Approved by Faculty Senate March 30, 2009
HISTORY 214: HISTORY OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
FALL 2008
COURSE DESCRIPTION
After a brief introduction to the geological history of the Mississippi River, this courses focuses
on the interaction of the River with the people who have lived in its watershed. Main themes in the
course include the River as a point of both confluence and division, the impact of technology on
the history of the River, the River as a source and locus of conflict, and the River as an inspiration
for human aspirations and the human imagination.
UNIVERSITY STUDIES
This course counts toward the Humanities requirements of the University Studies Program.
UNIVERSITY STUDIES OUTCOMES
A) To promote students’ ability to identify and understand specific elements and assumptions of a
particular Humanities Discipline: this will be addressed in discussions of course readings.
B) To promote students’ ability to understand how historical context, cultural values, and gender
influence perceptions and interpretations: these topics are examined in several required
secondary sources and will be addressed in discussion of primary sources.
C) To promote students’ ability to understand the role of critical analysis in interpreting and
evaluating expressions of human experience: this will be addressed through class discussion, and
written assignments.
BOOKS
Fremling, Calvin R. Immortal River: The Upper Mississippi River in Ancient and Modern
Times. 2005.
Havighurst, Walter. Voices on the River: The Story of the Mississippi Waterways.
1964.
Kelman, Ari. A River and Its City: The Nature of Landscape in New Orleans. 2003.
Smith, Thomas Ruys. River of Dreams: Imagining the Mississippi before Mark Twain.
2007.
Nilles, Myron A. A History of Wapasha’s Prairie: 1660-1853, 2nd ed. 2005.
Twain, Mark. Life on the Mississippi. 1986 (1883).
QUIZZES AND ASSIGNMENTS
Brief assignments and/or quizzes will cover much of the reading assignments. No make-ups.
Students will write one brief paper (about five pages) and report to the class about their topic.
ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION
Class discussions are vital to this course. You must come to class and come prepared. If you
know in advance that you must miss a class, see me about arranging alternate times for taking
quizzes. One unexcused absence will bring no penalty. For every unexcused absence above
one, students are penalized five points.
EXAMINATIONS
There will be two examinations. Each covers about half of the course. Exams will include
identification and short essays questions.
GRADING
Grades will be determined on the following scale:
100% < A > 90%
90% < B > 80%
80% < C > 70%
70% < D > 60%
60% < F
Instructor:
Office:
Hours:
Phone:
email:
Professor Gregory Schmidt
Lourdes 130
Minne 216
TR 9-10
MW 9:30-10:30
457-2513
457-5408 History Department Office 457-5400
gschmidt@winona.edu
SYLLABUS
Topic
Assignment
Aug. 25 Course Introduction
Sept. 2
Geological/Natural Hist. Fremling; Ch. 3-7
Ancient MR & Cahokia
DVD viewing & discussion
Sept. 9
European exploration / Twain; Ch. 1-3: Fremling, Ch. 8-10:
Fur trade
Havighurst; Ch. 2.
Sept. 16
MR & Am. Founding
Smith; Ch. 1: Kelman; Ch. 1.
Sept. 23
Jacksonian River/ Black
Smith; Ch. 2: Nilles; all.
Hawk War
Sept. 30
Steamboat River
Havighurst; Ch 5-8, 10-13: Twain; Ch. 4-20.
Oct. 7
Ante-bellum River/Black
Kelman; Ch. 2-3: Smith, Ch. 3,5.
Life on the MR
Oct. 14 EXAM ONE.
Oct. 21 Civil War & Aftermath
Havighurst: Ch. 15-18: Kelman; Ch. 4.
Oct. 28 Channelization
Fremling; Ch. 13-15.
Geoscience Perspective Dogwiler: guest presentation
Nov. 4
1927 Flood & Other
Kelman: Ch. 5; Fremling; 16,17, 20, 21.
Disasters
Nov. 11 The Arts & the MR
Smith; Ch. 4: Havighurst; Ch. 21
Art slide show & discussion
Nov. 18 Contemporary River &
Kelman; Epilogue
Katrina
Nov. 25 Student Presentations
Dec. 2
Student Presentations
Dec. 9
EXAM TWO