U.S. History since 1865

Catalog Description:

A survey of U.S. history from the end of Reconstruction to the present. Special emphasis is placed on the emergence of the United States as a world power and our subsequent assumption of international responsibilities. Other topics will include westward expansion, industrialization, immigration, World War I, World War II, the subsequent Cold War, Vietnam, and the collapse of the Soviet Empire. (4508025125)

Course Title:

History 1302

Course Number:

31821

Credit Hours:

3

Prerequisites:

See Catalogue

Semester and Year:

Fall 2009

Class Days and Times MW 9:30-12:20

Classroom Location

S 171

Instructor:

Dr. Steven Prewitt

Office Location:

E213T

Office Hours:

M-Th 9:00-9:30 & 1:30-2:00; T 5:00-5:30, and by appointment.

E-mail:

steven.w.prewitt@lonestar.edu

Office phone: (281)357-3759

Class Website

http://faculty.lonestar.edu/sprewitt

Course Learning Outcomes:
-Trace the rise of American power in the world of the late nineteenth century. Note especially, the factors that make this growth possible, and assess its social, economic, and political consequences on American life.
-Ascertain the roots and manifestation of Wilsonian moralism, identify the causes of American entry into World War I and discuss the role played by the US in ending the war.
-Analyze the development of American culture in the two decades between World War I & II, noting in particular the causes and consequences of the Great Depression and the reaction to it by Franklin Roosevelt's administration.
-Explain the reasons for the outbreak of World War II in Europe in 1939 and America's entry in 1941. Trace the major events of the war, and explain America's contribution to the war effort at home and abroad.
-Trace the development of America's Cold War with the Soviet Union (including our involvement in Vietnam), and assess its impact on the social, economic, and political character of the nation.
-Analyze the major trends and developments in America's Domestic legislation in the post-WW II era, and assess their impact on American culture.

Required Books:

Textbook:

Carnes, Mark S. and John A. Garraty. The American Nation: A History of the United States since 1865. vol. 2

Monographs:

Borowski, Tadeusz. This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen. Penguin. ISBN: 0-14-018624-7.

Livesay, Harold C. Andrew Carnegie and the Rise of Big Business. Longman ISBN: 0-321-04373-1.

Evaluation:
There will be three examinations and one formal essay assignment. The examinations will consist of a map section and several essay questions. The essay questions will be answered in a bluebook and written with ball-point pen. Bluebooks and ball-points are available at the bookstore. Details are available on the class website.

      Requirement

Date

Percent of Final Average

Examination 1

November 11

25%

Examination 2

November 25

25%
(See exam policy below)

Final Examination

December 9 - 9:00-10:50

35%

First Essay

November 2

20%

Second Essay

December 1

20%

Letter Grade Assignment:
Final letter grades will be assigned after computing individual final averages in percent as follows:

 

B+ = 88

C+ = 78

D+ = 68

 

A = 95

B = 85

C = 75

D = 65

F = 55

A- = 92

B- = 82

C- = 72

D- = 62

 
       

0 = 0

 

Final Average in Percent

Letter Grade

   

100 – 89.5 %

A

79.5 – 89.4 %

B

69.5 – 79.4%

C

59.5 –69.4%

D

0– 59.4%

F

Attendance Policy:
Attendance to all classes is expected. An excessive number of absences will make successful completion of this course unlikely. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain lecture notes and assignments from a classmate for any classes missed.

Formal Essay Assignment:
Essay assignments are to be completed and submitted to the instructor during class on the scheduled due date. NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Exam Policy:
Examinations will include terms, essay questions and a map section. Answers to essay questions will be written in an examination book (bluebook). These are available at the bookstore. A new examination book is required for each examination. The lower of the first two examination grades for each student will be dropped and will in no way affect the final course grade (EXAMINATIONS 1& 2 ONLY).
THERE ARE NO MAKE-UP EXAMINATIONS FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER, AT ALL.

