FAD Syllabus: UNCC HIST10160
Overview
Syllabus shared by a UNC System faculty member.
Sample Syllabus
History 1160: United States History to 1865
Fall 2017, CHHS376
Professor: [NAME]
Office Hours: Tuesday 8-9; Thursday 11-12 or by appt. Email: [FACULTY EMAIL ADDRESS]
Teaching Assistant: [NAME] Office Hours: Tuesday 11-1 [FACULTY EMAIL ADDRESS]
Course Description
This course is an introduction to American history from the time of the original Indian settlements to the Civil War. Important themes in this course include the political, class, gender, and racial identities of Americans. We will explore in depth the contributions of both elites and non-elites to the history of America in this period. While we cannot cover every topic in US history before 1865, we will examine the rise and growth of slavery, religious and intellectual movements, the rise of democracy, the growth and effects of capitalism, and the coming of the Civil War.
Course Goals
This course aims to help you answer the following questions: What were the primary developments that spurred European migration to North America? What was Native American life like before European migration, and how did this migration affect Native American life? Why did Europeans turn to African slavery to fulfill their labor needs? What role did slavery play in the development of the nation? What were the ideological influences on early Americans, both religious and secular? Why did the colonies revolt against Great Britain? How did different groups use the legacy of the Revolution in the years leading up to the Civil War?
This course also aims to help you refine your analytical skills with a focus on enabling you to clearly and effectively communicate ideas verbally and in writing. You will be asked to read a broad range of primary and secondary sources, sifting through complex information and arguments, and think critically about the material. Our discussions will provide you a forum to ask questions, debate ideas, and collaborate with your peers.
Course Format
This course will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays and will be comprised of lectures and discussions of the readings.
Course Requirements Pop Quizzes (35 percent) Short Essays (20 percent) Midterm Exam (20 percent) Final Exam (25 percent)
In order to succeed in this class, you will need to do three things. First, you need to show up in lecture and discussions. Second, you need to do the assigned reading and writing assignments. Finally, you should come to class prepared to ask questions raised by the reading or lecture and discuss your ideas with other students and the professor. Like any course, the more effort you put forth, the more you will get out of this class.
Every student in the class is responsible for following the syllabus and doing all of the work as spelled out in the syllabus. If there are any changes concerning reading or writing assignments- I will alert the class to the changes via email and revise the syllabus on Canvas. If you joined my class late- you are responsible for all of the material we covered before you joined. If you are absent from a class- you are responsible for the material we covered during your absence. Being responsible includes doing the reading and getting the class notes from someone in class. There is no need to ask me what work you missed- just consult the syllabus and get the class notes from someone in class.
Assignments
Pop quizzes will be administered randomly eight times throughout the semester. These quizzes will be very short, just one or two questions, and will test your comprehension of the reading for that day. There will not be quizzes on days where short essays are also due. The best way to prepare for these is to take good notes on all of your reading assignments and review them before each class. Quizzes will be graded 0, 50, or 100. Quizzes will be open-notes, but not open-book. I will drop one quiz grade.
Throughout the semester you will write two short essays (3 pages) on a topic related to the texts for that day. No late papers will be accepted and essays will be due prior to the class where we discuss the corresponding reading. Short essays will be graded on a 10 point scale, and all essays will be submitted on Canvas. You can find the essay topics on Canvas as well.
There will be a midterm exam covering the material from the first half of the course. The exam will be comprised of identifications and an essay.
There will be a final exam covering the material from the entire course. The final will also be comprised of identifications and an essay.
Canvas
The syllabus, assignments, select readings and announcements will be posted on the Canvas site for our class. To access Canvas go to canvas.uncc.edu.
Attendance
There is no attendance policy. To get an excused absence from class and to be given a makeup assignment, however, you must go to the Dean of Students Office and provide them with documentation. I do not offer makeup assignments without an excused absence from this office.
Extra Credit
There is no extra credit for this class. Your grade will be determined solely by the assignments listed in this syllabus.
Readings
The following books are required for this course and are available either online, at the campus bookstore, or at Gray’s College bookstore. Failing to get the required texts on time will not excuse you from any assignment in the class.
Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano (Bedford/St. Martin’s, 3rd edition)
Paul E. Johnson and Sean Wilentz, The Kingdom of Matthias: A Story of Sex and Salvation in 19th-Century America (Oxford University Press, Updated Edition)
Eve Kornfeld, Creating an American Culture, 1775-1800 (Bedford/St. Martin’s)
Michael P. Johnson, Reading the American Past, Selected Historical Documents: Volume I, to 1877 (5th edition)
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT
Academic honesty and integrity are essential to the existence and growth of an academic community. Without maintenance of high standards of honesty, members of the instructional faculty are defrauded, students are unfairly treated, and society itself is poorly served.
