct things not quite right.
4.6 University policies will govern areas not expressly covered herein, inter alia,
academic misconduct, plagiarism, incomplete grades; NMSU policies are
incorporated herein by reference.
4.7 grade scale: A, 90 - 100; B, 80 - 89; C, 70 - 79; D, 60 - 69; F, 59 - . Pluses and
minuses will be used if they result in a benefit to the student.
4.8 Students who believe that their circumstances merit an early final exam may see
me to discuss those circumstances.
4.9 Student responsibilities include bringing a scantron & #2 pencil on test days.
Also, one who enrolls but fails to attend will not be administratively dropped.
If you do not formally drop the class a grade, F, will be entered at semester’s
end.
5.0: DisAbilities: If you have or believe you have a disability that may affect your per-
formance in this class, you may wish to self-identify to your instructors. You can
do so by providing documentation to the Office Of DisAbled Students, Garcia
Annex, 646-1999921. 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 in confidence with me and/or the Director of the DisAbled Student Pro-
grams. If you questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act, call the ADA
Coordinator, 646-7795.
6.0: Weekly topics: reading and writing assignments: (N.B.: the following is the goal;
specific assignments will be made in class):
Week 1: Introductions; What historians do; Chaps. 1 & 2 .
Please answer, "The 7 Questions," below.
Week 2: Ch. 3.
Week 3:. Ch. 4.
Week 4: Ch. 5.
Week 5: Ch. 6.
Week 6: Ch. 7.
Week 7: Ch. 8.
Week 8: Ch. 9.
Week 9: Ch. 10.
Week 10: Ch. 11.
Week 11: Ch. 12.
Week 12:. Ch. 13.
Week 13: Ch.14.
Week 14: Ch. 15.
Week 15: Terminating activities.
NOTE:
Questions to answer correlate to the Chapters as follows.
Ch 1, #’s 1-15; 2, 16-26; 3, 27-40; 4, 41-53; 5, 54-66; 6, 67-77; 7, 78-89; 8, 90-99; 9,100-111; 10, 112-126; 11, 127-139; 12, 140-149; 13,150-160; 14, 161-174;15 175-185.
The 7 questions:
1. Where were you born? Raised?
2. What did you like least about your last history course?
3. What did you like most?
4. What is the last book you read?
5. What magazines & journals do you regularly read?
6. What are your current career plans?
7. What do you want to learn about in this course?
(8. Optional: Any observations you care to make?)