College of San Mateo
Official Course Outline
1. TITLE: HIST 202 - United States History II
Semester Units/Hours: 3.0 units; a minimum of 48.0 lecture
hours/semester
Method of Grading: Letter Grade Only
Recommended Preparation:
o Eligibility for ENGL838/848 or equivalent.
Any 400 level READ course with a minimum grade of C.
2. COURSE DESIGNATION:
Degree Credit
Transfer credit: UC; CSU
3. COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:
Catalog Description:
Continues the work of History 201; explores the Reconstruction of the
South following the Civil War, the nation?s dynamic industrial expansion,
social, cultural, and economic development, along with the constitutional,
and economic development, and foreign policies of the United States to
the present.
4. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLO'S):
Upon successful completion of this course, a student will meet the
following outcomes:
1. Demonstrate a sophisticated grasp of factual material
required for a comprehensive understanding of United States
history since the Civil War (1865).
2. Reveal a thorough understanding of American geography and
its effect on the economy and ethnic composition of the
nation.
3. Possess the ability to write a well-organized analytical essay
on a given historical topic and draw correct conclusions.
4. Use historical primary source material in conjunction with
secondary works.
5. Provide proof of ability to read, analyze and synthesize a
book-length historical monograph (titles may be of student?s
choosing if approved by the professor; a list of potential
titles is also provided).
6. Analyze and interpret the U.S. Constitution, including the
rights and obligations of citizenship.
5. SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES:
Upon successful completion of this course, a student will be able to:
. Same as Student Learning Outcomes and: Understand vocabulary
unique to the study of United States history that equips participants
to better comprehend the complexities of history, along with
current political, social and economic developments.
6. COURSE CONTENT:
Lecture Content:
The Presidency and Presidential Greatness
. Identification of constitutional origin of position
A. Meaning of term “presidential greatness”
B. Changes in responsibilities of the presidential office following
Civil War/Spanish-American War/Great Depression/World War
II/September 11, 2001
C. Identification of prominent practitioners of presidential power
— Greats, Near Greats, Average, Failing
D. Importance of the President vis-a-vis Congress
E. Increased influence of President in matters of foreign policy.
The Meaning of the Civil War
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
Transformation of the nation from rural to urban
New interpretations of the United States Constitution
Specific amendments added to the United States Constitution
Radical changes in race and diversity in the United States
The African American — the Fourteenth Amendment,
Reconstruction and a century of liberation
Across the Fruited Plain
K. Descending the Mississippi, economics of the West; St. Louis
and New Orleans
L. Harsh realities: Trans-Mississippi geography, weather extremes
M. Homesteaders and the Westward Movement
N. The Sod-House Frontier — opportunities and curse
O. Introducing Native Americans of the prairie — origins, cultural
uniqueness, military sophistication
P. The Bison Americanus and the great buffalo slaughter
Q. The Army’s role in pacifying and “civilizing” the transMississippi West
R. Indian Wars — psychological advantages versus American
technology — principal personalities
S. An orgy of railroad building
The West Beyond Cute — America’s lifeblood
T. Mobility and the American psyche
U. Frederick Jackson Turner and the Frontier Thesis — assuring
America’s uniqueness, democracy, domestic tranquility
V. William F. Cody as transitional personality — significance in
America and internationally
W. Paul Bunyan’s America — Methodically destroying the nation’s
forests; Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Washington, Oregon,
California
X. California — West of West; a dominating influence economically,
politically
From Sea to Shining Sea and Beyond
Y. Organized religion and the Westward Movement
Z. Origin, growth and impact of American industry
AA.
Early creation of a military-industrial complex
BB.The New Navy; Alfred Thayer Mahan
CC.
Growth of an imperial mentality; Army passes baton to
Navy
DD.
Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst — advent of
century of the American newspaper; its role in shaping public
opinion
EE. War and new territory. Does the Constitution follow the flag?
FF. “I stole Panama,” Theodore Roosevelt and Panama
GG.
The United States and the Pacific Ocean — establishing
new relationship
HH.
Japan and the United States — Theodore Roosevelt and
the Nobel Peace Prize
Making America a Better Place to Live
II. Challenging the myth of Norman Rockwell’s America
JJ. Massive influx of immigrants — invasion from across Atlantic
KK.
Immigrants — a new nation and harsh realities
LL. Discovering cracks in America’s facade — Muckrakers and
unpopular revelations; publications; reaction
MM.
The Progressive Movement — presidential and
congressional contributions
NN.
Progressive reform invades all forms of American life
The Great War — America’s First Great Crusade
OO.
Crisis in Europe, outbreak of war and American neutrality
PP. German provocations; Wilson, a reluctant belligerent
QQ.
Declaration, 1917; President as war leader; George Creel
mobilizes the nation
RR.
Transfusing Allied nations — the significance of U.S.
industry
SS. Over There — American Expeditionary Force turns the tide
TT.
Declaring peace, 1918
UU.
Making a treaty, 1919 — basis of European instability and
coming of World War II.
A Perilous decade, 1919-1929
VV.
The Solemn Referendum — election of 1920
WW.
Republican Ascendancy — lackluster leadership;
Harding’s “Normalcy;” Coolidge prosperity
XX.
Constitutional changes and what they wrought —
Women’s suffrage; Prohibition; combating Satan’s drink
YY.
Postwar disillusionment — new fashion, new morality, a
sexual revolution
ZZ.
Henry Ford and growing industry; lack of effective
regulation
AAA.
Election of 1928 and the Crash of ‘29
Depression America, 1929-1940
BBB.
Herbert Hoover’s reluctant leadership
CCC.
Falling toward economic bottom
DDD.
Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal, important “aspirin
and band-aids”
EEE.
Relief, reform, recovery — specific examples of New Deal
agencies
FFF.
GGG.
War in Europe, 1939
Becoming the Arsenal of Democracy
Presidential leadership of Franklin D. Roosevelt
HHH.
Uniqueness of personality
III. Role of the Eleanor Roosevelt
JJJ. Evaluation of Roosevelt leadership — domestic and
internationally
KKK.
The Good Neighbor Policy
The United States goes to war
LLL.
Japanese strategy attacking Pearl Harbor; American
response
MMM.
Miraculous transformation of unready nation — a giant
fights back
NNN.
Unique American military leadership — Marshall,
Eisenhower, Nimitz, MacArthur
OOO.
General Dwight Eisenhower and the Meaning of D-Day,
1944
PPP.
Victory; United Nations; America’s role in postwar world
Harry Truman — “One Tough Son-of-a-Bitch”
QQQ.
Examining death of FDR, Truman an accidental president.
RRR.
Unique and significant decision — A-bomb; Marshall Plan;
Truman Doctrine; Berlin Airlift; American commitment in Korea;
Truman-MacArthur controversy
SSS.
Strikers at home; Communists at home and abroad —
Espionage; the H-Bomb; Senator Joseph McCarthy
1950s — The Reaction
TTT.
Eisenhower, a man on horseback — “I will go to Korea”
UUU.
Providing Americans with sense of security — Elvis, quiz
programs, “I Love Lucy,” “Father Knows Best,” “Ozzie and
Harriet,” “Our Miss Brooks” etc. Poodle Skirts, 3D Movies,
Hoola Hoops and other exciting inventions.
VVV.
Growth of the American suburb.
WWW.
Earl Warren and the Supreme Court
The Most Crucial Decade and After, 1960-1974
XXX.
Birth of the credibility gap — Eisenhower and the U-2
YYY.
New Frontier flounders at the Bay of Pigs
ZZZ.
Eyeball to eyeball contact — Kennedy, Khrushchev and
Cuba
AAAA. Death in Dallas — JFK, November 1963
BBBB.
Lyndon Johnson and the Great Society
CCCC. Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights movement — Civil
Rights Act
DDDD. Sucked into a swamp — Vietnam, Cambodia and beyond
EEEE.
Anti-war movement — Student dissent takes center stage;
Berkeley, Kent State, more
FFFF.
Overtures to China
GGGG. “I am not a crook, ”Richard M. Nixon and Watergate
HHHH. “I have never been a quitter,” Richard M. Nixon resigns
IIII.Attempts at damage control. Gerald Ford
The Cold War Ends
JJJJ.
KKKK.
LLLL.
MMMM.
NNNN.
OOOO.
Ronald Reagan — An actor from California
Collapse of the Soviet Union
A lingering disdain for communism
Reaganomics — portending a tenuous future
Nancy Reagan — A First Lady wields the baton
Lessons of the Cold War
Dawn of the 21st Century
PPPP.
September 11, 2001 — Attack on America
QQQQ. New wars — Iraq, Afghanistan, international terrorism,
piracy
RRRR.
A black man in a white house...
Lab Content:
None
TBA Hours Content:
None
7. REPRESENTATIVE METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:
Typical methods of instruction may include:
. Lecture
A. Discussion
B. Other (Specify): Given the nature of this course, the primary
method of instruction is traditional lecture carefully interwoven
with discussion of assigned readings, analysis of selected primary
source documents and evaluation of motion pictures that students
are required to view independently [Films include but are not
limited to such titles as ALL THE PRESIDENT?S MEN (for discussion
of the Nixon presidency and fall), INVASION OF THE BODY
SNATCHERS (America?s fears of an insidious takeover by
Communists), DOCTOR STRANGELOVE (to engage in conversation
of ?mutual annihilation? and the Cold War mentality), GOOD NIGHT
AND GOOD LUCK (the role of Edward R. Murrow in his duel with
Senator Joseph McCarthy during the 1950s) and CHARLIE WILSON?S
WAR (to introduce Afghanistan). In addition to engaging in such
conversations, students are required to prepare well-written,
analytical essays discussing the meaning of these films.]
8. REPRESENTATIVE ASSIGNMENTS
Representative assignments in this course may include, but are not
limited to the following:
. Writing Assignments:
Regular essay writing to be assigned as part of the overall
evaluation for the course.
A. Reading Assignments:
Regular reading assignments from the required textbooks and
other primary sources will be made through the instructor's
syllabus.
9. REPRESENTATIVE METHODS OF EVALUATION
Representative methods of evaluation may include:
. Class Participation
A. Class Performance
B. Class Work
C. Exams/Tests
D. Group Projects
E. Home Work
F. Oral Presentation
G. Papers
H. Projects
I. Quizzes
J. Research Projects
K. Written examination
10.
REPRESENTATIVE TEXT(S):
Possible textbooks include:
o
Oates, Stephen ed. Portrait of America: Volume II, 10th ed.
Wadsworth Publishing, 2011
o
Johnson, M.P. ed. Readings in the American Past--Selected
Historical Documents, Vol. 2, 4th ed. Bedford St. Martin's, 2009
o
Kennedy, David and Cohen, Lizabeth. American Pageant, Vol 2,
15th ed. Wadsworth Publishing, 2013
o
Woodward, Robert and Bernstein, Carl. All the President's Men,
Reprint ed. Pocket Books, 1971
o
McCullough, David. Path Between the Seas, Classic ed. Simon and
Schuster, 2004
Origination Date: August 2010
Curriculum Committee Approval Date:
Course Originator Michael Svanevik