Early United States History to 1865

Created Feb. 7, 2024 by John Diffley

Springfield Technical Community College

Early United States History to 1865

HIS-110-E81 – Spring 2019

“The history that lies inert in unread books does no work in the world.” -- Carl Becker from “Everyman His Own Historian”

“The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” -- William Faulkner from “Requiem for a Nun”

Faculty Information: John J. Diffley, Juris Doctor, Professor of History, Program Chair – Liberal Arts/General Studies, Honors Program Coordinator, School of Liberal and Professional Studies 

Email: jjdiffley@stcc.edu 

Office Phone: 755-4627 

Office Location: 17/241

Class Meetings: Online

Office Hours: Mondays: 4:45 pm – 5:45 pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays: 12:30 – 1:30 pm; Fridays: 1:30 – 2:30 pm; and by appointment 

Course Description: As a general survey, this course examines the broad history of the United States since the colonial era through the Civil War. A topical approach is followed within a chronological framework centering on the colonial origins of American society, its separation from England, the subsequent process of nation building, framing of the Constitution, formation and structure of the United States government, the lives of slaves and the role that slavery played in shaping American history, the impact of westward expansion, the impact of war, the impact of the Market Revolution, and the development of the Civil War during the Ante-Bellum period. Through the use of secondary and primary sources the course explores the processes of change and continuity that have shaped American history and, in many cases, continue to influence the present. 

Student Learning Outcomes: One of the goals of this course is to learn the grand narrative of Early U.S. History that we as a nation draw on as a shared past and understand how our society and nation today came to be. Another is to question this narrative and develop our own opinions about U.S. History as well as the present. To accomplish this, includes developing our analytical skills including:

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  1. Describe varying arguments without bias or judgment
  2. Clearly express their own interpretations of arguments
  3. “Read between the lines” of differing points of view 
  4. Distinguish between different types of sources
  5. Use of primary sources as “evidence” to formulate written and oral arguments (through short answer open response questions and class discussion)
  6. Apply principles and generalizations learned in the class to other problems and situations
  7. Use course material as data to formulate arguments and to evaluate the arguments made by in the course materials.
  8. Utilize, where appropriate, quantitative data and reasoning. 
  9. Develop skills and experience in utilizing computer technology and new media as an academic tool

Required Texts – There are no required texts – all course materials and required readings available in the Blackboard course (including required lecture slide shows, required videos, and required websites). 

Grading and Criteria


Unit Exams

30%

Midterm Exam

20%

Course Intro Assignments (Board and Quiz)

5%

Unit Discussion Boards

20%

Final Exam

25%

Total

100% 

Format and Attendance Policy: As a Distance Course, this class will be conducted completely on-line using STCC’s Blackboard system. All assignments and exams will be organized on a unit/weekly basis. Reading Assignments and Unit Exams will be due at the end of each week, usually by the end of Sunday. Therefore, students are required to participate on a weekly basis. Students will be allowed to miss and make up only one exam all semester. Students may not retry any exam for a higher grade. All exams are one-shot assessments. 

Assignments will posted on a Unit/Weekly Basis and will be organized more or less by week (example: Week 1, Week 2). There will be three units total: Unit 1 The Colonial Era; Unit 2 The Revolution, the Constitution, and creating the New Nation; Unit 3 The Market Revolution, a Changing Nation, and the Coming of the Civil War. 

Required Weekly Readings and Assignments

Required reading assignments and other assignments will be announced each week, in the individual Weekly Unit sections of Blackboard (examples: Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3). Each week students are expected to complete the required readings/websites, lecture slide shows, and videos found on blackboard for each unit. Exam questions will be drawn from all of those materials. As you read or watch through the required material it is strongly suggested that you take written notes. 

Having a running set of notes like this will be beneficial in a few ways. First, creating these notes is a form of studying and review. As exams approach you should be reviewing your notes/definitions. Seriously, the best studying lesson/tool I learned as a student was to repeatedly REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! A General Study Tips and Suggestions guide is available in the Weekly Assignments section of Blackboard. 

Exams

There will be Unit Exams (weekly exams) based on each unit assigned as well as all required materials associated with each chapter. Exams can consist of a mix of multiple choice, true/false questions, fill in the blank, as well as written short answer questions. Exams will usually consist of 40 - 60 questions in total. 

For written questions, students must always write in complete sentences. Grammar and spelling count. No lists or bullet points will be accepted. In fact, answers given as lists or bullet points will earn a grade of zero. 

All Exams are timed. Students get seventy-five (75) minutes to complete the Unit Exams. 

Five points will be deducted from your exams for every minute you exceed the time limit. 

The midterm and final exams will likely be longer in length than unit exams. These exams will also likely have longer time limits. Details for the midterm and final will be announced via blackboard. 

