Syllabus: History 1301 United States History to 1877
CRN 83794
Professor Meredith Bragg
Email: meredith.bragg1@hccs.edu
Office hours: after class or by appointment
Spring, 2012
Alief B128
Fr 8:00am-11:15 am
Note: If you do not attend class week one, the HCC System of Record will DROP
you from the course and you will not be allowed to re-register. This is an HCC
Policy that I cannot override.
Course Description:
This is a survey of American History from pre-Columbian times to the end of Reconstruction (1877).
The course fulfills 3 hours of the 6 hour American History requirement at Texas public universities.
Course Outline:
The central themes and topics for this course include: Pre-Columbian civilizations; Europe before
exploration; colonization; mercantilism; the Chesapeake Bay colonies; the Massachusetts Bay
colonies; marriage and family life in the colonies; Native Americans and wars; the Columbian
Exchange; Slavery; dissension in the colonies; the Great Awakening; the Enlightenment; the
American Revolution; the Constitution; Political Parties; Jeffersonian Democracy; the War of 1812;
the growth of the economy and the transportation revolution; the Age of Jackson; the Age of Reform;
Manifest Destiny; Texas and the War with Mexico; the Sectional Crisis; Lincoln; the Civil War; and
Reconstruction.
Learning Objectives:
At the completion of this course, students should be able to:
1. Identify important historical themes and use these themes to analyze and evaluate the
historical and contemporary issues;
2. Discuss events, disparate institutions, and issues that shaped the United States;
3. Identify historical individuals who were influential agents in constructing the American
experience and culture;
4. Explain the socio-political and economic experiences of the original colonists and their
decedents;
5. To develop a clear understanding of the main trends and recurring themes in American
History.
Required Readings:
Textbook:
Ayers, Edward L, et all, American Passages: A History of the United States Volume I
Monograph:
Gordon S. Wood, The American Revolution: A History
Anthony F.C. Wallace, The Long Bitter Trail: Andrew Jackson and the Indians
Primary Source Readings:
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You will be assigned primary source reading from time to time. Information from these
readings will appear on your mini-tests and exams. All primary source documents that are not
available in your required books will be posted to the Learning Web.
Attendance and Class Rules:
I expect you to attend every class meeting and be on time. Quizzes occur the first 5 minutes of class
and cannot be taken after that time. Review from last class period will occur in the next five minutes
of class and homework assignments will be written on the board during this time as well.
Information for the exams will come from lectures, so good class notes are crucial to your success.
Three tardies will equal one absence in this class. Tardies can be earned for arriving to class late and
for returning from breaks late. Further, I expect you to show both the instructor and your fellow
students respect during class meetings.
If you miss more than 12.5% of class time (per the HCC student handbook) which is 2 class
periods, you will be withdrawn from this class if the absences occur by the last day for
administrative withdrawals which is Thursday, March 29th, 2012. Should you decide to stop
attending this class you will receive a grade of FX. FX stands for failure due to absences. Per
HCC policy, there will be no exceptions.
International students, veterans, and those on financial aid should be fully aware of the grade and
minimum hours policies affecting your situation. In particular, pay attention to the rules regarding
course withdrawals (W grades). Once a “W” is officially recorded it cannot be changed to a grade
regardless of circumstance.
Grades – Earning and calculating your grade:

Daily Quizzes – 10% of your grade: There will be 13 quizzes, each given during the first 5
minutes of class. Quizzes will cover textbook reading assignments and material from the
previous class period. Quizzes will be worth up to 1 point each with a maximum cumulative
score of 100 points (10% of your grade). Therefore there will be no make-ups for those who
are late to class or miss class.

Daily Homework – 10% of your grade: There will be 13 homework assignments.
Assignments written on the board in the classroom and will correspond to textbook reading
assignments. If you miss class make sure that you find out what the homework assignment is.
Homework assignments will be worth up to 10 point each with a maximum cumulative score
of 100 points (10% of your grade). Homework is due by 7:59 am on Fridays and must be
posted via Turnitin.com. I will give students the logon information for Turnitin.com the first
week of class. No points will be given for plagiarized work (answers from the internet,
answers from published work, copying each other’s work, or answers word for word out of
the textbook or posted lecture notes). See your HCC Student Handbook for a more complete
definition of plagiarism.

Mini-Test I – 10% of your grade: Mini-Test I will cover the English Colonies in North
America. The test will consist of one essay, a colony chart, and a colony map. You need a
blue/green book to take this exam.
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
Mini-Test II I – 10% of your grade: Mini-Test II will cover the Articles of Confederation
and the Constitution. The test will consist of one essay and one short answer question. You
need a blue/green book to take this exam.

Book Test I – 10% of your grade: Book Test I will cover Gordon S. Wood, The American
Revolution: A History. The test will consist of several short answer questions. You need a
blue/green book to take this exam.

