Syllabus for American Political and Social History I spring 2008

Course Syllabus for American Political and Social History I (AHIS100) SUNY Albany – spring semester 2008 MWF in HU137 at 12:35pm-1:30pm Professor Anthony Anadio Office: SS-53 Office phone: 442-5432 Office hours: MW 11:45am-12:30pm, 1:35pm-2:20pm, and by appointment Email: renman@nycap.rr.com This course is about the emergence and development of the American nation In it, we will analyze the contributions of the Chesapeake and New England regions, and how the developments of the colonial era led to the Revolutionary War, victory, and the U.S Constitution With that contextual foundation, we will examine how Americans saw themselves, others, and their country when they embarked upon the nineteenth century and the Industrial Revolution As the American political system evolved, it shaped and was shaped by social, economic, artistic, and technological forces, which forged powerful alliances and intense conflicts How those numerous social/political conflicts culminated with the Civil War will conclude our study Leading up to 1861, the issues of freedom, slavery, abolition, women’s rights, religion, party politics, national expansion, the growth of cities, and the role of the arts and technology are important themes that are essential to understanding American history Throughout the period of this study, I will emphasize the role of ideas as a means of analyzing and connecting the people and events that make up the trajectory of history In addition, I will teach you what history is; why we study it; how to think about it (especially that); and why it is important in how we live our lives Grading: There are no exams for this course, but rather two papers – one 5-6 pages and one 9-10 pages The due dates are March 3rd and May 5th, respectively A handout will provide you with specific details and requirements, as well as the consequences for plagiarism Failure to hand in both papers will result in failure of the course During part of our class on February 22nd, I will conduct a writing seminar that should improve your writing skills – not miss that class! The material needed for the assignments will come predominately from my lectures, then from the readings and images, then from research sources that are additionally necessary for the final paper, but please bear in mind that you will be expected to provide your own analysis, rather than a reiteration of course material There is no extra credit When I hand back your paper, it will only contain your grade All too often I have spent considerable time correcting and rewriting sections of students’ papers only to have my work ignored when their next paper is turned in In lieu, I make the following offer: if you want to go over the writing and intellectual mechanics of your paper, you must come to my office and I will give you all of the one-to-one time necessary University at Albany policy on plagiarism: “Plagiarism is taking (which includes purchasing) the words and ideas of another and passing them off as one's own work If in a formal paper a student quotes someone, that student must use quotation marks and give a citation Paraphrased or borrowed ideas are to be identified by proper citations Plagiarism will result, at the minimum, in a failing grade for the assignment." (The subject of plagiarism will be explained in much fuller detail in my essay guideline handouts, and in class) Requirements: Attendance is required, and please show up on time Each day you will sign the attendance sheet next to your name This list will be passed out at the beginning of class, and no one will be allowed to sign in after it has made the rounds (yet another reason to show up on time) If you miss the sheet, but attend class, it is an absence If you have more than unexcused absences, I will begin shaving points off of your final grade (it is my sole discretion how much) More than unexcused absences and you will fail the course If you are absent for some legitimate reason, you must bring some sort of documentation, or it will be unexcused You will be allowed excused absences, after that you will have to count them as unexcused Only in the most extreme of circumstances will I make an exception, and again, it is my sole discretion If you are ill and cannot attend class, you must send me an email before class is scheduled to begin All absences that you request to be excused will require an email, or they will not be excused If for some legitimate reason you have to leave class early, you must tell me before class begins You must complete all assigned readings You must turn off your cell phones, iPods, and similar electronic