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American History to 1865 >> Content Detail



Syllabus



Syllabus



Syllabus Archive


The following syllabi come from a variety of different terms. They illustrate the evolution of this course over time, and are intended to provide alternate views into the instruction of this course.

Fall 2008, Pauline Maier (PDF)



Course Requirements




Attendance and Participation


Class attendance, completion of the readings by the class in which they will be discussed, and participation in discussions is expected of all students. Normally the class will discuss the assigned portion of the textbook and the issues it raises during the first session and the other readings assigned for the week on the second session.



Assignments


Completion of two papers, due Week 4 and Week 10. Suggested topics are listed in the assignments section. The papers are based on assigned readings and require no outside research. Students may, however, write on topics of their own devising, and may do a research paper based on materials other than those assigned so long as they receive the instructor's permission before the due date of the paper. Papers should be about five to seven pages long. They must be typed, double-spaced, with adequate margins for comments and corrections. Any research paper must include footnotes and bibliography, and all papers must provide page citations for direct quotations.



Exam


There will be a midterm examination during Week 7 and a final examination during finals week.



Calendar


WEEK #TOPICSKEY DATES
1Introduction
2The Indians' America; The First European Settlements; The Chesapeake and New England
3The Extension of European Settlement; Empires; British Colonies in the Eighteenth Century
4IndependenceFirst paper due
5Creation of the American Republic: the States
6Creation of the American Republic: the Nation
7Creation of the American Republic: the Nation (cont.); Race and Revolution; ReviewMidterm Exam
8The Politics of the Early Republic
9Politics and Economic Development
10The "Age of Jackson"; An Age of ReformSecond paper due
11Expansion and Its Consequences
12"The Little Lady Who Caused This Big War"
13The Crisis of the 1850's; Secession
14The Civil War
15Results of the Civil War; Review
Final Exam

 








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