SUNY MORRISVILLE – SOCIAL SCIENCE 102

American History 102- American History from the Reconstruction (1865) to the present.

Instructor: David V. Hines

Phone: 315-449-0149

Email: Heinz57k@aol.com

Office hours: By appointment

Class Meeting Times: Thursdays 4:00-6:50 PM (15 sessions)

Course description: American History 102 is a survey of the politics, foreign policy, culture, economics and society from the Reconstruction (1865) to the present. Key events and personalities will be discussed and analyzed. We will also examine the wars, literature, and religion during the timeframe studied in the course.

Objectives: As Americans we need to understand our past so that we can be prepared for our future. Especially in light of 9/11 and the threat of long term terrorism it will be useful to study and contemplate our past history. Here are the objectives of the course:

1. Recognize significant people, places, and events in America from the Reconstruction to the present.

2. Describe the connections between politics, culture, and society.

3. Analyze the patterns of change and continuity in our past.

4. Evaluate the primary and secondary sources within the historical context.

5. Develop historical literacy by reading assigned texts and writing historical essays.

6. Complete at least three examinations and a type written paper demonstrating the achievement of objectives 1-5.

The student should leave the course with a mature grasp of American History from 1865 to the present.

Textbooks: David Goldfield et al, The American Journey (TAJ) and Stephen B. Oates, editor, Portraits of America, volume II.

Course Assignments: Students will read the pre-assigned pages in the textbooks, documents, and any other handouts that the instructor will pass out prior to the class so that the students can take part in class discussions. Please come to class with the textbooks and be prepared to actively participate. Students will also keep a notebook/ journal for the course. Key terms, persons, and topics that are written on the board will be entered into the notebooks, as well as, summaries of the lectures and textbook chapters. These notebooks will be examined by the instructor several times throughout the course and will make up a portion of the grade for class participation.

Examinations: There will be three examinations given during the course. They will not be cumulative. They will be comprised of multiple-choice, true and false and a brief essay question.

Historical paper: A historical paper, 4-6 pages in length, will be turned in by the thirteenth session. The paper will be on a topic is covered during the course, or on a book that is relevant to the timeframe of the course.

Weighting scale:

Exam one 100 points 20%

Exam two 100 points 20%

Exam three 100 points 20%

Historical paper 100 points 20%

Class participation 100 points 10%

Grading Scale:

450-500= A, A- (90-100%)

400-449= B+, B, B (80-89%)

350-399= C+, C, C- (70-79%)

300-349= D, D+ (60-69%)

Below 300= F, Failure (59 and below)

Course organization

Instructional methods:

Each three hour class will consist of a combination of lecture, and oral discussion of the topics covered in the class. Some of the classes will consist of historical simulations and role playing.

Students will do the assigned readings in the Goldfield and Oates texts prior to class. This is very important for intelligent class discussions by the students during the class.

Additional information/ instructions:

Roll/ sign in will be taken by the instructor at the beginning of the class. If a student comes in late come in quietly and see the instructor during a break or after class. If a break is given students will return promptly and quietly to the classroom. If a student has to depart early from the class the student will see the instructor at the beginning of the class to obtain permission to leave. Written skill will be demonstrated by the essays at the end of the exams and by the historical paper.

Schedule of Activities / Assignments / Examinations

Week 1:

January 26 Reconstruction of the South 1865-1877 (Goldfield, TAJ, chapter 16)

Week 2:

February 2 The New South 1877-1900 (Goldfield, TAJ, chapter 17)

Assigned reading, Oates, Eric Foner, “The Checkered History of the

Great Fourteenth Amendment” p. 19

Week 3:

February 9 Industry, Immigrants and Cities 1870-1900 (Goldfield, TAJ, chapter 18)

Assigned reading, Oates, Robert Heilbroner, “The Master of Steel: Andrew

Carnegie” p. 56

Week 4:

February 16 Transforming the West 1865-1890 (Goldfield, TAJ, chapter 19)

First exam

Week 5:

February 23 Politics and Government 1877-1900 (Goldfield, TAJ, chapter 20)

Week 6:

March 2 The Progressive Era 1900-1917 (Goldfield, TAJ, chapter 21)

Assigned reading, Oates, Paula A. Treckel, “The Lady takes on Standard Oil”

p. 90

Week 7:

