SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
COURSE: AFRAS 170-A Sections 3, 4 and 5 AFRO-AMERICAN HISTORY
FALL 2014
COURSE SCHEDULE NUMBERS: ***********
Professor : Dr. Anta Anthony Merritt
My e-mail: amerritt@mail.sdsu.edu
Office hours: Friday , 10:30 AM-12:30 PM and by appointment
Location : Arts and Letters Building Room 369
Graduate Assistant (GA) : Rosalyn Johnson
GA e-mail: priderock777@gmail.com
M/W/F 9-9:50 AM Class Room: PS-130
SYLLABUS
COURSE DESCRIPTION: American history from a Black perspective. These courses (AFRAS 170-A and 170-
B) satisfy the graduation requirement in American Institutions. AFRAS 170-A explores the political, economic, and social history of people of African descent from the early Colonial period to the end of the Civil War. Emphasis will be placed on the role played by Black people in the foundation and development of America.
REQUIRED TEXT: African Americans, A Concise History, 5 th edition (combined volume), by D. Hine, et. al.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES : The main objective of this course is to enable the student to grasp the fullness of the history of Blacks in the Americas. To accomplish this, the student will have learned the following at the end of this course:
1) Identify, use and analyze major themes, issues, and concerns of Africana people
2) Identify key features of an Africana response to living in the world; an Africana world-view
3) Identify and discuss Africana People’s history and culture.
4) Overview of West & Central African history and culture
5) The Black Diaspora, and its relationship to African Americans
6) The significant role played by Blacks in all of America’s periods of critical development and change from 1620-1865
7) The interaction between Native Americans and Blacks in America.
8) The nature and scope of the institution of slavery; the multiplicity of forms of Black resistance
9) The Civil War: causes; role of Enslaved and Free Blacks;
10) American Institutions required material, at it related to African Americans, to include:
a. Declaration of Independence;
b. Slavery and the Constitution; Fugitive Slave Laws
c. Indian Removal Act
d. Pre-Civil War Compromises & Acts of 1820 & 1850; Kansas-Nebraska Act; Dredd Scot Case.
e. Emancipation Proclamation; 13 th , 14 th , and 15 th Constitutional Amendments
COURSE METHODOLOGY : The course will employ various methods (lecture, power point, films, class discussions and (time and class size permitting) student presentations to promote informed and analytical thinking about the nature and scope of American history as seen through the experience of Black people.
GRADING POLICY: Your final grade in this course will be based on this percentage system. It is based on the total points possible for the course, which is 400 points :
I DO NOT “ROUND UP” PERCENTAGES-NO EXCEPTIONS . To get an A, for example, the lowest possible percentage must be a WHOLE 94%, nothing less (a 93. 75% for example would be an A-)

Letter Grade Assignments
Percent
94 - 100
90 - 93
87 - 89
83 - 86
80 - 82
77 - 79
Letter Grade
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
73 - 76
70 - 72
67 - 69
63 - 66
C
C-
D+
D
60 - 62
< 60
D-
F
EXTRA CREDIT MAY BE OFFERED FOR THIS COURSE; IT IS NOT A GIVEN
POINT DISTRIBUTION:
This course is comprised of four tests. Each test is worth 100 points
INSTRUCTIONAL STUDENT ASSISTANT:
This course has a Graduate Assistant (GA). His/her role is:
1. To conduct the scheduled tests
2. To conduct make-up tests for students who miss the scheduled exam. Make-ups will be held at mutually agreed upon dates and times. See his e-mail address for scheduling.
3. Occasionally, he/she may begin, or conduct a class. The GA was an Africana Studies major and is qualified to do this.
4. Perform other classroom duties as designated by the instructor.
**The GA is not responsible for making decisions on disputed grades. If you wish to dispute a test grade, or consult about a test, or consult about your progress in this class, you need to see me during office hours or by appointment.

