HIST 2003 012 - University of Arkansas

History of the American people to 1877
HIST 2003 - FALL 2013
Peabody HALL 0309
Tues. & Thurs. - 2:00 -3:15
http://learn.uark.edu
The course:
Instructor: Justin Gage
jrgage@uark.edu
Office: old main 415
Office hrs: Tues. 12:30-2
This course has several basic goals. First, the course will strive to give the student a better
understanding of the cultural, economic, political, and social developments that shaped their world.
Second, the course hopes to give the student an increased ability to analyze and interpret their world
historically. The course will advance chronologically through the important periods of history, but
the longer-term processes, such as the development of democracy or the changing notions of
freedom, will be focused on thematically throughout the course.
This course will center on the history of America in a global context, paying attention to human
adaptability, cultural exchange, societal change, the development of ideologies, the relationship
between the government and the governed, social and religious values, revolution, expansionism,
and the impact of technology and economics on people and their environment. Students should be
taught to analyze the processes and causes involved in these continuities and changes.
Books:
Eric Foner, Give Me Liberty, Vol. 1, 3rd Ed., Norton & Co., 2011.
John Hope Franklin and Loren Schweninger, In Search of the Promised Land: A Slave Family in the Old
South. Oxford University Press, 2006.
These books can be found USED on Amazon.com (for cheap) or at the University
Bookstore. Make sure you get the 3 rd Edition of Give Me Liberty, Volume 1. The Seagull
Edition is generally cheaper, but the print has fewer colors.
Give Me Liberty has a website, which can be a nice study aid.
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/history/give-me-liberty3/welcome.aspx
Blackboard:
http://learn.uark.edu
Course announcements, information, assignments, and supplemental readings will be posted
on the course’s Blackboard website. Helpful rubrics are posted under Course Documents.
Bookmark the site.
1

What you have to do:
1. Attend Class & participate – You are responsible for your own education and it is
important that you attend class (plus you’re paying for it). Your grade (and the amount you
learn) depends on it. Exams will derive material from LECTURES and your reading. This
course is more than a lecture, we will engage in discussions and graded exercises. There will
be several in-class exercises that will be graded. Also, during the semester I will post
supplemental readings and three assignments on the course’s Blackboard website. Students
are expected to come to class prepared to discuss readings and assignments.
2. Read (It Won’t Kill You) –
Give Me Liberty! : You will read every chapter of your textbook by the end of the semester.
You will be assigned a chapter or two to read each week, which might take you an hour or so
to read (There are 168 hours in a week).
In Search of the Promised Land: A Slave Family in the Old South: We will discuss this
short but compelling book in class.
Supplemental Readings: While the major themes of American history can be understood
with relative ease, the details that get lost in the gaps are often a source of misunderstanding.
Supplemental readings will help fill these gaps. Supplemental readings will be primary
sources that will give the student a more personal look at history.
take Two Exams – Students will be given two exams, one midterm and one final. The
midterm is scheduled for October 10. You will have the full class period to complete
your exam. The final will be held on Thursday, December 19 at 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Course Policies
1. ATTENDANCE – I strongly discourage absences. There will be frequent in-class exercises
that will be graded – if you miss class, you miss the grade, NO MAKE-UPS. Only your
SEVEN best in-class exercises will count toward your final grade.
2. TARDINESS – Please come to class on time. If you are more than 10 minutes late, do not
walk into class. Habitual tardiness will not be accepted.
3. While in class – YOU MAY NOT USE YOUR CELL PHONE DURING CLASS.
Please do not let your phone ring. If you text, tweet, or perform any other thumb twiddling
action on your phone, you will be asked to leave. You can only use your laptop to take
notes if you sit on the first row of the class. If you use your laptop for any purpose
besides taking notes, you will be asked to leave. If you read books or newspapers not
2