Midterm Exam – 20% of your grade: The Midterm will consist of short answer and/or
multiple choice questions. This exam will cover material from the textbook Ayers, Edward L,
et all, American Passages: A History of the United States Volume I Chapters 1 through 9.
You will need a scantron and a blue/green book to take the exam.

Book Test II – 10% of your grade: Book Test II will cover Anthony F.C. Wallace, The
Long Bitter Trail: Andrew Jackson and the Indians. The test will consist of several short
answer questions. You need a blue/green book to take this exam.

Final Exam – 20% of your grade: The Final will consist of multiple choice questions. This
exam will cover material from the textbook Ayers, Edward L, et all, American Passages: A
History of the United States Volume I Chapters 10 through 16. You need a scantron to take
this exam.
Book Tests are mandatory. NOTE: You cannot pass this course if you fail to take either book
test. You must take both. You may use one 3x5 note card with your handwritten notes on it for
each book test. If it is not handwritten (no copies, shrink copies, or computer generated cards), you
will not be able to use it on the test.
Grading Scale: (out of 1000 total points)
Quizzes– 100 points – 13 daily quizzes
Homework– 100 points – 13 daily homework assignments
Mini-Test I – 100 pts (Essay, chart, map) Feb 17th (date subject to change)
Mini-Test II– 100 points (Essay and short answer) March 9th (date subject to change)
Book Test I – 100 pts (Short answer) The American Revolution: A History March 23rd (date subject
to change)
Midterm Exam– 200 pts (Short answer and multiple choice) March 30th (date subject to change)
Book Test II – 100 pts (Short answer) The Long Bitter Trail: Andrew Jackson and the Indians April
20th (date subject to change)
Exam III – 200 pts (multiple choice) May 11th per HCC Final Schedule Policy for classes that meet
once a week
Final Average – 10% of your accumulated points out of 1000 will be your average for the class.
Exams and Tests must be taken when scheduled. If you miss a test or exam you will have to take the
make-up which is given the last week of class at a time convenient for the instructor. Failure to take
the make-up exam will result in a grade of 0 for that exam or test. You are only allowed to make-up
one exam or test. You must contact the instructor via email as soon as you are aware that you
will be missing the exam. You must get the excuse approved by the instructor to take a makeup exam.
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HCCS Grading System:
A = Excellent 90-100 B = Good 80-89 C =70-79 D = 60 - 69 F = Failing below 60
Never assume that I shall "give" you a grade. Academic integrity is important. Your final grade is
the letter equivalent of the numeric average which you earn.
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Grade Tracker:
It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of their grades. Use the grade tracker below for this
purpose.
Homework
Points
Earned
Points
Earned
Test Name
Points
Available
%
Grade
1
Mini-Test 1
100
10%
2
Mini-Test II
100
10%
3
Book Test I
100
10%
4
Midterm
200
20%
5
Book Test II
100
10%
6
Final
200
20%
7
Homework Grade
100
10%
8
Quiz Grade
100
10%
9
Point Total
1000
100%
10
11
12
Grade Scale
A = 90-100; B = 80-89; C =70-79; D = 60 - 69; F =
Failing below 60
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Total
points
earned Up to 100
Quizzes
Points
Earned
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Total
points
earned Up to 100
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Mission Statement:
The Houston Community College System is an open-admission, public institution of higher
education offering academic preparation, and lifelong learning opportunities tat prepare individuals in
our diverse communities for life and work in an increasingly international and technological society.
The Northwest History Department will provide an environment conducive to learning and
encourages academic excellence.
Furthermore, the History Faculty will encourage the development of the following competencies:
Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening, Critical thinking and Computer Literacy.
EGLS3 -- Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System
At Houston Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is necessary to
improve teaching and learning. During a designated time, you will be asked to answer a short online
survey of research-based questions related to instruction. The anonymous results of the survey will be
made available to your professors and division chairs for continual improvement of instruction. Look
for the survey as part of the Houston Community College Student System online near the end of the
term.
The Learning Web:
You are responsible for all information posted on the learning web. We will discuss how to use it on
the first day of class. See me if you are having any problems retrieving information from the
Learning Web. To access your class go to www.hccs.edu, click on Southwest, and then the Learning
Web. At this point, the website will prompt you to find your professor, put in my name as Meredith
Bragg. You will then be directed to my page. Find your course 1301. When you click on your course
you will find all PowerPoint’s, lecture notes and links to outside reading assignments as well as
examination review sheets. Items will be posted as we progress through the course. Note that I will
not post materials for every lecture. It Is Imperative that you check the Learning Web before
every class meeting.
Mobile Technology:
Phones and PDAs:
All telephones, blackberries, iPhones, Blootooth technology and other potentially distracting
