AMERICAN HISTORY II
HIS 104-51 (SPRING 2016)
Thur. 6:00 – 8:45 P.M., KCSU 104
Hans P. Vought, Ph.D.
TEXTBOOKS: You should purchase the following books at the college bookstore or retailer of
your choice. In addition, the main textbook is available on closed reserve in the MacDonald
Dewitt Library. Readings should be done before class, as they will be discussed in class.
You will be responsible for all material in the books in addition to the lectures. In college, you
should develop the ability to read critically - that is, to determine what the author’s thesis or
argument is, and evaluate the evidence which he or she uses to support it. You will probably
find it useful to take notes on the reading, both for the in-class discussion and in preparing for the
papers and exams. In addition, there will be shorter documents to read on the website, which
will be discussed in class.

George B. Tindall & David E. Shi, America: A Narrative History, Volume Two, 9th
ed. (W.W. Norton & Co., 2013). ISBN: 978-0-393-91264-7. This is a basic textbook,
which will give you a general overview to provide context as we examine specific topics
in-depth. The textbook website, http://www.wwnorton.com/college/history/america9/full,
has videos, self-quizzes, flashcards, and many other features and study materials.

Colin G. Calloway, Our Hearts Fell to the Ground: Plains Indian Views of How the
West Was Lost (Bedford, 1996). ISBN 978-0-312-13354-2. First-hand accounts by
Native Americans of their defeat and dispossession.

Jane Addams, Twenty Years at Hull House, ed. Victoria Bissell Brown (Bedford,
1999). ISBN 978-0-312-15706-7. A leading progressive reformer describes her efforts to
transform working-class Chicago.

Van Gosse, The Movements of the New Left, 1950-1975: A Brief History with
Documents (Bedford, 2005) ISBN 978-0-312-13397-9. Mid-twentieth-century
radicalism as described by the radicals.
CONTACT INFORMATION: My office is in Vanderlyn 239K. My Office Hours are Mon. –
Wed. – Fri. 10:50 – 11:50 A.M., Tues. – Thur. 12:00 – 1:00 P.M., and by appointment. My office
telephone number is 688-1594. My e-mail address is voughth@sunyulster.edu. Website:
http://people.sunyulster.edu/voughth. Please note that all e-mail communication between
faculty and students should occur through the mysunyulster.edu portal, which complies
with federal law (FERPA).
COURSE OBJECTIVES: This course is designed to give an overview of the “second half” of
United States history. It traces the history of American life from the period of Reconstruction
following the Civil War to the present day. Key themes will include the interaction between
different racial and ethnic groups, the economic growth and industrialization of the nation,
changes in American society and culture, and the United States’ rise to the position of global
superpower in the twentieth century. The course will consist of both lectures and threaded
discussions based on the readings. You are expected to develop analytical skills as you assess
historical evidence and arguments, and explain your conclusions in discussions and essays.
OUTLINE OF COURSE CONTENT: Each class is divided into two 80-minute halves with a
5-minute break in between.
Thur. 1/21: Introduction; Reconstruction (America, ch. 17; “Lincoln’s Second Inaugural
Address,” “Alexandria Petition,” & “The Reconstruction Amendments to the Constitution,” HIS
104 Documents).
Thur. 1/28: Native Americans & “Settlers” in the West (America, ch. 19, pp. 797-819; “Little
Bear’s Account of the Sand Creek Massacre,” HIS 104 Documents); Industrial Capitalism
(America, ch. 18, pp. 751-68; “Carnegie’s ‘Gospel of Wealth’,” HIS 104 Documents).
Thur. 2/4: Organized Labor (America, ch. 18, pp. 768-89); Immigration (America, ch. 20, pp.
820-31).
Thur. 2/11: Gilded Age Politics & Reform (America, ch. 19, pp. 791-97; ch. 20, pp. 832-47; ch.
