American History 1301 Fall, 2011 - Blinn College

American History 1301 – Fall, 2011

Course: 1301 027 Crn: 12288
Instructor: Christopher Scott
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 713-862-5583

Course description: This course is a survey of U.S. history that begins with the migration of people to the western
hemisphere and continues through the Civil War to the end of Reconstruction (1877). The course focuses on the
periods of discovery, colonization, revolution, and nation-building. Materials presented cover a wide variety of topics
encompassing social, cultural, intellectual, military and political history.
1301 studies the broader questions and trends in American History, especially the root cause of events. We will learn
certain historical facts and also analyze the impact of governmental decisions made prior to 1877 that impact our
lives today. The course is taught using a lecture and note-taking format and includes a class participation
component; discussion and questioning are expected and encouraged. Also covered briefly will be current events
and the impact the history we will learn this semester has had on current events. A good deal of self-study is
required.
Core Curriculum Course: This is a Core Course in the 42-Hour Core of Blinn College. As such, students will
develop proficiency in the appropriate Intellectual Competencies, Exemplary Educational Objectives, and
Perspectives. The URL for the Blinn College Core Curriculum web site is: www.blinn.edu/corecurriculum.htm
Prerequisites: Appropriate score on the THEA test or alternative test or completion of READ 0306 with a grade of
“C” or better. Credit: Three (3) semester hours.
Student learning outcomes: After successfully completing History 1301, students should have a working
knowledge of U.S. history from Pre-Columbian America thru Reconstruction. Students should be able to:
1) describe the periods of discovery and colonization
2) summarize the causes and results of the revolution
3) explain the creation of the nation between 1787 and 1861
4) examine the social, economic, and political issues that led to the Civil War and the consequences of the war
5) discuss the period of Reconstruction and its results.
Textbook: America’s History, Volume I, 7th Edition. Henretta, Edwards, Self (authors). Failure to purchase the
textbook will probably equate to a lower grade for the course. The textbook is necessary to complete the chapter
review sheets. Make sure you buy the book early – the bookstore may sell out quick! Please bring your text to every
class. Be sure to bring a pen or pencil and notebook in order to take notes in class. Scan-trons will be needed for
exams.
ADA Statement: Blinn College would like to help students with disabilities achieve their highest potential while
attending Blinn College. In order to receive accommodations on examinations or assignments, proper documentation
must first be provided to the Office of Disability Services located on the Brenham Campus in the New Administration
Building, Room 104 (Phone number: 979-830-4157). The student must then self-identify and conference with the
ADA Office to begin receiving accommodations in class.
Blinn College Civility Statement: Members of the Blinn College community, which includes faculty, staff and
students, are expected to act honesty and responsibly in all aspects of campus life. Blinn College holds all members
accountable for their actions and words. Therefore, all members should commit themselves to behave in a manner
that recognizes personal respect and demonstrates concern for the personal dignity, rights, and freedoms of every
member of the College community, including respect for College property and the physical and intellectual property of
others. Civility Notification Statement: If a student is asked to leave the classroom because of uncivil behavior, the
student may not return to that class until he or she arranges a conference with the instructor; it is the student’s
responsibility to arrange for this conference.

Attendance: Blinn College believes that class attendance is essential for student success; therefore, students are
expected to report promptly and regularly attend all their classes. Each class meeting builds the foundation for
subsequent class meetings. Without full participation and regular class attendance, students will find themselves at a
severe disadvantage for achieving success in college. Faculty will require students to regularly attend class and will
keep a record of attendance from the first day of class and/or the first day the student’s name appears on the roster
through final examinations. If a student has one week’s worth of unexcused absences during the semester, he/she
will be sent an email by the College requiring the student to contact his/her instructor and schedule a conference
immediately to discuss his/her attendance issues. Should a student accumulate two week’s worth of unexcused
absences, he/she will be administratively withdrawn from class.

There are four (4) forms of excused absences recognized by the institution (written documentation must be
provided before the event for excused absences):
1) Observance of religious holy days. The student should notify his/her instructor(s) not later than the 15th day

of the semester concerning the specific date(s) that the student will be absent for any religious holy day(s).
2) Representing Blinn College at an official institutional function.
3) High school students representing the independent school district at an official institutional function.
4) Military Service. If a student can prove he/she is serving on active duty to which he/she is called with the

armed forces of the United States.
5) Other absences may be excused at the discretion of the faculty member.

Roll will be taken at the beginning of each class meeting. Please, be on time. Being late, leaving early or creating a
disturbance is not only rude and inconsiderate but is also unfair to those students who are serious about their studies.
It is the student’s responsibility to see the instructor concerning absences. You will be responsible for all material
covered in class during absences.