TEST INFORMATION:
1. Tests are multiple choice/true false. Each test is equally weighted in terms of points; no test will be dropped.
2. You will be provided with a study guide for each test, posted on Blackboard, in “course documents” section.
3. Power point will be presented for the lectures and reading assignments. Power points may be posted on
Blackboard.
4. All tests require a #882 green and white scantron and pencil.
CLASS ETIQUETTE and STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES : There are several common sense rules for this class:
1. No eating during class
2. Turn off phone ringers during class
3. Conversation, or other non-class related activity or habits that disturbs either your classmates learning OR disturbs the instructor will not be tolerated
ANYONE IN VIOLATION OF ITEMS 1-3, WILL BE DISMISSED FROM CLASS FOR THAT DAY. SECOND
AND SUBSEQUENT VIOLATIONS OF ITEMS 1-3 WILL RESULT IN DISMISSAL FOR THAT DAY, AND A
LOSS OF 20 POINTS. (also see item #5)
4. Please be on time to class. If you must arrive late, enter quietly, and take the first available empty seat. If you must leave early, leave quietly
5. A student will be dropped from class if he/she continues to exhibit behavior that prohibits or impedes any member of the class from pursuing class learning objectives.
6. You will be responsible for all the materials presented in class (lecture, films and discussions of reading assignments), even if you are tardy or absent. Material previously covered in class may not be repeated.
7. Any student who accumulates absences that exceed 6% of the total semester hours may be dropped by the instructor
.
EXTRA CREDIT : Extra credit options may be offered; if so, those options will be offered to all students. In NO
CASE will extra credit be offered to an individual student--DON’T ASK.
EXAM POLICY AND LATE WORK POLICY: a) No exams may be taken early b) Only one “make-up” exam per student will be permitted; after that, you will lose 15 pts. per make up, unless you have a verifiable, documented excuse
ACCESSIBILITY : Students who need accommodation of their disabilities should contact me privately to discuss specific accommodations for which they have authorization. If you have a disability, but have not contacted Student
Disability Services at 619-594-6473 (Calpulli Center, Suite 31010), please do so before making an appointment to see me.

(Dates and Topics Subject to Modification)
CHAPTERS LISTED ARE FOR GENERAL BACKGROUND READING; REFER TO STUDY GUIDES ON
BLACKBOARD FOR MORE SPECIFIC PAGES
ANCIENT AFRICA; TRADITIONS OF AFRICA
Topics : Origins of Humankind, Geography & Physical Features of Africa; Major Civilizations of West
Africa; Culture of Traditional Africa
1. Aug. 25>Class introduction
SEPT. 1: NO CLASS LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
2. Aug. 27-Sept. 17 ( 9 class sessions)>chapter 1, lecture and film
3. Sept. 17>chapter 1 review
4. Sept.19> TEST #1
ENSLAVEMENT: SLAVE TRADE; COLONIAL PERIOD
Topics: Africans in Europe; The Transatlantic Slave Trade; Types of Enslavement; Early Experiences of
Enslaved Blacks in the Caribbean, Latin America and North America; Blacks in the North American
Revolutionary War
5. Sept. 22-Oct. 17 (12 class sessions)>lecture and discussion chapters 2, 3 and 4
6. Oct. 17>complete chapters 2, 3, and 4; Review for Midterm
7. Oct. 20> Test #2 (THE MIDTERM)
NATIONALIST AND PRE-CIVIL WAR PERIOD
Topics: American Institutions (Slavery and the Constitution; Fugitive Slave Law of 1783; Indian Removal
Act; Slave Codes); Blacks and Native Americans; Seminole Wars; Anti-slavery Conspiracies and Revolts;
Antebellum Life of Enslaved and Free Blacks; American Colonization Society
8. Oct. 22- Nov. 10 ( 9 class sessions)>lecture and discussion chapters 5, 6, 7, 8
9. Nov.12> TEST #3 ; Lecture after Test, time permitting
CIVIL WAR PERIOD
Topics: Underground Railroad; Black and White Abolitionists; American Institutions (Compromises of 1820
&1850; Fugitive Slave Law of 1850; Kansas-Nebraska Act; Dred Scott Case); John Brown’s Raid; The Civil
War (Causes; Role of Blacks; Contraband and Confiscation Acts; Lincoln and the Emancipation
Proclamation).
10. Nov. 14-Dec. 10 (10 class sessions)>lecture and discussion chapters 9, 10 and 11
11. Dec. 10>complete chapters 9, 10 and 11; Q&A Review (LAST DAY OF INSTRUCTION)
NO CLASS DEC. 12
12. Dec. 15> FINAL EXAM: 8-10 AM- SAME CLASS ROOM