21, pp. 848-64, 878-91; “Justice Harlan’s Dissent in Plessy v. Ferguson,” HIS 104 Documents;
Levy); Populism (America, ch. 21, pp. 864-78; “The Populists’ Omaha Platform,” “The
Populists Try to Unite Poor Whites and Blacks,” & “William Jennings Bryan’s ‘Cross of Gold”
Speech,” HIS 104 Documents).
**1st PAPER DUE 2/11 on Calloway, Our Hearts Fell to the Ground**
Thur. 2/18: FIRST EXAM; The “New” Imperialism (America, ch. 22).
Thur. 2/25: The Progressive Era (America, ch. 23); World War I (America, ch. 24; “Firsthand
Account of Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s Assassination,” “George Creel, ‘How We Advertised
America’,” & “Sen. Lodge’s Objections to the League of Nations,” HIS 104 Documents).
Thur. 3/3: The “New Era” of the 1920s (America, ch. 25); The Consumer Economy and the
Great Depression (America, ch. 26)
Thur. 3/10: The New Deal(s) (America, ch. 27; “Supreme Court’s Decision in U.S. v. Butler,”
& “Sen. Huey Long’s Plan to ‘Share Our Wealth’,” HIS 104 Documents).
Thur. 3/17: World War II (America, ch. 28; “FDR, ‘America, the Arsenal of Democracy’,” &
“FDR, ‘The Four Freedoms’,” HIS 104 Documents).
**2nd PAPER DUE 3/17 on Addams, Twenty Years at Hull House**
Thur. 3/24: SPRING BREAK
Thur. 3/31: SECOND EXAM; The Beginnings of the Cold War (America, ch. 29; “The
Truman Doctrine,” “The Marshall Plan,” & “NSC-68,” HIS 104 Documents) .
Thur. 4/7: The Affluent Society of the 1950s (America, ch. 30); The Civil Rights Movement
(America, ch. 29, pp. 1225-27; ch. 30, pp. 1273-81; ch. 31, pp. 1306-14, 1331-37; “Rev. King’s
Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” & “Stokely Carmichael, ‘What We Want’,” HIS 104
Documents).
Thur. 4/14: A New Frontier for a Great Society (America, ch. 31, pp. 1300-06, 1314-31, 134449; “LBJ, ‘The Great Society’,” HIS 104 Documents); The Vietnam War (America, ch. 31, pp.
1338-44; ch. 32, pp. 1376-80; “Vietnamese Declaration of Independence,” “LBJ, ‘Peace
Without Conquest’,” & “Col. Heinl’s View of Vietnam,” HIS 104 Documents).
Thur. 4/21: The New Left, Nixon and Watergate (America, ch. 32, pp. 1350-76, 1381-92); The
1970s: the U.S. at 200 (America, chap. 32, pp. 1392-99; ch. 33, pp. 1400-11);
Thur. 4/28: 1980s: Reagan & Neo-Conservatism (America, ch. 33, pp. 1412-49); 1990s &
Beyond (America, ch. 34)
**3rd PAPER DUE 4/28 on Gosse, The Movements of the New Left**
Wed. 5/4, Thur. 5/5, Fri. 5/6: MAKE-UP DAYS (if needed for snow or other emergencies)
T.B.A.: FINAL EXAM
STUDENT REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLETION OF THE COURSE: You will write
three short papers and three essay exams over the course of the semester. The three exams will
include a choice of short answer and essay questions, covering material discussed in the readings
as well as material discussed in class. They are closed-book and non-cumulative. No talking is
permitted during the exam, and you will not be allowed to leave the room until you have
completed and turned in the exam. Your essays should articulate a clear thesis (that is, an
argument supported by evidence) in response to the questions. You are free to express any
opinion; however, you must present historical evidence to support it.
The papers will be 2-3 pages each (typed, double-spaced, 1-inch margins and 12-point type).
You will write in response to questions about the three shorter books. You will submit your
papers to Turnitin.com, a website which checks student papers for evidence of plagiarism. Print
out the Originality Report from Turnitin.com and attach it to the back of your paper before
submitting it to me.
