Fall
2006
MWF
9:30-10:20
Hearst
201
Office:
MW 11:20-3:00
HIS130:
Dr. Nick Maher
Hearst 304
(404) 504-3473
Course Content
In this course we will survey North American
(U.S.) history from the period prior to the arrival of Europeans up through the
Civil War. Major issues will include
encounters between indigenous peoples and colonists, the relationship between
colonists and
We will examine the history of this country in the
context of a developing American culture(s) based on the interaction of
European, Native American, and African groups.
From this uniquely colonial experience emerged a new social order,
radical new political ideas, and new types of conflicts. While the white colonists experimented with
dynamic new political forms and economic strategies, they also practiced and
benefited from inhumane labor exploitation.
The establishment of American social, political, and economic
institutions gave form to an American identity and material interests in
conflict with loyalties to distant colonial authority. The collapse of the colonial system and the
transformation of thirteen British colonies into an independent nation created
new challenges and opportunities for political, social, and economic order. Americans responded to these challenges with
energy and creativity: the
Required Texts
The following books are
available at the bookstore:
John Demos, The Unredeemed Captive: A Family
Story from Early
R. David Edmonds, The Shawnee Prophet. (Lincoln: Univ. of
Nebraska Press, 1983).
Frederick Douglas, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, An
American Slave: Written by Himself (Penguin, 1982).
T. H. Breen (ed.), The Power of Words:
Documents in American History, vol I to 1865.
(Addison-Wesley Pub Co, 1996).
Faragher, Buhle,
Czitrom & Armitage, Out of Many, Brief Edition, Volume I (Prentice Hall, 2002).
Course Format
This course is an introduction to the study of
history as much as it a survey of the major historical themes of American
history. Although there will be short
introductory lectures, you are expected to come to class to work actively – not
consume passively. Come to class
prepared to discuss what you have read.
We will consider several different types of sources: primary records,
secondary discussions, narrative and some visual accounts. We will consider the different types of historical
questions that can be asked and the different types of answers that are
possible.
Course Requirements
First Exam 20%
Paper #1 20%
Paper #2 20%
Presentation 10%
Second Exam 20%
Participation 10%
Papers:
Topics will be given in class.
You will write two short (5-10 page) essays based on course
material. Late papers will be marked
down (one full grade for the first 24 hours, one full grade for every week
after that).
Exams:
You will receive study questions in advance. The exams will test your understanding of
course material and your ability to read historical documents.
Presentation: In-class presentations will be
based on the historical documents and your own research. You must hand in a 5-page written version
within one week of your presentation.
Attendance is, of course, mandatory. There will be no distinction between
“excused” or “unexcused” absences. If you were not in class, you were not in
class. You may miss two classes for any reason and with no penalty; more than
two absences will result in a reduction in your final course grade. If you have
a total of nine absences you will get an F or FA in the course, regardless of
the quality of your work or your grades in tests. Use your absences wisely.
Honor Code: “Because Oglethorpe students and faculty
expect each other to be truthful in the intellectual endeavour they share,
academic work at the University is done under the provisions of an Honour Code.
Oglethorpe students affirm their commitment to the Honour Code with a written
pledge on each piece of graded work, as requested by the instructor. Both
students and faculty have the responsibility of reporting suspected violations”
(The O Book).
Cheating: (a) The unauthorized possession or use of
notes, texts, or other such materials during an examination. (b) Copying another person’s work or
participation in such an effort. (c) An
attempt or participation in an attempt to fulfill the requirements of a course
with work other than one’s original work for that course.
Plagiarism
includes representing someone else’s words, ideas, data, or original research
as one’s own, and in general failing to footnote or otherwise acknowledge the
source of such work. One has the responsibility of avoiding plagiarism by
taking adequate notes on reference materials, including material taken off the
internet or other electronic sources, used in the preparation of reports,
papers, and other coursework.
University Policy on Course
Withdrawal: Students withdrawing from a course may do so
through the 9th week, or two weeks after the published mid-semester
date with a “W”. For two weeks between the 9th and 11th
weeks the grade “W” or WF” may be given at the discretion of the instructor.
Students withdrawing after the Friday that falls on the 11th week
will receive a grade of “WF”. Only in the event of medical emergency or
hardship may students appeal a grade of “WF” to the Provost.
University Policy on Incompletes:
If a student is unable to complete the work for a course on time for
reasons of health, family tragedy, or other circumstances the instructor deems
appropriate, the grade “I” may be assigned.
