Welcome to History 1302 – Houston Community College (Spring Branch)
Course Title:
Course Prefix:
Course Number:
Credit Hours:
UNITED STATES
HISTORY SINCE 1877
HIST
1302
3
Semester and Year:
Summer I, 2011
Class Days & Times:
M-F – 8-10 AM
Instructor contact information
Instructor:
John S. Huntington
Office
Phone:
N/A
Office:
N/A
Office
Hours:
By appointment.
E-mail:
John.huntington@hccs.edu
Website:
http://northwest.hccs.edu/portal/site/northwest/
COURSE OVERVIEW:
This course covers the second half of the American History survey, starting roughly around 1877 and
then will advance to the current era by the end of the year. Throughout the semester this course will focus on
the political, economic, and societal history of the United States combined with an intense study of the
intellectual, social, and cultural institutions that lent a hand in the creation of American history. Specifically the
course will take a thematic approach by looking at the most significant cultural developments in American
history, such as the development of the frontier, the Jazz Era, the Civil Rights movement, Cold War America,
and other key facets of American culture. Using a thematic approach allows students to critically examine major
events in America in order to fully assess the overall impact on American culture. Since American culture has
changed over time as a result of wars of independence, mass immigration, changing political structures, and
other historical events, this course will focus on how America’s societal shifts have affected the perception of
America both internally and externally. Summarily, students will examine America’s history as it progresses by
analyzing major themes, such as isolationism, imperialism, and American exceptionalism, in order to illustrate
the influence and reappearance of themes over time.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Students will:
 Demonstrate a mastery of a broad body of historical knowledge
 Use historical evidence to defend and support basic arguments and positions
 Differentiate between various schools of historical thought and interpretation
 Interpret and draw conclusions from various pieces of historical data including primary documents,
political cartoons, graphs, etc.
 Read and interpret secondary texts from historians, politicians, and statesmen to illustrate the myriad of
opinions and theories regarding American history
 Demonstrate an effective use of analytical skills of evaluation, cause-and-effect relationships, and
compare and contrast
MAJOR THEMES OF THE COURSE:
These themes will be implemented throughout the course, and the assessments (tests, quizzes, DBQs, etc.) will
be structured around these major themes.
 America and the World Stage
 American Exceptionalism
 Political Evolution in America
 National, Cultural, and Ethnic Identity
 Economic Transformations in America
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Required Material:
Textbook:
Ayers, Edward L. et al, American Passages: A History of the United States (Wadsworth
Publishing, 2006). Required
Additional Texts:
Buzzanco, Robert, Vietnam and the Transformation of American Life, (Wiley-Blackwell,
1999). Required
Kinzer, Stephen, Overthrow: America’s Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq,
(Times Books, 2007). Required
Instructor guidelines and policies
Attendance: Lectures compromise a significant amount of HIST 1302, and as such attendance is expected.
Though students’ grades will not directly be negatively affected directly by numerous absences, attendance will
still be taken because it provides a good indication of a student’s level of dedication to his or her own education.
In other words, there is no mandatory attendance policy; however, it should be noted that there is a definitive
correlation between multiple absences and poor grades. Since participation comprises 10% of the final grade it
would behoove students to attend class regularly. Please attempt to be on time and plan to stay for the full
duration of the class because late entrances and early departures cause disruption.
Assignments: Studies show that students are far more likely to retain smaller amounts of material learned
and reviewed over a long stretch of time than huge amounts of material crammed into a students’ memory in a
very short period. This course is structured around that principle. There will be four quizzes throughout the
entirety of the fall semester, and the exact lectures and chapters they cover are listed in the detailed schedule
later in this syllabus. Studying at a consistent pace throughout the semester is taken very seriously in this
course, so a student’s quiz average will count for 30% of the total grade.
There will also be two in-class tests and a non-cumulative final, all of which will be made up of a combination of
short answers identification terms and essays. At the end of the semester the lowest exam grade will be
dropped. The two highest exam grades will be kept and each exam will count for 30% of a student’s grade.
Each test covers the material that was taught prior to the date of the exam and after the previous exam, so the
semester is essentially divided into thirds. The schedule at the end of the syllabus gives all of the information
regarding the date of the exams and the information covered. Students are responsible for bringing a blue book
for their exams.
Discussions will also take place periodically throughout the semester, usually once every other week.
Discussions will cover topics that have been discussed in class in order to flesh out a particular issue, and
sometimes discussions will compare certain aspects of American history with the current era. Discussions
factor heavily into the participation grade throughout the semester, so it is important to be prepare and
participate during the discussions.
Participation grades will be given on the level of participation a student gives during question and answer
sessions, discussions, and generally throughout the semester. Missing class frequently is an easy way to drop
participation points.
There will be no extra credit given during the semester. At the end of the semester the final grades will be
rounded up according to decimal points.
Make-up Exams & Quizzes: Students that miss a quiz will be required to bring documentation of their
absence in order to qualify to take the quiz in question. Undocumented absences will not be considered. All
makeup quizzes will be given after class when necessary. Make-up tests are not allowed since the lowest test
grade is dropped at the end of the semester. If a student misses a test, that test will be the dropped exam
grade.
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Cell phones and beepers: Cell phones have become a quintessential part of modern society, and it is
impossible to ban cell phones from the classroom. However, there will be stipulations on the use of cell phones
to ensure the tranquility of a classroom atmosphere. Phone calls in class can be very disruptive and can
distract both students and instructors. Students should turn their phones on silent or vibrate, and if a student is
expecting an important call then he or she should exit the classroom to answer the phone. Texting in class is
simply not permitted because it is distracting to nearby students, and it is also disrespectful to the instructor. A
warning will be given at the beginning of class to silence cell phones. After that a student will be given an
additional warning if his or her phone rings or they are caught texting in class. If caught again, after two
warnings, a student will be asked to leave the classroom. A classroom is a place of learning and discussion,
and distractions can be detrimental to the educational process. Please be respectful.