LATE PAPER POLICY: The papers are due at the beginning of class on the days noted in the
schedule above. Papers handed in later that day will lose a partial letter grade. Papers lose one
whole letter grade for each calendar day that they are late. Therefore, it is in your best interest
to hand in assignments on time.
ATTENDANCE POLICY: Attendance is mandatory and will be taken each class. You will be
allowed 1 “personal day;” beyond that, each absence will lower your grade. Coming in late or
leaving early counts as a half absence. Make-ups are allowed only for valid medical or other
emergencies. Missing two weeks (2 classes) or more may lead to your being removed from the
course with cause by me.
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have
emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the
building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. Please
note the withdrawal deadlines set by the college.
ASSESSMENT: Grades will be based upon participation in class discussions, the three papers
and the three exams. The papers will make up 10% each of your final grade. The first two
exams will make up 20% each of your final grade. The final exam will make up 30% of your
final grade. There will be no “extra credit” - in college, you are judged by the quality rather than
the quantity of your work. Both participation in classroom discussion and improvement will be
taken into consideration in determining the final course grade.
The following grading scale is used:
93-100 = A
90-92 = A87-89 = B+
83-86 = B
80-82 = B77-79 = C+
73-76
70-72
67-69
63-66
60-62
< 59
=C
= C= D+
=D
= D=F
Please retain all graded papers from this course until you see your final grade posted on your
College transcript. If I suspect you of plagiarism or cheating, you will receive a 0 for that
particular paper or exam. You will have an opportunity to meet with me and demonstrate that
you are innocent. If a second offense should occur, you will receive a 0 for the course, and face
possible expulsion from the college.
FINAL EXAM: The final exam will be given during the regularly scheduled examination
period at the end of the semester. It will not be cumulative – it will simply be the third exam.
STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Academic Honesty is taken very seriously by
the College. Breaking the rules of academic honesty results in immediate disciplinary
consequences. What does our Academic Honesty Policy prohibit?
1.. Cheating on exams or quizzes.
2.. Use of others’ exact words or their ideas, even in your own words, without giving them
credit.
3.. Submission of any work that is not entirely your own.
4.. Theft or sale of examinations or falsification of academic records.
5.. Submission of the same work to more than one class unless approved by both instructors.
6.. Unauthorized duplication or use of computer software or print materials.
7.. Any attempt to influence an instructor to change a grade for a reason other than academic
achievement.
The College uses an internet service to check for plagiarism. This service is also available for
student use. Ask your instructor for more information. The complete statement about Student
Academic Honesty is included in the Student Handbook.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: To learn more about any of the topics covered in this course, please see the
list of recommended books at the end of each chapter in the textbook, and on the textbook
website at http://www.wwnorton.com/college/history/america9/full.
N.B.: This syllabus is not a legal contract. Assignments and policies (other than college rules)
are subject to revision at any time throughout the course.
DR. VOUGHT’S RULES OF CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE: The essence of courtesy is
showing respect and consideration for other people around you. In the classroom, this means
both the professor and your fellow students. Anything that distracts you and those around you
from your mutual goal (i.e., learning) is rude and disrespectful. To further clarify this, I offer the
following rules, which I expect everyone to follow:
1. Class begins and ends on time. Therefore, you should be in your seat, ready to go when class
begins, and stay in your seat until class ends. Walking in late or leaving early will be counted as
a half absence, and two halves make a whole.
2. If, for some unavoidable reason, you must miss a class or leave early, please inform the
professor ahead of time.
3. Never get up in the middle of class and walk around, unless it is a dire emergency. Go to the
bathroom before or after class, not during it. Throw out any trash at the end of class as you’re
leaving the room.
4. Stay awake. If you fall asleep, I will ask you to leave, and it will be counted as a half absence.
5. No personal grooming during class.
6. Do not read or study for another class, or read for pleasure, during my class.
7. Cell phones and other portable electronic devices should be turned off and remain out of sight
(yours and mine).