A timer will appear on your screen as you take the exams. The timer on exams runs continuously. You cannot stop the timer under any circumstances. You should not open the exam, close it, and come back to it later. It is strongly advised that exams be completed in one continual sitting. If you walk away from an exam after saving, the timer will continue to run. 

Save your answers often! This is the only way to ensure that your answers are saved to the system in the event of local power outages and other unforeseen occurrences. 

Students are required to ensure that they have reliable computers, internet connections, and are using approved web browsers and other software (specific information regarding approved software and hardware is available from the Blackboard Administrator). Thus, technical issues or problems will be accepted as an excuse only once all semester by the professor. 

All students get to miss (forget to take before its due date) and make-up only ONE EXAM all semester (this includes unit exams, the midterm, and/or the final exam). All missed exams beyond that one missed exam will receive a grade of zero. No exceptions. Students may not retake or retry any exam. Students get only one shot/attempt at each exam. 

Students may not retry any exam once it is started. This includes student claims that they closed an exam because of technical issue or human error. I will only accept one such excuse the entire semester per student, provided that the excuse offered is believable. If an exam freezes, the entire first attempt will be cleared and the timer reset. Remember, you are required to have a reliable internet connection and computer/laptop to be in an online course. 

Midterm Exam: The midterm is cumulative and will consist of old and possibly new questions from all previous unit exams and assignments. The midterm will be given starting on March 11 through the end of Sunday March 17. 

FINAL EXAM: The final exam is cumulative and will consist of old and possibly new questions from all previous unit exams and assignments. The Final exam will be offered from Monday, April 29 through the end of the day on Sunday, May 5.

Unit Discussion Boards

For each Unit, the professor will post a discussion question that is based on some aspect of the weekly reading. You will be required to submit a main response to the discussion question (answers should be around 100 words) as well as respond to the posts of two separate classmates. 

Discussion Board Timing Requirement: You are required to space out your main post and your responses to classmates by at least 12 hours. For example, if you make a post at 9:00 am on Monday morning, your next counted post should be at or after 9 pm that same day. Any posts made less than 12 hrs apart will not be counted. There must be at least 12 hours between each and every post. 

Main Discussion Board Post – Response to Question: Main Responses must be at least 500 words in length. Spelling and grammar do count. Students must write in complete sentences and use citations where necessary. 

Failure to meet minimum word counts, failure to make three posts, and/or failure to abide by the time requirements will be marked down significantly and may earn a failing grade. 

Discussion Board Grading Criteria: boards are graded on a scale of 0-100. Grades will be determined by several factors: 

  • Completion of the assignment – you must make all the required posts, meet the minimum word count on main posts, and follow the timing requirement in order to earn anything near full credit. To be clear, making only your main post and no others will earn a failing grade. 
  • Accuracy – responses must demonstrate a familiarity with the course materials. Responses must respond to all parts of the questions asked. 
  • Word count/Substantive Answers - students must make a good faith effort to engage with the material and offer a thoughtful response. 
    • Main posts must be at least 500 words. 
    • Posts in response to classmates must be a paragraph (5-7 sentences in length). 
      • Merely saying something like “good work, I agree with you” will earn minimal credit at best. 

Plagiarism, Unacceptable ‘Work,’ and Written Responses on Exams

Copying back the lecture slideshows (or other assigned readings and materials), word for word, is completely unacceptable and will be considered plagiarism. Assignments that offer portions of the text copied back as if it were your own work or other forms of plagiarism will receive an automatic grade of zero and possible disciplinary actions from the Dean of Students. If such violations occur a second time the student will be failed for the entire course and official charges of academic dishonesty will be filed with the Dean of Students of Springfield Technical Community College. 

All written questions must be given in your own words. The professor reserves the right to run any and all written work (including exam short/written answers) through Blackboard’s Plagiarism software. Do not quote on exams – answer in your own words. 

Permitted and Banned Sources

Only materials assigned by the professor are allowed in this course (assigned sources appear in the Weekly Unit sections of the Course). If students have a source they think valuable they must first clear it with the professor before they use it on any assignment. Use of banned or unassigned sources or failure to clear a source before use will result in significant reductions for that particular assignment grade – most likely a grade of zero. Continued refusal to comply with the rules of the course may result in complete failure or dismissal from the course. 

Students may not use Wikipedia. Any use of Wikipedia will result in failure for the assignment. Wikipedia is not a reputable or reliable source of information and may never be used in a professional or academic setting. Students may not use general encyclopedias (be they hard copy or online versions). The use of encyclopedias is rarely permitted in higher education (some exceptions exist). Students may not use sites such as about.com, ask.com, answers.com or any other similar sites. People write explanations on these sites with absolutely no professional credentials related to the topics they present. Thus, their work has little to no academic value. Moreover, these sites often simply copy over unreliable Wikipedia pages. 

