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SYLLABUS
UNITED STATES HISTORY FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO THE PRESENT
Instructor: Craig Ferguson
History 1493, section: 104
M, W, F: 9:00 - 9:50
Room 3P4 (Main)
Spring semester, 2011
Office: 1H13 (SS)
Office hours: M, W, F: 8:30 - 9:00 & 11:00 – 12:00 (&
by appt.)
Office phone: 787-2588
Main Office: Social Sciences, 1H4
Email: craig.w.ferguson@email.occc.edu
Web page: www.occc.edu/cferguson
Course Competencies
1. To explain the contributions of various races to the development
of an US culture, to discuss the place of minorities in existing US
society and to understand the dimensions of US racism.
2. To assess the role that the capitalistic organization of the US economy
had played in developing US strength and affluence and in determining
the interrelationships of various interest groups in the political economy
while analyzing under what conditions the US people have decided whether
their government should play an active or passive role in their lives.
3. To describe where and when the US emerged as both an economic and
political power in international affairs and to assess the part that
the US has played in determining the world in which we live today.
4. To recognize those individuals, both men and women, of various races
who have played significant roles in the history of the country and
to describe their roles.
5. Describe the primary immigrant groups arriving in the US between
1865 and 1965.
6. Provide an account of the effects of industrialization and urbanization,
and the settlement of the West with a special view to exploring the
effect on the environment of Native Americans.
7. To recognize geographic sites and regions which have been important
to the history of the US.
8. Provide an analysis of the effects of the two World War, the Great
Depression, and other major events of the years 1910-1990 on US politics
and society.
Course Description
After analyzing events in American history from 1870 to the present
in such areas as political reform, industrialization, urbanization,
ethnic acculturation and war, the student will be able to identify meaningful
changes in his society, identify equal rights in that society, and help
resolve conflict in this society based on the student=s search for change,
equal rights and conflicts in the American past.
Required Texts
Brinkley, Alan. American History, A Survey. volume 2.
Youngs, J. William T. American Realities. volume 2.
Grading Policy
Your final grade will result from the total number of points received
on weekly quizzes, a book review, and four exams. The quizzes will occur
every week throughout the course and will cover assigned readings from
the text and the supplemental reader. Quizzes will be administered at
the beginning of class, therefore punctuality is paramount. If a student
is not present at the commencement of class, that student will not be
allowed to take that quiz. Moreover, there will be no make-ups for the
quizzes. These quizzes are designed to encourage and reward reading,
thus better preparing students for lecture material. However, to ensure
fairness and compensate for the inevitable unforeseen absences (or tardies),
only ten of the quizzes will count toward ones' grade. Simply, students
will be allowed to drop their five lowest quiz scores. Each of the quizzes
will be worth twenty points, for a total of 200 points, In addition,
the four exams will be worth 100 points each. Make-ups will be provided
for in the testing center for the exams only. All four exams must be
taken in order to pass the course. Make-ups must be completed BEFORE
May 1st.
Book Review: A book review is required for this course. The book review
is worth 100 points. Each student will pick a topic from the syllabus.
It is the student=s responsibility to find an appropriate book that
pertains to a topic that will be discussed in class. The student is
to read the book and write a review of said book in which the student
provides:
1) bibliographical denotation (author, title, publishing info.)
2) statement of author’s thesis
3) examination of thesis
4) RELATE to class discussions
5) the student’s critique/analysis of the book
Thus, the total possible number of points for this class will be 700.
The breakdown by letter grade will be as follows:
A = 630 - 700
B = 560 - 629
C = 490 - 559
D = 420 - 489
F = < 419
Attendance Policy
As per the policy of the Social Sciences Department at the Oklahoma
City Community College, attendance will be taken. Also according to
departmental guidelines, attendance will affect one’s grade. The
occasional absence due to unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances will
be tolerated, however excessive absences for ANY reason will result
in a lowering of one’s grade. Specifically, EACH absence in excess
of six will result in the student’s final point total being reduced
by ten points. For example, if a student has missed ten classes then
that student would lose forty points. Moreover, in an attempt to encourage
punctuality, AN ABSENCE IS DEFINED AS MISSING ANY PART OF A CLASS PERIOD.
Missing part of a class means coming in late, leaving early or at any
point during class for any reason whatsoever, or simply being inattentive
during class (e.g. cell phone interruptions, texting, talking out of
turn, sleeping, doing homework for another class, etc.). Determining
attendance will be subject to my prerogative. However, in an attempt
to encourage class attendance, if a student has fewer than six absences
then that student will be rewarded by having five points added to their
point total for each absence under six. For example, if a student has
zero absences then that student will receive thirty extra points.