If the student completes the work within thirty days of the last day
of exams of the semester in question,
the instructor will evaluate the work and turn in a revised grade. Any “I” not changed by the professor within
forty five days of the last day of exams will automatically be changed to a
grade of “F”.
Reading Schedule
Week 1: Introduction
Aug 30 Introduction
Sept
1 Out of Many (chap. 1): A Continent of
Villages, to 1500
Week 2: Exploration & Conquest
Sept
4 NO CLASS / LABOR DAY
Sept 6 Out of Many, (ch.2) When Worlds Collide, 1492-1590
Power of Words, ch.
1
Sept 8 ¸ New World
Week 3: Colonization
Sept
11 Power of Words, ch.2
Reserve: “Worlds in Motion” (Bernard Bailyn)
Sept
13 Out of Many, (ch.3) Planting Colonies in
Reserve: “The Starving Time at
Power of Words, ch. 3
Sept
15 Reserve: “Was The Colonial Period a “Golden Age” for Women in
Week 4: Settlement
Sept
18 Out of Many, (ch 4) Slavery and Empire, 1441-1770
John Demos, The Unredeemed Captive, pp.1-50
Sept
20 John Demos, The
Unredeemed Captive, 51-100
Power of Words, ch. 4
Sept
22 John Demos, The
Unredeemed Captive, finish.
Out of Many, (ch. 5) The Cultures of Colonial
Week 5: Religion & Culture
Sept 25 Reserve: “Georgia’s
Attempt to Become a Viable Colony” (Jack Greene)
Power of Words, ch. 5
Sept 27 Reserve: Was There a Great Awakening in Mid-18th
Century
Sept 29 Out of Many, (ch. 6) From Empire
to
Week 6: Colonial Crisis
Oct
2 Power of Words, ch.
6
Oct
4 Out of Many, (ch 7) The Creation of the
Oct
6 PRESENTATIONS
Week 7:
Oct
9 NO CLASS /
Oct
11 Reserve: Linda Kerber, “The Revolution and Women’s Rights”
Reserve: “Mary Beth Norton, “We Commenced Perfect Statesmen”
¸ Mary Silliman’s War
Oct 13 Power of Words, ch. 7
Reserve: Documents on the Question of Slavery in a Free Nation
Week 8:
Oct
16 Power of Words, ch.
7
Oct
18 Out of Many, (ch. 8) The
Power of Words, ch.
8
Oct
20 Midterm Exam
Week 9: Democracy
Oct 23 Reserve:
Thomas Slaughter, “The Whiskey Rebellion”
Oct 25 Power of Words, ch. 9
Oct 27 Out of Many, (ch.
9) An
Week 10: Native Resistance
Oct 30 The Shawnee Prophet, chs. 1-3
Nov
1 Out of Many, (ch.10) The Growth of Democracy,
1824-1840
The Shawnee Prophet, chs.
4-5
Nov
3 The Shawnee Prophet,
Finish.
Reserve: Dale Van Every, “Trail of
Tears”
Week 11: Expansion
Nov
6 Reserve: Daniel Boorstin,
“The Versatiles”
Nov
8 Out of Many, (ch 14)
Territorial Expansion of the United States, 1830s-1850s
Power
of Words,
ch. 10
Nov 10 Out of Many (ch.12) Industry & The North, 1790s-1840s
Power of Words, ch.
11
Week 12: Slavery
Nov
13 Narrative of the
Life of Frederick Douglas, An American Slave
Out of Many (ch.11) The South and Slavery,
1790s-1850s
Nov
15 Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglas, An American Slave.
Nov
17 Narrative of the
Life of Frederick Douglas, An American Slave
Week 13: Moralities
Nov
20 Out of Many, (ch.13) Coming
to Terms with the New Age, 1820s-1850s
Reserve: W.J. Rorabaugh, “A Nation of
Drunkards”
~ THANKSGIVING ~
Week 14: Crisis
Nov
27 Reserve: Steven Mintz, “The Science of Doing Good”
Nov
29 Power of Words, ch.
12
Reserve: Aileen Kraditor, “The Woman
Question”
Dec
1 Out of Many, ch. 15: The Coming Crisis, the 1850s
Power of Words, ch. 13
Week 15: Civil War
Dec
4 Reserve: Clarence Mohr, “Slaves Strike
for Freedom”
Dec
6 Out of Many, ch. 16: The Civil War, 1861-1865
Dec
8 Power of Words, ch.
14
Week 16: Conslusions
Dec 11 Catch-up
Dec 13 Final Exam 11:30