PRESENTATION COLLEGE – ABERDEEN, SD

 

HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES I  (HS213)

Three Semester Hours

FALL 2008

NU13  MWF 10:00-10:50 AM (CST)

 

Welcoming people of all faiths, Presentation College challenges learners toward academic

excellence and, in the Catholic tradition, the development of the whole person.

 

Instructor:                  Dr. Brad Tennant, Assistant Professor, Department of Arts & Sciences

Office Hours:             C334 MWF 11:00-11:50 am; TR 8:00-11:50 am CST

or by appointment.

                                    (605) 229-8577 or 1-800-437-6060 ext. 577 

                                    E-mail:  Brad.Tennant@presentation.edu

 

Text:   The American Nation – A History of the United States  (Tenth Edition) by John A. Garraty.

                        Addison Wesley Longman, 2000.  (Three copies are on RESERVE in the library).

 

Additional Readings:

            William Bradford’s “Of Plymouth Plantation” 

            http://www.mith2.umd.edu/eada/html/display.php?docs=bradford_history.xml

 

            Writings of Cotton Mather

            http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/mather.htm

 

            A Biography of Thomas Paine

            http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/B/tpaine/paine.htm

 

 

Course Description:

            History of the United States I (HS213) analyzes the European backgrounds of American exploration and colonization.  It is a study of the political, social, and economic conditions that brought about the American Revolution; the drafting of the Constitution, western expansion and the conflict of two civilizations – the industrial North versus the agricultural South.  Overall, HS213 is designed to be a general survey course of the history of the United States up to 1877.   HS213 fulfills the requirements for a social science/human culture elective.

           

 

Instructor Objectives:           

1)      To learn more about the social values of the American people in the past and the changes that occurred in American society over the years.

2)      To understand the geographic factors that contributed to the growth of the United States.

3)      To gain a broader understanding of the people and events that shaped United States history.

 

 

 

 

Instructional Techniques: 

            Although the course is largely lecture-based, it is hoped that the class size and paper topics will encourage active student participation.

 

ADA Statement: 

            Presentation College is committed to ensuring equal learning opportunities for all students and provides reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities in accordance with the College’s procedures.  If you are a student requiring accommodations or services, please contact the Office of Disability Services, Main Building Room 365 – phone (605) 229-8438 or 1-800-437-6060, Ext. 438.

 

Presentation College General Education Course Goals and Outcomes for HS213:

Goals

Outcomes

1. Graduates will read with understanding and think critically.

1a. Read and analyze a short written work.

1b. Demonstrate the critical thinking skills of comprehension, understanding, analysis, application, synthesis and evaluation that pertain to general academic disciplines.

2. Graduates will express themselves clearly, correctly, and succinctly in writing.

2.d. Compose a research-based essay correctly using multiple resource types.

5. Graduates will develop a critical awareness of the diversity of human cultures found in the historical or

contemporary world.

5a. Analyze historical events from a multi-cultural perspective.

5b. Articulate interrelationships of individuals, societies, and historical/cultural context.

5c. Comprehend the diversity of perspectives among people of differing religious beliefs, backgrounds, races, genders, ages, sexual orientations, physical capabilities, and ethnicities.

5d. Demonstrate reading and critical thinking skills in the context of the social sciences.

7. Graduates will understand and appreciate the range and/or depth of creative achievement in human thought and works, as found in the traditional humanities disciplines.

7b. Demonstrate competence in contextualizing creative works and ideas.

7c. Demonstrate reading and critical thinking skills in the context of the Humanities.

9. Graduates will show proficiency in the use of technology.

9.a. Use the computer as a word processing tool.

9.b. Use the Internet as a research tool.

 

 

Assessment and Grading:

            Students should be familiar with Presentation College’s policies regarding academic integrity.  These are found in the college catalog under “Academic Policies.”

 

Student assessment will be based on the following:

              Three exams (50 points each) =  150

              Two papers (30 points each)              =    60

                                                                            210

 

EXAMS will consist of ten identifications and one essay question.  You will be given your choice of ten out of fifteen identifications and one of three essays.

            10 IDs (4 points each)  =  40 points

              1 essay (10 points)     =  10 points

                                                     50 points

PAPERS are to focus on the following topics:

Paper #1 – Puritanism in American Society

Paper #2 – Thomas Paine and Common Sense

I will provide you with a set of questions to help guide you through the readings and to assist you with your papers.  The end products should be typed, double-spaced, and no longer than five pages in length.  Font size should not exceed 14 (Times New Roman or comparable font style).

 

The following grading scale will be used based on the highest total number of points received by any student in the class.