Students may not use sites such as “Quizlet.” Use of this site will result in a grade of zero for the exam/assignment. No exceptions. 

Use of any banned sources or instances of plagiarism will result in a grade of zero for the exam/assignment. A second infraction will result in a zero for the assignment plus a 15 point deduction to the student’s overall final grade in the course. A third instance will result in failure for the course and possible charges of Academic Dishonesty with the Dean of Students. 

Class Rules and Student Requirements

The following are general rules and requirements that will help guide you through the course. Students are responsible for understanding and fulfilling these requirements. 

  • Missed exams: All students get one chance to miss and make up one exam all semester. 
  • Legitimate excuses: To receive a legitimate excuse, a student should show good faith by contacting the instructor in person or by email or telephone before the paper is due or the exam is given. Some examples of a legitimate excuse are illness or death of a close friend or family member (there are others as well). Having too much homework, being busy at work or at home are not legitimate excuses. 
  • Technical Issues During Exams: Students in online classes are required to ensure that they have reliable internet access to complete this course. Students are also expected to know how to navigate an online course and use their web browsers. As a result, students who accidentally close out exams before finishing will not be given the benefit of the doubt and will not be allowed to retake the exam. This rule also applies to situations in which students claim that their computer crashed or froze. In such cases the student’s ‘excuse’ will be accepted once all semester – that means on only one exam will such an excuse be accepted at face value. Any time after that, if a student claims that, after opening an exam or quiz that their computer froze or crashed, they will not be allowed to re-enter the exam without some convincing offer of proof of such claim. 
  • Proper Communication with the Professor – (In Person and Via Email): Students are expected and required to communicate with their professors in a professional manner.  This includes addressing the professor formally, by title -- not by first name, not “Mr.” and certainly not as “Hey you” or similar. In addition, students are required to write in complete sentences. 
  • Do not use text speech/writing (example: u instead of you; r instead of are, “lol” emojis ( :) or ☺), or excessive punctuation (!!!, ???) in your emails and/or written work. Any emails that are written in such an unprofessional manner will be ignored until the issues are fixed. 
  • DO NOT REPLY TO Emailed Course Announcements - All course announcements are automatically emailed to your STCC email accounts.  As noted in the syllabus, students are required to check their STCC emails in order stay up-to-date on course announcements.  Important - Do Not Reply to Emailed Course Announcements!   To be clear, I will not answer or respond to any emails that reply to Course Announcement emails.  If you need to get in contact with me, simply compose a new message. 
  • Please respect a 24-hour moratorium on discussing any individual grade. 
  • Read feedback and check incorrect answers on exams and reading response boards before sending angry emails or asking questions. 
  • Plagiarizing or cheating, including passing off someone else’s work as your own, is a serious violation of academic integrity. If you are panicked and can’t finish your paper or assignment, plan to hand it in late and take a penalty of a few points. I will happily work with students who are having trouble. I reserve the right to lower the grade of a student caught plagiarizing or cheating or to fail him or her for the entire course. Students found to have committed acts of academic dishonesty may also face suspension or expulsion from the College. For a further explanation of Springfield Technical Community College’s policy visit: https://www.stcc.edu/media/departments/publications/Student-Handbook.pdf

Disability Services Statement

In compliance with Springfield Technical Community College's policy and equal access laws, disability-related accommodations or services are available. Students who desire such services are to meet with the professor in a timely manner, preferably the first week of class, to discuss their disability-related needs. Students will not receive services until they register with the Office of Disability Services (ODS). Proper registration will enable the ODS to verify the disability and determine reasonable academic accommodations. ODS is located in Building 19. 

Calendar of Assignments and Exams

**Assignments May Be Subject to Change – always make sure to check the Weekly sections of Blackboard for up-to-date Assignments** 

Week 1, January 22 – January 27

Course Introduction 

Course Intro Assignment: Getting familiar with the course: You are responsible for learning all course rules and procedures. The Course Intro Quiz, due by the end of Sunday January 27, will cover course rules, procedures, course guides, and other information about the course. See the required reading below. Be sure to thoroughly explore Blackboard and all this class offers – including the chapter study materials. 