devices I will not tolerate disruptions in class If you must, please get something to drink and use the bathroom beforehand Email policy: You can email me anytime with your questions and/or concerns and if it is possible for me to respond briefly, I will so If your inquiry is complicated enough to require an essay-length response, then I will reply by asking you to email me your phone number and a good time to call You can email your papers, but you must follow the instructions on the guidelines (handed out weeks prior to paper due date) Textbook: Maier, Smith, Keyssar, Kevles Inventing America: A History of the United States, Vol (2006 W.W Norton & Company, Inc.) ISBN: 0-39392675-3 There is also a website for the course, where you will find the syllabus, guidelines, images, and an email link to me, at http://www.albany.edu/faculty/anadio I will announce in class what you should read and when you should read it, so if you should miss a class (which you shouldn’t), you are still responsible for what I have assigned Course schedule by date: January 23rd – Introduction January 25th – What is the discipline of History, and why we study it? Slide section entitled “17th Century” January 28th – The founding of Jamestown colony and the Chesapeake Bay, slides 1-16 January 30th – Labor, economics, politics, and rebellion in the colony, slides 17-33 February 1st – The founding of Plymouth colony and the Massachusetts Bay, slides 34-51 February 4th – Puritan life, slides 52-71 February 6th – European events and their impact on America, slides 72-101 Slide section entitled “Colonies to 1763” February 8th – Georgia, the Carolinas, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, slides 1-17 February 11th – New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire, slides 18-32 February 13th – The Consumer Revolution, slides 33-60 February 15th – The French and Indian War, slides 61-85 February 18th – no class Slide section entitled “1763-1800” February 20th – War aftermath, the Great Awakening, printing, slides 1-6 February 22nd – Writing seminar February 25th – The Stamp Act, Parliamentary legislations, and reaction, slides 7-15 February 27th – Ideas, rebellion, and a Massacre, slides 16-23 February 29th – The Boston Tea Party, and the American Revolution, slides 24-30 March 3rd – Papers due, northern theater of the Revolution, slides 31-58 March 5th – Southern theater of the Revolution, slides 59-75 March 7th – The Constitutional Convention, slides 76-81 March 10th – The Constitution, slides 82-84 March 12th – The Presidential terms of George Washington, slides 85-96 March 14th – The Presidency of John Adams, slides 97-105 Slide section entitled “Early Republic to 1828” March 17th – Thomas Jefferson’s first term, Chief Justice John Marshall, slides 1-5 March 19th – Louisiana Purchase, Jefferson’s second term, slides 6-22 March 21st – no class March 24th – no class March 26th – no class March 28th – no class March 31st – Architecture, James Madison’s first term, slides 23-43 April 2nd – Madison’s second term, The War of 1812, slides 44-53 April 4th – James Monroe, the Era of Good Feelings, Panic, Compromise, slides 54-63 April 7th – John Q Adams, the Erie Canal, Second Great Awakening, slides 64-81 April 9th – American art 17th to early 19th centuries, slides 82-132 Slide section entitled “Jackson to Civil War” April 11th – Andrew Jackson’s first term, slides 1-8 April 14th – Jackson’s second term, slides 9-24 April 16th – Van Buren, the Whigs, Harrison, Tyler, Polk, slides 25-59 April 18th – Manifest Destiny, the Mexican-American War, publishing, slides 60-81 April 21st – no class April 23rd – Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, the Compromise of 1850, slides 82-89 April 25th – Franklin Pierce’s term, art, slides 90-126 April 28th – Kansas-Nebraska Act, slaves and slave owners, slides 127-143 April 30th – Abolition, James Buchanan, Dred Scott, slides 144-154 May 2nd – Harper’s Ferry, Abraham Lincoln, secession, Fort Sumter, slides 155-163 May 5th – Papers due Dates and material are subject to change ... drink and use the bathroom beforehand Email policy: You can email me anytime with your questions and/ or concerns and if it is possible for me to respond briefly, I will so If your inquiry is...a citation Paraphrased or borrowed ideas are to be identified by proper citations Plagiarism will result, at the minimum, in a failing grade for the assignment." (The subject of plagiarism will... unexcused Only in the most extreme of circumstances will I make an exception, and again, it is my sole discretion If you are ill and cannot attend class, you must send me an email before class is scheduled