HIST 1301 CRN 81604 American History to 1877
Spring 2012 TR 2:00 to 3:30 pm.
Houston Community College Southwest-West Loop Campus, Room C252
Instructor: Dr. Rogan Ellen Brunet
Email: rogan.brunet@hccs.edu
Website: http://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/rogan.brunet
Office: F17 in the Student Success Center, Phone: 7137188195
Course Description: History 1301 is a survey of United States 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 a 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learn and apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills and will work with historical documents,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
six-hour history requirement. Completion of this class will also improve performance in reading,
writing, critical thinking, communication, and computer skills.
Prerequisites: Must be placed into college-level reading and college-level writing.
Learning Objectives: This course will enable the student to gain a clearer understanding of American
History by examining the social, economic, and political factors influencing this country’s history from
European Colonization to the year 1877. Included topics are the exploration and colonization of the
Americas, Colonial America, the Revolution and the formation of the United States, the creation of the
two party system, the exploration and conquest of the West, and the sectionalism of mid-19th century
America. Students will gain a clear perspective on how these issues form an interconnected and
continuous web of history. Furthermore, students will increase their critical thinking skills and their
writing ability through the use of essay exams. In addition, students will read/assess primary source
documents on the internet, expanding their computer skills, and their knowledge of the historical era
studied.
PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Students will be able to create an argument through the use of historical evidence.
2. Students will be able to analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources.
3. Students will be able to analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, and cultural
forces on this period of U.S. history.
4. Students will be able to understand the importance of chronology and how earlier ideas and
events shaped later events.
Texts:
American Passages, v.1, 3rd ed., Edward Ayers, et. al. (recommended)
www.digitalhistory.uh.edu, Stephen Mintz (recommended)
Love and Hate in Jamestown, John Smith, Pocahontas and the Start of a New Nation,
David Price (required)
Purchasing a textbook is optional. If you want a textbook for this class, my recommendation is American
Passages, v1. There is also an online textbook available at www.digitalhistory.uh.edu. This course is lecture
intensive however and reading a textbook will not replace lecture notes. Any textbook should be used as a
supplement to the information presented each day in class. In addition, lecture outlines are available on my
Learning Web site. Please have them in class on the day of the appropriate lecture.
This is a working syllabus and remains flexible. Please feel free to ask questions and remember that
participation is highly encouraged (and welcome) in class. The instructor reserves the right to modify
the syllabus at any time, with notification to the students.
Free Online Tutoring: HCC has implemented a free online tutoring program for all HCC students. The
web address is www.hccs.askonline.net. You will need to enter your email address, choose a
username and password and to know your HCC student ID number (the one that starts with a W).
Please take advantage of this new resource.
Exams: There will be two exams in this course, a midterm and a final. Each exam will consist of three
short answer excercises and one essay question. A study guide to the exam will be given prior to the
exam date. Each exam is worth 100 pts. No student will be admitted to the classroom fifteen minutes
after the exam has begun. It is assumed that all students will take all exams at the assigned times,
unless you make arrangements to the contrary ahead of the scheduled exam time. Students will be
required to put away all electronic devices, including cell phones, during exams.
Reading Assignments: There will be two web-based reading assignments and one monograph (book)
that will be given in addition to your regular exams. These readings will not be available for purchase
in the book store but you can find them online (see the links on my Learning Web site) or at
bookstores in town. The exams for these reading will be essay in content and will be given in class. On
the day of the exam, please bring the readings or book to class.
Make-up Exams: Make-up exams are given at the discretion of the instructor, and only if the student
has a university approved reason for missing an exam. You must have the approval of the instructor to
schedule a make-up exam. Students will take make-ups at a scheduled time at the end of the
semester. Please note that students are limited to one make-up exam.
Extra Credit: I do not give extra credit assignments so do not ask for special consideration. If you have
time for extra credit assignments, then you have time to do the work to pass the class.
Grades: Your grades in this class are a reflection of your critical thinking skills, how well you analyze the data
presented to you and how you organize this data into educated opinions. You will do this by writing an essay on
each exam. The purpose of an essay is to present your point of view about a given topic. In this class, an essay
is the vehicle to demonstrate your mastery of the subject and your organization of these facts into a logical
conclusion that states your opinion of the given subject. You will be graded on content and grammar.
Houston Community College now charges higher tuition rates for students who repeat a class for the
third time (or more).
Your final grade will be derived from the sum of your two exams (200 pts) and reading exams (300
pts), divided by the total number of points possible (500 pts). The grading scale is as follows:
A=100-90, B=89-80, C=79-70, D=69-60, F=59-0
Final Grades will be available to students by May 21. Please note that there will be no curving of
grades in this class.