Maintaining the academic standards of honesty and integrity is ultimately the formal responsibility of the instructional faculty; and this responsibility is shared by all members of the academic community.
Students have the responsibility to know and observe UNC Charlotte’s “The Code of Student Academic Integrity. The code is on the web at: http://www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-105.html
If you commit plagiarism on any of the assignments in this course, you will automatically receive an F for the class and will be reported to the Academic Integrity Board. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
DISABILITY STATEMENT
Consistent with the requirements of the Acts, the University and all members of the faculty and staff shall operate its programs, activities, and services to ensure that no qualified individual with a disability shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any such program, activity, or service solely by reason of his/her disability. Students with documented disabilities requiring accommodation in this course should contact Disability Services in Fretwell 230.
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
Week 1
Tuesday, 8/22 Introduction
Thursday, 8/24 Native Americans to 1500; Discussion, Johnson, Ch. 1
Week 2
Tuesday, 8/29 Expanding Europe; Discussion, Johnson, Ch. 2 Thursday, 8/31 Founding Virginia; Discussion, Johnson, Ch. 3
Week 3
Tuesday, 9/5 Founding New England; Discussion, Johnson, Ch. 4
Thursday, 9/7 The Enlightenment and Great Awakening; Discussion, Johnson, Ch. 5, Doc. 5-3
Week 4
Tuesday, 9/12 The Consumer Revolution and Colonial Society; Discussion, “Colonial America at Mid-Century” (Canvas) and Johnson, Ch. 5, Doc. 5-2
Thursday, 9/14 The Colonial Crisis; Discussion, Johnson, Ch. 6
Week 5
Tuesday, 9/19 The American Revolution, Part I; Discussion, Johnson, Ch. 7, Doc. 7-1 Thursday, 9/21 The American Revolution, Part II; Discussion, Johnson, Ch. 7, Docs. 7-2
thru 7-5
Week 6
Tuesday, 9/26 18th Century Slavery; Discussion, The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano Short Essay Due
Thursday, 9/28 No Class
Week 7
Tuesday, 10/3 Choosing the Constitution; Discussion, The Constitution (Canvas) and Johnson, Ch. 8, Docs. 8-4 and 8-5
Thursday, 10/5 Politics and Society in the 1790s; Discussion, Johnson, Ch. 9
Week 8
Tuesday, 10/10 No Class, Student Recess
Thursday, 10/12 Midterm Exam
Week 9
Tuesday, 10/17 Creating an American Culture; Discussion, Kornfeld, Creating an American Culture Short Essay Due
Thursday, 10/19 Jefferson’s Presidency to the War of 1812
Week 10
Tuesday, 10/24 Democratic Politics and the Second Party System: Discussion, “The Emergence of Southern Nationalism” (Canvas) and Johnson, Ch. 11, Doc. 11-1
Thursday, 10/26 No Class
Week 11
Tuesday, 10/31 The Market Revolution and the Second Great Awakening Thursday, 11/2 Discussion, Johnson and Wilentz, The Kingdom of Matthias
Week 12
Tuesday, 11/7 Abolitionism; Discussion, Frederick Douglass, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” (Canvas) and Johnson, Ch. 11, Doc. 11-4
Thursday, 11/9 The Women’s Rights Movement; Discussion, Johnson, Ch. 11, Doc. 11-5 and Ch. 12, Docs. 12-4 and 12-5
Week 13
Tuesday, 11/14 The Slave South: Film, Slavery and the Making of America
Thursday, 11/16 Manifest Destiny and the Mexican-American War
Week 14
Tuesday, 11/21 No Class
Thursday, 11/23 No Class, Thanksgiving Break
Week 15
Tuesday, 11/28 The Coming of the Civil War and Secessionism; Discussion, Johnson, Ch.
14
Thursday, 11/30 The Civil War and Emancipation; Discussion, Johnson, Ch. 15
Week 16
Tuesday, 12/5 Final Exam Review
Final Exam: Thursday, December 14, 8-10:30AM
The instructor reserves the right to make revisions or addendums to the syllabus at any time throughout the duration of the semester. If any changes do occur, students will be notified and allowed adequate time to make any necessary adjustments