March 9 Creating an Empire 1865-1917 (Goldfield, TAJ, chapter 22)

Week 8:

March 16 America and the Great War 1914-1920 (Goldfield, TAJ, chapter 23)

Assigned reading, Oates, Paul Fussell, “Hell Cannot Be So Terrible” p. 144

Spring break

Week 9:

March 30 Towards A Modern America: The 1920s (Goldfield, TAJ, chapter 24)

Assigned reading, Oates, Sara M. Evans, “Flappers, Freudians, and all that

Jazz” p. 175

Week 10:

April 6 The Great Depression and The New Deal 1929-1939 (Goldfield, TAJ, chapter 25)

Second exam

Assigned reading, Oates, David M. Kennedy, “Strike! Labor’s Historic Drive to

Unionize” p. 208

Week 11:

April 13 World War II 1939-1945 (Goldfield, TAJ, chapter 26)

Assigned reading, Oates, Robert J. Maddox, “Why We Had To Drop The Atomic Bomb” p. 272

Week 12:

April 20 The Cold War at Home and Abroad 1946-1952 (Goldfield, TAJ, chapter 27)

Historical paper due

Week 13:

April 27 The Confident Years 1953-1964 (Goldfield, TAJ, chapter 28)

Assigned reading, Oates, Marcia Cohen, “Betty Friedan Destroys The Myth of

the Happy Housewife” p. 363

Week 14:

May 4 Shaken to the Roots 1965-1980 (Goldfield, TAJ, chapter 29) Vietnam and its

aftermath, Assigned reading, Oates, Larry L. King, “Trapped, LBJ and the

Nightmare of Vietnam” p. 331

Week 15:

May 11 The Reagan Revolution and a Changing World 1981-1992 (Goldfield, TAJ,

Chapter 30) Assigned reading, Oates, Arthur R. Schlesinger, Jr., “Some lessons

from the Cold War” p.415

Complacency and Crisis 1993-2005 (Goldfield, TAJ, chapter 31)

Final Exam

This is a preliminary schedule only. The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this schedule as needed.

Course Policies and Procedures

Attendance:

Regular attendance is expected of all students. Attendance is one of the most important measures of your interest and desire to do well academically. Your attendance helps your instructor facilitate better discussions and your fellow students benefit from your ideas and experiences.

Unforeseen circumstances occasionally dictate that you must miss class; please make every effort to discuss such circumstances with your instructor before the absence. Remember that if you are not in class, you are absent- regardless of the reason- and that you are still responsible for all in-class assignments made. Your instructor is not responsible for providing this information to you- you must plan ahead with another student who would agree to share notes, etc., with you and vice versa.

Make the most of your investment- plan to attend class regularly and arrive ready to play an active role that contributes positively to teaching and learning.

Academic Honesty:

Morrisville State College expects students to fulfill their academic obligations through honest and independent effort. Academic dishonesty is considered a serious offense subject to strong disciplinary actions, including being dropped from the course with a grade of “F.” You will be reported to the Dean and may result in dismissal. Plagiarism will not be tolerated in the academic environment.

Student Conduct:

Students must conduct themselves so other students are not distracted from the pursuit of learning. Discourteous or unseemly behavior will not be tolerated. Faculty members, staff, and other students are to be treated with courtesy and respect. If unacceptable behavior occurs, the student may be asked to leave the classroom and may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including being dropped from the class with a grade of “F.”

Class Assignments:

All assignments must be turned in before or on the indicated due date. Late assignments may not be accepted or may be accepted for reduced credit. Students are responsible for turning in all assignments on time whether or not they are present in class.

Make-up Examinations:

Tests are to be taken in class on the date and time scheduled. No make up tests will be given unless the instructor feels that the absence was justified. If the absence was unavoidable or other wise justified, the student may arrange with his or her instructor to make up the exam. Exams will be given only with the instructor approval.

Classroom Behavior and Issues:

Be on time for class. I start promptly at 4:00. If you are late come in quietly and see me later.

Do not carry on private conversations during class.

Do not bring food to class and do not drink noisily in the classroom.

Do not shuffle books and book bags prior to class dismissal.

Please turn off all cell phones during class.

Computers may be used in class but they can not be connected to the web. Wireless connection cards must be removed during class.

Act courteously at all times.