Incompletes: If you experience an unexpected hardship or personal matter during the course of the
semester, you may be able to take an incomplete for the class. The requirements for an incomplete
are as follows: you must have a passing grade for the class and you must have completed at least
75% of the classwork. Remember that any incomplete work must be finished within a semester or the
“I” will change to an “F”.
Open Computer Lab: There are several open computer labs available on the West Loop Campus that
will provide students with access to the internet and email. You can also purchase a printing card to
use the printers in these labs. Please see the instructor for more information if needed.
Computers and Tape Recorders: If you wish, you may use tape recorders and computers to facilitate
note taking in class. Note that if you use a computer to play games or surf the web in this class, it is a
distraction to others in the class and I will have you dropped from the class.
Cell Phones: Cell phones are highly disruptive in class. All students are required to either turn their cell
phones to vibrate or power them off. In the case of a student expecting an important phone call,
please inform me of the situation before class. If your cell phone rings during class, I reserve the right
to deduct one point from your final class average. Students receiving or sending texts during class will
be asked to leave. If texting in class is continual, I will drop that student.
Attendance Requirements: Attendance will be taken at every class meeting. I cannot stress enough
the importance of attending classes. Excessive absences will negatively affect your grade.
Attendance will be taken at every class meeting. If, in the course of the semester, any student misses
more than six classes, then that student WILL BE ADMINISTRATIVELY DROPPED. If you wish to drop
this class, please inform me that you intend to do so. It is your responsibility to drop this class if you so
desire. The final date for withdrawal is Mar 29. If you do not feel you will pass the class, you must take
the responsibility to withdraw on yourself. International students, students receiving financial aid and
veterans must be enrolled full time (12 hours) in order to maintain their status. Please keep this in
mind if you decide to drop this class. The HCCS History Department has mandated that NO ‘”W” will be
changed to an “F”. Also, make an effort to arrive in class on time. If you are not in class when roll is
called you will not be counted present for that day.
The last day for add/drop/swap is January 18. The final date to drop this class is March 29.
Please be aware of the fact that you are limited to six withdrawals over your college career when you are
considering dropping the class.
Academic Dishonesty: Plagiarism, cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited by
HCC policy and by the rules of this class.



Plagiarism is the use of the ideas or words of another person (either whole or in part) without
crediting the source and constitutes the theft of another person’s intellectual property. It is
the most common form of academic dishonesty. If you are unclear as to what constitutes
plagiarism, you should seek clarification before beginning an assignment.
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
during an exam materials or resources not authorized by the instructor; collaborating with
another student during a test; knowingly using, buying, selling whole or part of an
unadministered test.
Academic dishonesty constitutes a severe violation of HCC policy and rules and is subject to
stringent penalties. Violations of these policies will result, at a minimum, in the automatic
failure of this course. Severe violations could result in suspension or expulsion from HCC.
Students with Disabilities: I will make every effort to accommodate those students with disabilities.
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who
needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Support Service Counselor,
Dr. Becky Hauri (713 718-7909) at the beginning of the semester. Faculty members are authorized to
provide only the accommodations requested by the Office of Disability Support Services (DSS).
Students who are requesting special testing accommodations must first contact the office.
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.
Course Calendar
Week One
Jan 17
Jan 19
Introduction to the course, start reading Love and Hate in Jamestown
Children of the Corn (We Call It Maize): Pre-Columbian America
Week Two
Jan 24
Jan 26
“I’m On A Boat”: European Exploration and Colonization
Week Three
Jan 31
Feb 2
Puritans, Quakers and Cavaliers, Oh My!: British America to 1700
Week Four
Feb 7
Feb 9
The Creation of a Revolutionary Mentality, 1700-1763
Week Five
Feb 14
Feb 16
start reading the Jefferson Web Assignment
Week Six
Feb 21
Feb 23
Book Exam on Love and Hate in Jamestown
Week Seven
Feb 28
Mar 1
Let’s Have A Revolution!
Week Eight
Mar 6
Mar 8
MIDTERM
Mar 12-16
SPRING BREAK
Week Nine
Mar 20
Mar 22
The Young Republic
start reading Civil War letters and diaries
Week Ten
Mar 27
Mar 29
Jeffersonian America 1801-1819
Exam on Jefferson Web Readings
Week Eleven
Apr 3
Apr 5
“My Country ‘tis of Thee”, The Growth of Nationalism 1817-1840
Week Twelve
Apr 10
Apr 12
Elbow Room, Elbow Room! Manifest Destiny
Week Thirteen
Apr 17
Apr 19
A House Divided…
Week Fourteen
Apr 24
Apr 26
The Civil War and Reconstruction
Week Fifteen
May 1
May 3
Exam on Civil War letters and diaries
May 8
FINAL 2:00 pm, Thursday