Test and Quiz Schedule
Quiz 1, American Realities, chapter 1: January 24th
Quiz 2, American History, chapters 15 & 16: January 31st
Quiz 3, American History, chapters 17 & 18: February 7th
Quiz 4, American History, chapters 19: February 14th
Exam 1: February 18th
Quiz 5, American History, chapters 20: February 21st
Quiz 6, American History, chapters 21 & 22: February 28th
Quiz 7, American Realities, chapter 8: March 7th
Quiz 8, American History, chapters 23 & 24: March 21st
Quiz 9 American Realities, chapter 9: March 28th
Exam 2: April 1st
Quiz 10, American History, chapters 25 & 26: April 4th
Quiz 11, American History, chapters 27 & 28: April 11th
Quiz 12, American Realities, chapter 11: April 18th
Quiz 13, American History, chapters 29 & 30: April 25th
Quiz 14, American Realities, chapter 13: May 2nd
Quiz 15, American History, chapters 31 & 32: May 9th
Exams 3 (take-home) & 4 & book review: May 13th
OUTLINE OF TOPICS
I. Reconstruction
1. The Transformation of Union War Aims
2. Andrew Johnson and Reconstruction
3. Congressional Reconstruction
4. The Overthrow of Reconstruction
II. Industrialization
1. New South
2. Immigration
3. Transformation of Work
4. Labour Movement
III. Urbanization
1. Periodization of Urban Change
a. 1820-1870
b. 1870-1920
c. 1920 >
IV. Women's Movement
1. Birth of Suffrage Movement
2. Split over Abolition
3. Rebirth 1900-1920
4. > 1920
V. Progressivism
1. Decline of Localism
2. New Middle Class
3. White collar Management
4. Social Control
5. conservatism vs. Preservationism
VI. WWI
1. Woodrow Wilson and the Fourteen Points
2. WWI, the end of Progressivism and the development of modern society
VII. 1920's
1. Mass Society, Mass Culture
2. Society in Turmoil
VIII. Great Depression
1. Vilification of Hoover
2. Hoover's Response to Crash
IX. FDR and New Deal
1. FDR as Politician
2. Idea of Two New Deals
3. WWII and New Deal
X. Cold War
1. FDR and Stalin
2. Truman's Role
3. Cold War as "Long Peace"
XI. Civil Rights Movement
1. Background
2. Birth of Modern Movement
3. Foundation for Protests of 1960's
XII. Vietnam and Protest Movement
1. Colonial History of Vietnam
2. Emergence of Student Opposition to War
3. Nixon and War
XIII. Watergate
1. Nixon's Presidency
2. Nixon's Personality
3. Implications of "Imperial Presidency"
Student Privacy
According to the "Privacy Act," professors will not discuss
any information concerning a student with a parent, guardian, legal
counsel or another student unless the student signs a release that allows
information to be discussed with a designated person. A student can
identify a friend or acquaintance to be their spokesperson. This designation
must be in writing and signed by the student. The following guidelines
will be adhered to:
(1) The College must have on file the student's written, signed consent
for release of information;
(2) The College must have on file a signed letter from the student designating
the name of their spokesperson or representative;
(3) The person identifying himself/herself as spokesperson or representative
of the student must provide proof of identification; and
(4) No information will be given out over the telephone regardless of
who is calling.
Accommodations for students with Special Needs:
Oklahoma City Community College complies with section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Students with disabilities
who seek accommodations must make their request by: Contacting the office
of Services to Students with Disabilities, (405) 682-7520 (v/tty). Additional
information may be obtained from www.occc.edu/disability
Notice To All Students:
The responsibility for withdrawal for non-attendance is yours. It is
NOT the instructor’s responsibility to administratively withdraw
you for non-attendance or because you are failing.
Each instructor may have an attendance policy that impacts your final
grade. Please review the course syllabi for class attendance requirements.
If you stop attending and do not plan on finishing the course, you must
withdraw yourself from the course prior to the end of the twelfth week
of a 16-week semester or 3/4 of the duration of class. Withdrawal deadlines
are published in the College Class Schedule. When you withdraw from
a course, the grade on your permanent transcript is a ‘W’
(Withdrawn). The grade of ‘W’ has no impact on your grade
point average.
Failure to withdraw will mean the instructor will calculate your final
grade as indicated in the syllabus (which may include an attendance
requirement). In many cases students who stop attending and do not withdraw
themselves from the class receive a failing grade. This failing grade
is placed on your permanent transcript and will be used in the calculation
of your grade point average.
This notice supercedes all course syllabi, the College Catalog, the
Student Handbook, and all other publications regarding Administrative
Withdrawals (AW) by faculty for attendance.
If you have questions regarding this notice, please consult with your
instructor.
Academic Dishonest
Academic Dishonesty as defined in the student handbook will not be tolerated. Specifically, the work of each student must be produced via individual effort, no group work is permitted. Copying from another student will result in a zero for the particular assignment. Moreover, using the textbook, notes, or any other study aid on an in class exam will likewise result in a zero for that assignment. Additionally, regarding the take home final exam: this exam is obviously open note, however the exam is still to be produced by using one=s own words. The use of outside research, while acceptable, is discouraged. If one is to use any outside research for the take home final exam, then the sources must be cited. Simply copying and pasting from a website is totally unacceptable and constitutes plagiarism. Realize that plagiarism is also using ideas gleaned from the research of anyone other than the student, such usage must be cited. Failure to cite one’s sources will result in a zero for the assignment.
Assessment of Student Learning
Oklahoma City Community College is committed to providing quality educational
experiences to all students and to striving for continuous improvement
in its programs and services. Student assessment is vital to the educational
process and can be of significant value to you and to the students who
follow you.
To ensure that adequate assessment information is available to allow
OCCC to continuously improve programs and services, you may be asked
to participate in personal interviews; take program and/or general education
assessments, which could be tests; give oral presentations, write assignments,
take surveys, or engage in other activities. You may be asked to complete
the assessments, tests, and other activities during designated times,
which may include class periods. These opportunities are your chance
to help OCCC improve the courses, programs, and services which could
affect you and will certainly impact students in the future.