            96% and above            =  A

            90 – 95%                     =  A-

            87 – 89%                     =  B+

            83 – 86%                     =  B

            80 – 82%                     =  B-

70 – 79%                     =  C

            60 –69 %                     =  D

            59% and below            =  Failing

 

Rubric for assessing history examinations and papers:

  • Advanced:  Student includes accurate and specific information in the appropriate historical context with virtually no significant mistakes.
  • Above Average:  Student uses relevant and accurate information but either has minor mistakes or lacks specifics.
  • Average:  Student provides a general understanding of the topic but is limited in specifics or contains a significant mistake.
  • Below Average:  Student demonstrates a vague or poorly developed understanding of the topic with several significant mistakes.
  • Unsatisfactory:  Student does not demonstrate any accurate and specific information in the appropriate historical context.

 

Attendance:

            As stated in the Presentation College catalog, “Each student is expected to attend every class session and be on time.  If for any reason a student must be absent from class, the responsibility of making up work rests entirely upon the student.”

--- Topics covered will include a great deal of information NOT necessarily found in the text.

--- Students are expected to contact the instructor AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (in advance when possible) if an absence will result in missing an exam.  I do not give “incompletes.”

--- All weather-related closings are the decision of the administration.  Local radio and television stations will announce these.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES I  (HS213)

THREE SEMESTER HOURS

FALL 2008

 

Aug. 27/29                   Course Introduction

 

Sept. 1/3/5                   Sept. 1st – NO CLASS (Labor Day); Sept. 5th – NO CLASS; Ch. 1 "Europe

                                    Discovers America"

 

Sept. 8/10/12               Ch. 2 "American Society in the Making"; Paper #1 Due

 

Sept. 15/17/19             Ch. 3 "America in the British Empire"

 

Sept. 22/24/26             Sept. 22nd – NO CLASS; Ch. 4 "The American Revolution"; Paper #2 Due

 

Sept. 29/Oct. 1/3         Test #1; Ch. 5 “Nationalism Triumphant”

 

Oct. 6/8/10                  The Constitutional Convention

 

Oct. 13/15/17              Oct. 13th – NO CLASS (Native American Day); Ch. 6 “Jeffersonian

                                    Democracy”

 

Oct. 20/22/24              Ch. 7 “National Growing Pains”

 

Oct. 27/29/31              Ch. 8-9 “National Economy; Jacksonian Democracy

 

Nov. 3/5/7                   Test #2; Ch. 12 "Expansion and Slavery"

 

Nov. 10/12/14             Ch. 13 "The Sections Go Their Ways"

 

Nov. 17/19/21             Ch. 14 “Civil War”

 

Nov. 24/26/28             Ch. 15 – “Civil War”; Nov. 28th  – NO CLASS (Thanksgiving Break)

 

Dec. 1/3/5                    Ch. 16 "Reconstruction and the South”

 

Dec. 10-12 (WRF)      Finals Week/ Test #3 TBA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Puritanism in American Society

Paper #1

 

 

Choose one of the websites listed below as the basis for your paper.  The questions and topics are listed to simply guide you.  I am looking for a summary of the information and also your thoughts regarding the material.

 

William Bradford’s “Of Plymouth Plantation”

http://www.mith2.umd.edu/eada/html/display.php?docs=bradford_history.xml

 

1.  What types of “wickedness” were found among those Christians who came to America?

 

2.  Why do sinful acts seem more common in America than Europe?

 

3.  What types of punishments should be used for those committing sinful crimes?  How does the Bible support the punishments?

 

 

 

 

Writings of Cotton Mather

http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/mather.htm

 

Summarize any two or three of the following topics and include any thoughtful comments you might have.

 

*  What Must I Do To Be Saved?

*  The Duties of Children to Their Parents

*  The Duties of Parents to Their Children

*  The Education of Children

*  A Father’s Resolutions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense

Paper #2

 

http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/B/tpaine/paine.htm

 

Use the following questions to guide you in writing your paper.

 

A BIOGRAPHY OF THOMAS PAINE (1737-1809)

 

  1. How did Paine feel about slavery?

 

  1. Did Paine feel that the colonies had a right to revolt against Britain?  Why?

 

  1. On what basis did Paine argue that the colonies should “sooner or later” be separated from Britain?

 

  1. In what way does Paine remind you of an enlightened person?

 

COMMON SENSE, Section 4 “In the following pages I offer . . .”  (This link is found highlighted in the biography)

 

How does Paine respond to those who say,

 

  1. “America has flourished under her former connection with Great Britain”

 

  1. Britain “has protected us”

 

  1. “Britain is the parent country”

 

  1. Britain and the colonies have a “united strength”

 

  1. What religious arguments does Paine offer when he states, “TIS TIME TO PART”?

 

  1. What questions are posed by Paine for “men of passive tempers”?

 

  1. What does Paine say about those who have been injured by Britain, but “can still shake their hands”?

 

LOYALIST REACTIONS (This link is found highlighted in the biography)

 

  1. What counter-arguments are given by Charles Inglis to support reconciliation with Great Britain?