Classroom Conduct: Click on Campus Handbook under the title Current Students on Blinn’s homepage
(www.blinn.edu). The Campus Handbook states that students should “. . . behave in a manner that recognizes
personal respect and demonstrates concern for the personal dignity, rights, and freedom of every member of the
College community, including respect for College property and the physical and intellectual property of others.”
Therefore, please be courteous to your fellow students and refrain from disruptive behavior. Disruptive behavior
includes walking around, making a lot of noise with your bag, talking to other students, talking out loud,
taking/making phone calls, having beepers go off, text-messaging, swearing/cursing, etc. Please note that Blinn
College has an electronic device policy that requires each student to turn off their electronic devices (cell phones, I-
pods, pagers, etc.) during class.

Disruptive behavior also includes wearing hats, t-shirts, and/or other clothing bearing potentially disruptive messages
and symbols (i.e. swastikas, bad language, reference to body parts and/or lewd acts, neo-Nazi symbols, messages
directed toward a specific race, religion, or ethnicity, and pictures of controversial individuals such as Hitler, Stalin,
Mao, Guevara, Manson, etc.). As the Campus Handbook states, “The right and responsibility to determine the
appropriateness of the dress of a particular student lies with the classroom instructor. . .,” so please refrain from
making highly controversial and inflammatory statements and please refrain from wearing controversial and highly
inflammatory apparel.

Some students may feel that they have more freedom because they are on a college campus. However, this is not
true – students are not entitled to greater immunities or privileges than those enjoyed by other citizens generally. As
the Campus Handbook states: “Violation of any municipal ordinance, law of the State of Texas or law of the United
States may result in disciplinary action. Any disciplinary action imposed by the College may precede and shall be in
addition to any penalty that might be imposed by any off campus authority.

This syllabus mentions only a few of the Campus Handbook rules and regulations you should know, understand, and
abide by. Therefore, you should read and understand all of the policies and procedures outlined in the Campus
Handbook, which states: “It is the student’s responsibility to have knowledge of, and abide by, the
published policies and regulations of Blinn College and to conduct himself/herself in a manner
compatible with the College’s function as an educational institution. Any action by one or more individuals
that interferes with the orderly operation of the College will be cause for disciplinary action.”

Lastly, water, soda, and hi-energy drinks are allowed in the classroom if they are in a container that has a lid.
However, no food is allowed. Please eat in designated areas throughout the building, not in the classroom.

Don’t forget! Eat in designated areas on campus, not in the classroom.
Exams: Exams may be a combination of multiple-choice questions and essays or only multiple choice questions.
One or two exams may be a combination, and one or two may be multiple choice only. A combination of material
from class lectures and the notes you take during those lectures, in addition to handouts and the chapter review
sheets, will be used to formulate exam questions.

Do not just read the chapters. Use the textbook as a reference. Only those points made during
the lectures, in addition to information on handouts and the chapter review sheets, should be
referenced in the textbook. There will be some small portions of each chapter not covered, so
reading each chapter is not a good idea.

Try to be quiet during each exam so you don’t disturb other students. If you come to an exam more than ten (10)
minutes late, you will not be admitted. You will have to take a makeup if you are more than ten (10) minutes late.
Also, do not leave the classroom during an exam. If you miss an exam, make arrangements with me within 24 hours
to take a make-up. You will be required to take a make-up on Thursday if you miss a Tuesday exam. You will be
required to take a make-up on Thursday if you miss a Tuesday exam. If you miss the make-up exam, you will
receive a grade of “F” for that exam.

Course Requirements/Grading: You are required to take three (3) exams, a comprehensive final exam, and
complete two (2) book reviews/papers. The weight of these requirements in calculating your final grade is as follows:

Exam #1 20%

Exam #2 20%

Exam #3 20%

Comprehensive Final Exam 20%

Class Participation (Book Reviews/Papers) 20% (each review/presentation is worth 10%)

• Please note that all of the above are requirements. Failure to fulfill any one or more of the requirements translates
to an “F” for that requirement.

Please note that all students must pass at least one exam with a minimum score of 60. Failure to achieve a score
of 60 on at least one exam will result in an “F” for the course.

Grading Scale: B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F Below 60
A 90-100

• Please note that an “I” grade (incomplete) can only be given if there are extenuating circumstances. In other
words, a student has done considerably well all semester and has completed at least 80% of the course work and
exams and then something happens (illness, accident, family problem, etc.). Then, and only then, after proper
documentation, can an “I” be given.