Required Readings (located in the Start Here! Section of Blackboard):

  • Course Guides located in the Start Here! Section of blackboard. Be prepared to answer questions about each individual guide. 
  • The Syllabus 

Course Intro Quiz: due by the end of Sunday January 27 

Personal Introductions Discussion Board Posts (normal discussion board rules apply – see the syllabus): due by the end of January 27 

Week 2, January 28 – February 3

Unit 1: The First Peoples of the Americas, First Contact and its Consequences, and the start of European Colonization 

Required Readings: 

  • Unit 1 Lecture Slides 
  • Crash Course Video – see Blackboard 

Chapter Exam 1: due by the end of Sunday February 3 

Discussion Board Posts: due by the end of Sunday February 3

Week 3, February 4 – February 10

Unit 2: The Origins of English Colonization in North America: 1607 – 1660 

Unit 2 Required Readings, Videos, and Websites: 

  • Unit 2 Lecture Slides 
  • Crash Course videos (see Blackboard) 
  • PDF – Original Deed to the City of Springfield – from the Agawam Native American tribe (primary source) 
  • PDF Article – Patricia Scott Deetz – The True History of the First Thanksgiving, from the magazine Muse Volume 5 Number 9, November 2001 
  • Plimoth Plantation – English Village FAQ 
  • Our Plural History – STCC – First Peoples section 
  • Our Plural History – STCC – Colonial Era Springfield – the essays on this page discusses the founding of the City of Springfield, MA and related issues. 

Unit 2 Exam: Due by the end of Sunday February 10

Discussion Board Posts: due by the end of Sunday February 10

Week 4, February 11 – February 17

Unit 3: Creating the British North American Colonies, 1660-1750 

Required Readings: 

  • Unit 3 Lecture Slides 
  • Required Videos – see Blackboard 

**Defining the British American Colonial Regions** Remember, for this class, the British American Colonies are organized by the following regions: 

  • New England = Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island 
  • Middle Colonies = New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware 
  • The Southern Colonies = (note that in this class we are dividing the southern colonies according to region and staple crop) 
    • Chesapeake = Maryland and Virginia 
    • the Southern "Rice Kingdoms" = South Carolina and Georgia 

Exam Unit 3: Due by the end of Sunday February 17 

Discussion Board Posts: due by the end of Sunday February 17 

Week 5, February 18 – February 24

Unit 4: Slavery, Freedom, and the Struggle for Empire, to 1763 

Required Readings, Websites, and Videos:

Exam Unit 4: due by the end of Sunday February 24 

Discussion Board Posts: due by the end of Sunday February 24 

Week 6, February 25 – March 3

Unit 5: The American Revolution, 1763-1783 

Required Readings and Websites: 

Exam Unit 5: due by the end of Sunday March 3 

Discussion Board Posts: due by the end of Sunday March 3 

Week 7, March 4 – March 10

The Midterm Exam is due by the end of Sunday March 10. The exam covers units 1-6. 

Week 8, March 11 – March 17

Spring Break: No Classes/No Assignment 

Week 9, March 18 – March 24

Unit 6: Founding a Nation: The Constitution of the United States, 1783-1789 

Required Readings and Websites: 

Exam Unit 6: due by the end of Sunday March 24 

Discussion Board Posts: due by the end of Sunday March 24 

Week 10, March 25 – March 31

Unit 7: The Early Years of the Republic: From George Washington to the War of 1812, 1790-1815 

Required Readings and Websites: 

  • Unit 7 Lecture Slides 
  • Required Videos (see Blackboard) 

Exam Unit 7: due by the end of Sunday March 31 

No Discussion Board this week 

Week 11, April 1 – April 7: 

Unit 8: The Market Revolution and a Changing Nation 

Required Readings: 

  • Unit 8 Slide Show 
  • Required Videos (see Blackboard) 
  • PDFs: The Mill Girls – from the National Parks Service 

Unit 8 Exam: due by the End of Sunday April 7 

Discussion Board: due by the end of Sunday April 7 

Week 12, April 8 – April 14: 

Unit 9: The Age of Jackson, Democracy, and Indian Removal 

Required Readings: 

  • Unit 9 Lecture Slides 
  • Required Videos (see Blackboard) 

Required Websites: 

Unit 9 Exam: Due by the End of Sunday April 14 

Discussion Board Posts: due by the end of Sunday April 14 

Week 13, April 15 – April 21: 

Unit 10: The Peculiar Institution and the Abolitionist Movements 

Required Readings: 

  • Unit 10 Lecture Slides 
  • Required Videos (see Blackboard) 

Required Websites: 

Unit 10 Exam: Due by the End of Sunday April 21 

Discussion Board Posts: due by the end of Sunday April 21 

Week 14: April 22 – April 28

Unit 11 - A House Divided: Sectional Division, Secession, and the Civil War: 1840-1865 

Required Readings: 

  • Unit 11 Lecture Slides 
  • Required Videos (see Blackboard) 

Writing Assignment Websites: 

Unit 11 Exam: Due by the end of Sunday April 28 

No Discussion Board scheduled 

Week 15, April 29 – May 5

The final exam will be available from April 29 through the end of the day on Sunday May 5. The Final Exam is cumulative and covers all material/units in this course. 

 

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