GRADE DETERMINATION:
Your grade will be
determined by the following
Details
Points
(if applicable)
Percent of
Final
Average
30
Quizzes (4)
Quizzes over reading and lecture material
First Test
Reconstruction through Progressive Era
30
Second Test
Prog. Politics through Cold War Origins
30
Third Test
Korean War through the New Right
30
Discussion Participation
Points based on discussion participation
10
Total:
After dropped exam
100%
LETTER GRADE ASSIGNMENT:
Letter Grade
A
Final Average in Percent
90 - 100
B
80 – 89.9
C
70 – 79.9
D
60 – 69.9
F
0 – 59.9
Tentative Instructional Outline:
Week
Number
Week One
6-Jun
7-Jun
8-Jun
9-Jun
Activities and Assignments
Objectives and Details
Introduction
Lecture I
Lecture I
Discussion
Lecture II
Practice Quiz
Lecture III
Quiz One
Lecture IV
Lecture V
Learn the Syllabus, expectations, etc.
The Era of Reconstruction, 1865 – 1877 (Chapter 15 & 16, Ayers)
The Era of Reconstruction, 1865 – 1877 (Chapter 15 & 16, Ayers)
Note taking, reading methodology, etc.
The Legacy of Conquest (Chapter 17, Ayers)
Covers Lecture I (plus corresponding chapters)
Industrialization in the North, 1877 – 1900 (Chapter 17, Ayers)
Covers Lectures II & III (plus corresponding chapters)
Immigration, 1860 – 1920 (Chapter 17 & 18, Ayers)
The New American Empire (Chapter 18, Ayers)
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10-Jun
Week Two
13-Jun
14-Jun
15-Jun
16-Jun
17-Jun
Week Three
20-Jun
21-Jun
22-Jun
23-Jun
24-Jun
Week Four
27-Jun
28-Jun
29-Jun
30-Jun
1-Jul
Week Five
July 6-7
Lecture V
The New American Empire (Chapter 18, Ayers)
Discussion
Lecture VI
Test One
Lecture VII
Lecture VII
Discussion
Lecture VIII
Quiz Two
Lecture IX
Lecture X
Overthrow (Kinzer, Introduction - Ch. 4)
The Progressive Era (Chapters 20, Ayers)
Covers all material covered prior to this class!!
Progressive Era Politics: The 1912 Election (Chapter 21, Ayers)
Progressive Era Politics: The 1912 Election (Chapter 21, Ayers)
The Jungle (in class excerpt) by Upton Sinclair
World War I (Chapter 22, Ayers)
Covers Lectures VII & VIII (plus corresponding chapters)
The Jazz Age (Chapter 23, Ayers)
The Great Depression (Chapter 24, Ayers)
Lecture X
Lecture XI
Quiz Three
Lecture XI
Lecture XII
Lecture XII
Lecture XIII
Test Two
Lecture XIV
Lecture XIV
Lecture XV
The Great Depression (Chapter 24, Ayers)
The New Deal (Chapter 25, Ayers)
Covers Lectures IX & X (plus corresponding chapters)
The New Deal (Chapter 25, Ayers)
World War II: The Pacific Theater (Chapter 26, Ayers)
World War II: The Pacific Theater (Chapter 26, Ayers)
The Origins of the Cold War (Chapters 26 & 27, Ayers)
Covers all material from the first test to this point!!
The Korean War (Chapters 27 & 28, Ayers)
The Korean War (Chapters 27 & 28, Ayers)
The Culture of Fear (Chapter 27 & 28, Ayers)
Lecture XV
Discussion
Lecture XVI
Quiz Four
Lecture XVI
Lecture XVII
Lecture XVII
Lecture XVIII
Lecture XVIII
Discussion
Lecture XIX
Lecture XIX
Lecture XX
The Culture of Fear (Chapter 27 & 28, Ayers)
Music as Social Commentary: The Red Scare
Cold War Civil Rights (Chapter 28, Ayers)
Covers Lectures XIV & XV (plus corresponding chapters)
Cold War Civil Rights (Chapter 28, Ayers)
The Modern Civil Rights Movement (Chapters 29 & 30, Ayers)
The Modern Civil Rights Movement (Chapters 29 & 30, Ayers)
The Vietnam War (Chapters 29 & 30, Ayers)
The Vietnam War (Chapters 29 & 30, Ayers)
Vietnam and the Transformation of American Life
(Buzzanco, Part II: Chapter 5 - 8)
Watergate (Chapter 30, Ayers)
Watergate (Chapter 30, Ayers)
The New American Right (Chapters 30 & 31, Ayers)
Test Three - Final
Covers all material from the second test to this point!!
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Additional Policies
Academic Integrity
The Houston Community College website lists the student handbook, and students guilty of academic integrity will be subject to the letter of
the law. Students should familiarize themselves with the handbook because academic responsibility demands it. Cheating consists of, but
is not limited to: cheating on tests or quizzes, plagiarism, collusion, etc.
ADA
If you have any type of disability, please let me know immediately. HCCS has counselors who are more than willing to assist you in any way
possible. The ADA office will also let me know what you require and I will assist you to the best of my ability. Any student with a
documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must
contact the Disability Services Office at the respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty are authorized to provide only the
accommodations requested by the Disability Support Service Office.
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