HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
History 1301
Beginning to Reconstruction
Spring 2013
Instructor: Baines Alton R.
Email: Alton.Baines@Hccs.edu
(713) 718-6063 9713) 718-6225 (832) 890-3542
Required Text: American Passage
Ayers Edward L.
Suggested Readers: Jefferson vs. Hamilton & the Fires of Jubilee
Course Description:
This course is a basic survey of the social, political and cultural history of the United
States with special emphasis on Institution and events which transformed a group of
small English colonies to the most powerful country in the world.
Description of course activities:
These class will consist of class lectures, book reviews (oral and written) presentation,
tests and a historical research paper. Students are required to participate in all class
activities or your grade will reflect it.
Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course you will be able to
1. Explain the Asian migration as recorded in peopling the Americas, the expansion
Of European and African cultures in North and South America and the political,
economical, and social structure that has been created.
2. Describe the evolution or the American republic, and explain the development of
our social and political institution.
3. Describe the conflict between the forces of nationalism and sectionalism in
American history that led to the civil war
4. Describe the roles that African American, Natives American, Hispanics and other
Minorities contributed to the story of American History.
5. Understand the Reconstruction period and the national direction.
Course Outline:
History 1301 will cover the following materials
1. Peopling the Americas, The Commercial Revolution and European Exploration.
2. Colonial America
3. The American Revolution
4. The Evolution of American Politics
5. The Institution of Slavery.
6. American Expansion and the rise of Sectionalism
7. The civil war and Reconstruction.
Course Requirements:
There will be five test, four sectional and a final exam, two book reviews and a historical
paper. The lowest grade will be dropped from average if all assignment are completed.
Suggested readers will be counted as extra credit.
Grading scale:
90-100 =A
80-89 =B
75-79 =C
70-74 =D
00-69 =F
Please note that the Instructor reserve the right to make any necessary changes
CRN# 38314 and 38315
EGSL: Evaluation For Greater Learning Student Learning Survey System
At Houston Community College, Professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is
necessary to improving teaching and learning. During a designated time, you will be able
to answer a short outline survey of researched base questions related to instruction. The
anonymous results of the survey will be made available to your professors and division
chairs for continual improvement of instructions. Look for the survey as part of the
Houston Community College Student System online near the end of the term.
Any student with a documented disability, (i.e. physical, learning, psychiatric, visual,
hearing, ect.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodation must contact the disability
service office at the respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty is
authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the disability service office.
The counselor for the Central and Stafford campus will assist you.
Regarding attendance, student is required to attend class daily. If you are more than thirty
minutes late you, may be recorded as absent. On withdrawal you must follow school
policies. I must also caution you on academic honest because it may interfere with your
grade and your attendance with HCCS.
All late work and make up test will be at the instructor discursion. Please inform me
ahead of time if you will not be able to test on dates given if possible.
Last date for student and administrative withdrawals FS is Nov. 3.
Course Introduction
Mon 1-14-13
Wend 1-16
Unit 1 The Discovery of The America, The Asian Migration, Great Civilization and
European Exploration
Mon 1-21 Holiday
Wend 1-23 Colonization New England, The Middle Colonies, the lower south and
Colonial Society
Mon 1-28 Demographic and social feature,
Wend 1-30 Economic life, Religion Education, and Government
Colonial Society
Mon 2-4 Take home test 1
Wend 2-6 return Test 1
Unit 2
Mon 2-11 Toward Revolution
The Great Awaking and American Enlightenment and Resistance toward British policies
Wend 2-13 A New Nation is created
The Boston Tea Party, The beginning of the American Revolution, The Declaration of
Independence and The Constitutional Convention and The Early Republic
Mon 2-18 Jefferson vs. Hamilton Book Review due
Wend 2-20 A new government and the bill of rights
Mon 2-25 Review For test 2
Wend 2-27 Test 2
Mon 3-4 Work on Research Paper
Wend 3-6 Work on Research Paper
Mon 3-11-3-17 Spring Break
Unit 3 Jackson’s Democrats and claiming the commons
Mon 3-18 A change in politics, The Second American party system and Indian Removal
The Age Of Reform
The struggle against slavery and the rise of women rights movement
Wend 3-20 American life, Writers, Thinkers and dissenters, Growth , expansion and life
in the north and south,
Mon 3-25 Book Review 2 The Fires of Jubilee
Expansion and The American System
Mon 4-1 Review For Test 3
Wend 4-3 test 3
Class Outing
Mon 4-8 Library Orientation
Unit 4 The Road to war
Wend 4-10 Manifest destiny and expansion and the march to war,
Mon 4-15 Westward Expansion
Wend 4-17 The Civil War A divided country and the end of slavery.
Mon 4-25 Review for Test 4
Wend 4-27 Test 4
Research Paper due
Mon 5-1 Turn in all make up work and Reconstruction
Mon 5-8 Final Exam Week