elevant to the course during class, you will be asked to leave. You may not record or
photograph the instructor. If the instructor discovers himself or his class on the internet, he
reserves the right to fail the responsible student. Please do not eat in class. Drinks are
allowed. Students requiring Center for Educational Access accommodations must
notify the CEA (ada@uark.edu) and provide the instructor with the documentation
approved by the CEA.
4. GRADING –
Two Exams (150 points each) ------------------------------- 300 Points
Seven In-class Exercises -------------------------------------- 75 Points
Three Blackboard Assignments ----------------------------- 100 Points
Total: 475 Points Possible
5. All of your completed Blackboard assignments will be submitted to me via Blackboard’s
SafeAssign AND via a HARDCOPY in class. Late BLACKBOARD assignments will not
be accepted without a note from a physician.
6. Make up exams – A make-up exam can be given for those missing the midterm because of
EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES and at the sole discretion of the instructor.
ONLY the midterm exam can be made up. That exam will be administered on one
day only.
7. Academic integrity – Maintaining academic honesty is vital to your college career. Please
do not attempt to cheat, plagiarize, or violate the University of Arkansas’ academic integrity
policies in any way. If you do not know these policies, educate and protect yourself by
visiting http://catalogofstudies.uark.edu/2882.php - YOU MUST KNOW THIS!
Cheating during exams or quizzes will result in failure.
The university has access to sophisticated methods for detecting plagiarism. This
instructor will know if you use someone else’s work as your own.
8. Inclement weather – If the University of Arkansas is closed because of bad weather, class
will be canceled.
9. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES - Many types of emergencies can occur on campus; instructions
for specific emergencies such as severe weather, active shooter, or fire can be found at
emergency.uark.edu.
Severe Weather (Tornado Warning):
Follow the directions of the instructor or emergency personnel.
Seek shelter in the basement or interior room or hallway on the lowest floor, putting as
many walls as possible between you and the outside.
If you are in a multi-story building, and you cannot get to the lowest floor, pick a hallway
in the center of the building.
3

Stay in the center of the room, away from exterior walls, windows, and doors.
Violence / Active Shooter (CADD):
• CALL 9-1-1
• AVOID - If possible, self-evacuate to a safe area outside the building. Follow directions
of police officers.
• DENY - Barricade the door with desk, chairs, bookcases or any items. Move to a place
inside the room where you are not visible. Turn off the lights and remain quiet. Remain
there until told by police it is safe.
• DEFEND - Use chairs, desks, cell phones or whatever is immediately available to distract
and/or defend yourself and others from attack.
Class Schedule:
Don't forget to check Blackboard!
Week 1 – READ: Chapter 1 in Give Me Liberty!
Tuesday, August 27: Introduction
Thursday, August 29: Why History
Week 2 – READ: Chapter 2
Tuesday, September 3: Before 1492
Thursday, September 5: Cultural Collision: The New World and Native Action
Week 3 - READ: Chapter 3
Tuesday, September 10: The English in the Atlantic World
Thursday, September 12: Creating Anglo-America I
Week 4 - READ: Chapter 4
Tuesday, September 17: Creating Anglo-America II
Thursday, September 19: The Great War and the Seeds of Revolution
Week 5 - READ: Chapter 5
Tuesday, September 24: The American Revolution I
Thursday, September 26: The American Revolution II
Week 6 - READ: Chapter 6 & 7
Tuesday, October 1: Uh Oh, What Do We Do Now
Thursday, October 3: Let’s Try That Again: the American Constitution
4

Week 7 - READ: Chapter 8, STUDY for EXAM, begin reading In Search of the Promised Land
Tuesday, October 8: Ratification and American Politics
Thursday, October 10: EXAM #1!
Week 8 – READ: Chapter 9
Tuesday, October 15: The British Burned Down the White House
Thursday, October 17: The Market Revolution
Week 9 – READ: Chapter 10 & 11
Tuesday, October 22: NO CLASS, Fall Break
Thursday, October 24: Democracy in America, 1815-1840
Week 10 - READ: Chapter 11, finish reading In Search of the Promised Land
Tuesday, October 29: American Slavery I
Thursday, October 31: American Slavery II, discuss In Search of the Promised Land
Week 11 – READ: Chapter 12
Tuesday, November 5: Antebellum Society and Culture I
Thursday, November 7: Antebellum Society and Culture II
Week 12 - READ: Chapter 13
Tuesday, November 12: Let’s Go West
Thursday, November 14: American Expansion
Week 13 – READ: Chapter 14
Tuesday, November 19: A House Divided
Thursday, November 21: The Civil War I
Week 14 –
Tuesday, November 26: The Civil War II
Thursday, November 28: NO CLASS, Thanksgiving Break
Week 15 – READ: Chapter 15
Tuesday, December 3: The Civil War III
Thursday, December 5: Reconstruction: A New South
5

Week 16 – STUDY
Tuesday, December 10: America at the End of Reconstruction
Thursday, December 12: Conclusions
Thursday, December 19: FINAL EXAM – 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
The instructor reserves the right to make any necessary changes to the syllabus and
course policy during the semester. Changes will be announced in class.
6