Withdrawal Policy:
Withdrawal from the course after the official day of record and before the last day to drop (see current catalog) will result in a final grade of “W” on the student transcript and no credit will be awarded.  It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a request for withdrawal from any course.

Academic Integrity:
The Lone Star College System is committed to a high standard of academic integrity in the academic community. In becoming a part of the academic community, students are responsible for honesty and independent effort. Failure to uphold these standards includes, but is not limited to, the following: plagiarizing written work or projects, cheating on exams or assignments, collusion on an exam or project, and misrepresentation of credentials or prerequisites when registering for a course. Cheating includes looking at or copying from another student's exam, orally communicating or receiving answers during an exam, having another person take an exam or complete a project or assignment, using unauthorized notes, texts, or other materials for an exam, and obtaining or distributing an unauthorized copy of an exam or any part of an exam. Plagiarism means passing off as his/her own the ideas or writings of another (that is, without giving proper credit by documenting sources). Plagiarism includes submitting a paper, report or project that someone else has prepared, in whole or in part. Collusion is inappropriately collaborating on assignments designed to be completed independently. These definitions are not exhaustive.  When there is clear evidence of cheating, plagiarism, collusion or misrepresentation, a faculty member will take disciplinary action including but not limited to: requiring the student to retake or resubmit an exam or assignment, assigning a grade of zero or "F" for an exam or assignment; or assigning a grade of "F" for the course.  Additional sanctions including being withdrawn from the course, program or expelled from school may be imposed on a student who violates the standards of academic integrity.

Electronic Devices:
Cellular phones, pagers and other noise-making devices should not be brought into the classroom. Allowing one of them to ring, buzz, chirp, play tunes or make any other noise in class is unacceptable. Such behavior will be subject to disciplinary action.

 

Tentative Schedule:

Dates

Topics

Reading Assignment

Due Dates

1
October 19 & 21

Introduction and the Constitution

Subduing the South and the Indians

American Nation(AN) ch. 15
Constitution of the United States and the first fifteen amendments

AN ch. 16

Terms for the first exam.

2
October 26 & 28

Industry & Workers

Immigration & Cities

AN ch. 17

AN ch. 18

 

3
November 2 & 4

Farmers

Intellectuals and Reformers

AN ch. 20

AN chs. 19 & 21

First Essay November 2

4
November 9 & 11

War with Spain

World War

AN ch. 22

AN ch. 23

 

Examination 1 November 11

5
November 16 & 18

The Legacy of Reform and the Rise of Consumerism

The End of Prosperity

AN ch. 24

AN ch. 25

 

6
November 23 & 25

The Rise of Big Government

World War Again

AN ch. 26

AN ch. 27

 

Examination 2 November 25

7
November 30 & December 1

Cold War

Failure and Corruption

AN ch. 28

AN ch. 29

 

Second Essay December 1

8
December 7 & 9

Malaise and Victory

AN chs. 30 - 32

 

 

Final Examination December 9, 9:00-10:50

*The instructor reserves the right to modify the syllabus during the semester.

Equal Opportunity Statement:
It is the policy of the Lone Star College System to provide equal employment, admission and educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or disability. The LSCS strives to provide an excellent learning environment free from harassment or intimidation directed at any person’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or disability.  Any form of harassment will not be tolerated.

ADA Statement:
The Lone Star College System is dedicated to providing the least restrictive learning environment for all students.  The college district promotes equity in academic access through the implementation of reasonable accommodations as required by the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title V, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) which will enable students with disabilities to participate in and benefit from all post-secondary educational activities. If you require reasonable accommodations because of a physical, mental, or learning disability, please notify the instructor of this course as soon as possible and preferably before the end of the first two weeks of class to arrange for reasonable accommodations.

Guaranteed Graduate Policy:
The Lone Star College Systemt guarantees that graduates of its Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of Applied Science and all Certificate programs, providing under certain circumstances, additional education and training tuition free to students lacking appropriate mastery of specified competencies.  For additional information, refer to the LSCS catalog.