Syllabus: History 1301 United States History to 1877
CRN 62632
Professor Meredith Bragg
Spring, 2011
Email: meredith.bragg1@hccs.edu
STF2W111
Office hours: after class or by appointment
Course Description:
History 1301 is a survey of American History from Native American cultures to 1877. It will focus on
the evolution of the economic, social/cultural, and political institutions which define the development of
the modern United States and its people. Although this course is built around historical events and
processes, it is much more than simple recitation of facts. Students will learn and apply critical thinking
and problem-solving skills and will work with historical documents, maps, and economic and
demographic models.
History 1301 is a 16 week, 48 contact hour course which fulfills three hours of the state-mandated sixhour history requirement.
Completion of this class will also improve performance in reading, writing, critical thinking,
communicating, and computer skills
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.
Required Readings:
Textbook:
Ayers, Edward L, et all, American Passages: A History of the United States Volume I
Monographs:
Gordon S. Wood, The American Revolution: A History
Anthony F.C. Wallace, The Long Bitter Trail: Andrew Jackson and the Indians
Primary Source Readings:
You will be assigned primary sources readings each week, with the exclusion of finals week.
Short answer questions from the readings will be on the three major exams. All primary source
documents will be posted to the Learning Web.
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Attendance and Class Rules:
I expect you to attend every class meeting and BE ON TIME! Information for the exams will come from
lectures, so good class notes are crucial to your success. If you miss more than 3 classes, see me about
this problem. You will be marked as ABSENT if you are 10 minutes or more late to class or return late
from break. Further, I expect you to show both the instructor and your fellow students respect during
class meetings.
Should you decide to stop attending this class, it is your responsibility to withdraw from it. If you
fail to withdraw, you will receive an F for the course, 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.
Examinations and Grading:
There will be three major examinations covering lecture and classroom related material each worth 25
points. Exam format may include essay, short answer, multiple-choice, chart, and matching questions.
There will be two book tests one over The American Revolution and one over The Long Bitter Trail
each worth 12.5 points. These tests are mandatory. NOTE: You cannot pass this course if you fail to
take both of the book tests. You may use one 3x5 note card with your handwritten notes on it for each
book test. If it is not handwritten (no copies or computer generated cards), you will not be able to use it
on the test.
Grading Scale:
Exam 1 – 25 pts (Essay, short answer, and chart)
Book Test 1 The American Revolution – 12.5 pts (Short answer)
Exam 2 – 25 pts (Short answer and chart)
Book Test 2 The Long Bitter Trail.– 12.5 pts (Short answer)
Exam 3 (given on Final Examination date) – 25 pts (Short answer and chart)
Final Average – your accumulated points out of 100 will be your average for the class.
Figuring percentage grades during the semester:
Exams – multiply your score for one exam by 4 to figure your percentage grade for that exam
Book Tests – multiply your score for one book test by 8 to figure your percentage grade for that
book test
HCC Standard Grading Scale – A=100-90; B= 89-80; C= 79-70; D= 69-60; F= 59-0
Make-up exams:
I strongly encourage you not to miss an exam. Make-up exams will only be administered with my
permission and on a date set by me. If you miss an exam SEE ME IMMEDIATELY. Make-up exams
may include more or modified material than the original exam. You are only allowed ONE make up
exam for this semester, no exceptions.
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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:
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 must contact the appropriate HCC Disability Support
Service (DSS) Counselor at the beginning of each semester. Faculty are authorized to provide only the
accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office. Students who are requesting
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special testing accommodations must first contact the DSS office. See website:
http://www.hccs.edu/students/disability/accom.htm#steps or contact SW ADA counselor:
Dr. Becky A. Hauri, Southwest College, 5407 Gulfton, Houston, Texas 77081
Phone: 713-718-7909; Fax: 713-718-7781; TTY: 713-718-7909
Any student with a disability certified by the Southwest College Disability 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.
Academic Calendar:
The text chapter readings are listed below. As we move through the material, dates on the Academic
Calendar may change. You are responsible for bringing your syllabus to each class meeting and
updating the readings list below as needed.
HISTORY 1301
Academic Calendar
Unit One (American Passages: Chapters 1-4)
Course Introduction - Week One
1. Contact, Conflict, and Exchange in the Atlantic World, to 1590 – Week 1
2. Colonization of North America, 1590-1675 – Week 2
3. Crisis and Change, 1675-1720 – Week 3
4. The Expansion of Colonial America, 1720-1763 – Week 4
Exam I – Week 5, Tuesday
Unit Two (American Passages: Chapters 5-9)
5. Wars for Independence, 1764-1783 –Week 5 and 6
6. Toward a More Perfect Union, 1783-1788 – Week 6
7. The Federalist Republic, 1789-1799 – Week 7
Book Test Gordon S. Wood, The American Revolution: A History – Week 7, Thursday
8. The New Republic Faces a New Century, 1800-1815 - Week 8
9. Exploded Boundaries, 1815-1828 Week 9
Exam II Week 10, Tuesday
Unit Three (American Passages: Chapters 10-16)
10. The Years of Andrew Jackson, 1829-1836 – Week 10 and 11
11. Panic and Boom, 1837-1845 – Week 11
Book Test Anthony F.C. Wallace, The Long Bitter Trail: Andrew Jackson and the Indians – Week 12, Tuesday
12. Expansionism and Reaction, 1846-1854 – Week 12
13. Broken Bonds, 1855-1861 – Week 13
14. Decent into War, 1861-1862 – Week 13
15. Blood Freedom, 1863-1865 – Week 14
16. Reconstruction: It’s Rise and Fall, 1865-1877 – Week 15
Exam III – Week 16 (Finals Week)
Please note that there will be no class during Spring Break. Therefore, this week has not been assigned
a number.
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Good luck! I look forward to a great Spring. Welcome to U.S. History!
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