devices must be turned off and put away before the start of class. Important calls must be
taken outside of the classroom (with my expressed permission given prior to the start of
class). NO electronic devices are allowed in the classroom during examinations. DO NOT
TEXT MESSAGE DURING CLASS!! It is rude to your classmates as well as the instructor.
Laptops:
You may use a laptop to take class notes only. Any use of wireless technology (i.e., surfing
the web, checking email, Facebook, games, etc) will result in PERMANENT forfeiture of
your classroom computing privileges.
Policy Regarding Academic Honesty:
All Houston Community College System students are required to exercise academic honesty in
completion of all tests, quizzes, and assignments. Penalties for academic dishonesty (cheating on a
test, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration on an assignment) may include, a grade of 0 or F for the
particular test or assignment, failure in te course, and/or recommendation for probation or dismissal
from the college system.
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Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited by HCCS policy and the
rules of this class.
Plagiarism: the use of the ideas or words of another person (either in whole or in part)
without crediting the source. Plagiarism amounts to the theft of another person’s work and its
appropriation as one’s own.
Cheating: involves fraud and deception for the purpose of violating legitimate testing rules.
Cheating includes, but is not limited to: copying from another student’s test paper; using
materials not authorized by the instructor during a test; collaborating with another student
during a test; knowingly using, buying, or selling unadministered test materials.
Any questions about academic dishonesty should be referred to the Student Conduct section of the
College System catalogue. Violations of this policy will result in failure of the assignment and
possible automatic failure of the course and/or expulsion from the institution.
Disability Policy:
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc)
who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations for the classroom and/or testing must contact the
appropriate HCC Disability Support Service (DSS) Counselor at the beginning of each semester.
Faculty is authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support
Services Office.:
Students who are requesting classroom and/or testing accommodations must first contact the
DSS office for assistance prior to the beginning of each semester.
Disability Support Services Offices: Northwest: 713.718.5422
Any student with a disability certified by the Northwest DSS Counselor will receive appropriate
accommodations in this class. Please make sure to consult me immediately and bring your ADA
documentation so I can ensure you have what you need.
Course Repeat Statement:
NOTICE: Students who take a course for the third time or more must now pay significant tuition
increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities. At HCC it is an additional $50.00
per credit hour. If you are considering course withdrawal because you are not earning passing
grades, confer with your instructor/counselor as early as possible about your study habits, reading and
writing homework, test-taking skills, attendance, course participation, and opportunities for tutoring
or other assistance that might be available.
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Academic Calendar:
Topics and dates are subject to change.
Unit One (American Passages: Chapters 1-9)
Jan 20th – Introduction to History 1301 and Chapter 1 - Contact, Conflict, and Exchange in the
Atlantic World, to 1590
Jan 27th – Quiz 1and finish Chapter 1 - Contact, Conflict, and Exchange in the Atlantic World, to
1590 and start Chapter 2- Colonization of North America, 1590-1675
Feb 3rd – Quiz 2 and finish Chapter 2- Colonization of North America, 1590-1675 and start Chapter 3
- Crisis and Change, 1675-1720 and, 1720-1763
Feb 10th –Quiz 3 and finish Chapter 3 - Crisis and Change, 1675-1720 and, 1720-1763 and review
for Mini-Test I
Feb 17th – Mini-Test I the Colonies and Chapter 4 – The Expansion of Colonial America
Feb 24th – Quiz 4 and Chapter 5 - Wars for Independence, 1764-1783 and start Chapter 6 - Toward a
More Perfect Union,
March 2nd – Quiz 5 and finish Chapter 6 - Toward a More Perfect Union, 1783-1788 and Chapter 7 The Federalist Republic, 1789-1799 and review for Mini-Test II
March 9th – Mini-Test II Articles of Confederation and the Constitution and Quiz 6 and Chapter
8 - The New Republic Faces a New Century, 1800-1815
March 16th – Spring Break
March 23 – Book Test I - Gordon S. Wood, The American Revolution: A History and Quiz 7 and
Chapter 9 – Quiz 8 and Exploded Boundaries, 1815-1828 and African American Slavery and
Midterm Review
March 30th –Midterm Exam and Quiz 9 and Chapter 10 - The Years of Andrew Jackson, 18291836
April 6th – No Class Holiday - Read
Unit Two (American Passages: Chapters 9 -16)
April 13th –Quiz 10 and finish Chapter 10 - The Years of Andrew Jackson, 1829-1836 and Chapter
11- Panic and Boom, 1837-1845
April 20th – Book Test II - Anthony F.C. Wallace, The Long Bitter Trail: Andrew Jackson and
the Indians and Quiz 11 and Chapter 12 - Expansionism and Reaction, 1846-1854
April 27 – Quiz 12 and The Coming of the Civil War and the Civil War Chapters 13-15
May 4th –Quiz 13 and Chapter 16 - Reconstruction: It’s Rise and Fall, 1865-1877 and Final Review
May 11 – Final Exam given as the Final during regular class time per HCC Final Exam policy for
classes that meet once a week
Good luck! I look forward to a great semester. Welcome to U.S. History!
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