Exam questions are written based on information from a few sources:

Lecture + chapter review sheets + handouts

Explanation: An exam question may come from: 1) something said during a lecture, 2) information
written on the board during a lecture (most often 1 & 2 are the same), 3) information from a handout,
and 4) information acquired by answering the questions on the review sheets (indicating self-study is
to be done by the student).
NOTE: The comprehensive final exam must be taken during final exam week. No exceptions. The
Second Book Review/Presentation must be given on April 29th. No exceptions.
Book Reviews/Presentations: Each student must read two (2) books and hand in a four (4) page-paper on each
in addition to making a presentation in class for each book. For the first book review you may choose any topic in
American History (before 1877) that interests you. The second book review must be related to the Civil War. Each
book must be non-fiction; show me the book when you obtain it so I can record it in my records and check whether
it is a suitable book for review (see the dates on the calendar when you must sign up. Failure to meet the deadline
will result in a deduction of 5 points per class that you are late. Eventually, book selections will no longer be
accepted – see the Class Schedule). Your class presentation should match your paper and last four to five minutes
and be a summary of the book.
NOTE: Be careful when selecting your books. Take your time with this task. Students often select books that are
not interesting and/or too difficult. Students also select books that are too broad (for example, you can’t do a five
minute presentation on the entire Revolutionary War – it’s just too much information to cover). Be careful! There is
a list of some books for you to choose from on the Learning Web. You don’t have to choose a book from this list,
but you may do so if you’d like (if you choose one from my list you do not have to show it to me for approval).
Make sure you don’t pick a book that is “edited by” someone. That kind of book is simply a collection of articles or
chapters by different authors. Also, no diaries, memoirs, books of famous documents, political science (government)
books, or online books allowed. Books must be a minimum of 225 pages (not counting glossaries, indexes, etc.) and
be a minimum of 5 ¾ wide by 8 ½ inches long. Please do not send e-mails regarding book selection; all discussions
regarding books should be done during class time.
Students will be required to turn their papers in to turnitin.com. This website will check your paper to determine
whether or not any portion of the paper has been downloaded from a website or turned in as another paper by
another student somewhere else (high school and college). Please make sure all papers are in your own
words. There should be a 0% score on your paper from turnitin.com, and there should be absolutely no reference
to any internet resources when your paper is scored. A reference to a website will mean that you will have to do
your paper over again.
Your paper format is double-spaced, 11 font, and 1” margins all around; use Arial, Times New Roman, or Tahoma as
a font. A cover page should include your name, course time, and title with author of your book. No plastic covers,
and please staple!
There are no make-ups with regard to book review presentations since the next class is a lecture – the class must
move forward with regard to the material. If you miss the book review presentations classes (10/13, 12/6) with an
unexcused absence, you will receive an F for those grades.
The Learning Web. Students can access my page on The Learning Web to print handouts and chapter review
sheets. Go to the HCC website at hccs.edu, then click on Southwest (up at the top). Then click on The Learning
Web. Then type in Christopher Scott, click on the magnifying glass icon, and my page will come up.
Scholastic Dishonesty: Instructors will maintain scholastic integrity at Blinn College by refusing to tolerate any
form or scholastic dishonesty. If there is evidence that a student is involved in cheating or plagiarism, the instructor
will address the situation. Any student accused of scholastic dishonesty is entitled to due process as outlined in the
Scholastic Dishonesty Policy in the Campus Handbook, available at www.blinn.edu. Please note that a student
receiving an “F” in the course because of scholastic dishonesty may not withdraw from that course.
Extra Credit. Students who score at least a 70 on every exam are eligible to complete an extra credit assignment.
This assignment is a research paper on a topic agreed upon by the student and instructor. The paper will be a
minimum of 12 pages and include a bibliography of at least eight sources, of which five must be history books. The

paper will also have at least 15 endnotes and be done in MLA style. Successful completion of the research paper will
add a maximum of 25 points to the student’s average.
Withdrawal from the class. Every semester there are a few students who are doing poorly so they no longer
show up. They assume the instructor or the college will drop them from the course. This may or may not be true.
If you decide to stop showing up, you should drop the course yourself. Go to the registrar and get the appropriate
form and I will sign it if necessary. If you don’t withdraw, the only grade I can enter at the end of the semester is an
F. Avoid the F because it hurts your grade point average. Be sure you are aware of the final day you can
withdraw from classes (see Class Schedule).

Keys to Success
1. Come every class period, on time, and take a lot of notes.
2. Refresh (study) class lecture notes every day for 20 minutes.
3. Use chapter review sheets in conjunction with lecture notes and any handouts.
4. Pick books early and read immediately. Write good papers and make great

presentations.

Study Tips
The best way to effectively study for each exam is to refresh your memory each day, going over the notes in class. If
you do not, and instead “cram” the night before, your grade will most probably be lower. You only have to spend about
20 minutes a day going over the material. If you review the information presented in class within 72 hours, your brain
cells remember the information, even two or three weeks down the road. By “cramming” unappealing information (and
pulling an “all-nighter”) into your head the night you will probably get lower grades.
It is highly recommended that you use flash cards to study. They’re cheap and effective. Review the cards you prepare
while at a stop light, on a break at work, etc. Just making the cards is helping you study. Flash cards are a very effective
tool that “A” students use quite often.
Studying in groups are the most effective. Utilize any study rooms here on campus (probably in the library) that are set
aside for students. Friday and Saturday mornings are great times to get together to quiz each other on the review sheets
and material covered in class.

Class Schedule

Date Day Activity/Reading Assignment

Aug 30 Tuesday Introduction to class, cover syllabus/schedule; intro to Chap 1
Chapter 1 European exploration and colonization;
Sept 1 Thursday mercantilism; “clash of cultures”
Chapter 2 Jamestown; Bacon’s Rebellion; Plymouth;
Sept 6 Tuesday Massachusetts Bay Colony; William Penn; “seeds of freedom”

Sept 8 Thursday Chapter 2 Lawes & Liberties; Laws, Concessions and Agreements;
Sept 13 Tuesday Navigation Acts; Salem witch trials
Sept 15 Thursday Chapter 3 Mercantilism; Transportation Act; Molasses Act
Chapter 3 William Pitt; French and Indian War; tightening imperial
Sept 20 Tuesday controls
Sept 22 Thursday Selection for book review due
Chapter 4 Revenue Act; Stamp Act; Townshend Acts; Boston
Sept 27 Tuesday Massacre; Gaspee; Stamp Act.
Sept 29 Thursday Chapter 4 First Continental Congress; Boston Tea Party; Coercive
Acts; Second Continental Congress; Lexington and Concord;
Oct 4 Tuesday Battle of Saratoga; Yorktown.
First Exam
Oct 6 Thursday Chapter 5 U.S. Constitution; early days of the republic; Washington
Oct 11 Tuesday administration; Whiskey Rebellion; 1st National Bank; Bill of Rights
Oct 13 Thursday Book review selections no longer accepted
Oct 18 Tuesday Chapter 6 Adams administration; Alien & Sedition Acts; Jeffersonian
Oct 20 Thursday Democracy; impressments; Embargo Act; Marbury v. Madison;
Oct 25 Tuesday Louisiana Purchase
Oct 27 Thursday Chapters 6-7 Madison administration; War of 1812; Panic of 1819;
Nov 1 Tuesday Monroe Doctrine
Nov 3 Thursday Chapter 7 Election of 1824; Missouri Compromise; sectionalism
Nov 8 Tuesday First Book Review/Presentation
Nov 10 Thursday Chapter 8 Factories; immigrants; cotton kingdom
Nov 15 Tuesday Chapter 8 Steamboats; canals; Gibbons v. Ogden;
Nov 17 Thursday McCulloch v. Maryland
Chapter 9 Jacksonian democracy; bank veto; trail of tears;
nullification crisis; specie circular; van Buren administration
Chapter 10 Abolitionists; women’s movement
Selection for book review due
Second Exam
Chapter 11 Settlement of Texas; manifest destiny; Polk
Administration; Mexican-American War; gold rush; Compromise of 1850
Chapter 12 Economics of slavery; immigration; steamboats/canals;
railroads
Chapter 13 Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Stephen Douglas; Kansas-Nebraska Act;
“Bleeding Kansas”
Chapter 13 Buchanan; Dred Scott decision; Lincoln-Douglas debates
Chapter 13 John Brown’s Raid; secession crisis

Nov 18 Friday Last day to withdraw from class
Nov 22 Tuesday Chapter 14 Fort Sumter; preparedness for conflict; Bull Run; Shiloh
Nov 24-26 Thanksgiving Day Holiday
Nov 29 Tuesday Chapter 14 Grant in the West; Seven Pines; Seven Days; Gettysburg;
Thursday Antietam; Chancellorsville; Battle of the Wilderness; Spotsylvania
Nov 31 Tuesday Chapter 15 Appomattox; Lincoln’s assassination; Andrew Johnson;
Thursday Reconstruction; Black Codes; share-cropping
Dec 6 Second book review/presentation
Dec 8 Third Examination
Dec 9-15 Finals