Course Information:
History 1302 CRN: 55247
U.S. History Since 1865
M-F, 10:00-12:00, EDC A244
Summer I 2015 / 3 Lecture 0 Lab
Contact Information:
Professor: Dr. Esparza
Office Phone: 713.313.4841
E-Mail: jesse.esparza2@hccs.edu
Office Hrs. By Appointment
Course Description:
This class is a survey of American history from Reconstruction to the present. Our main goal is to gain a
better understanding of the development of the U.S. as we become familiar with the struggles and
controversies that helped shape American society. We will concentrate on themes including economic
growth and industrialization, the distribution of wealth in America, changing social norms and cultural
perspectives, the effort to create a political democracy, questions of gender and ethnicity, the rise of
American expansionism, war, and other aspects of international relations. Course objectives are to:
1. To gain a better understanding of the major historic events between 1865 and the present.
2. To acquire a historical understanding of cultural groups and issues.
3. To improve skills of analysis and logical reasoning
4. To improve the ability to write and comment effectively
Texts & Additional Readings:
James L. Roark. The American Promise: A History of the United States. Vol. II Since 1865. Bedford/St.
Martin’s. ISBN-10: 0-312-66314-5. (Required)
Assignments:
There will be two exams during the summer semester; a midterm and a final. Each exam will consist of
multiple choice, key term, and essay questions and all worth a total of 100 points. Scantrons and
bluebooks are required for completion of all tests. There will also be an Oral History Project in this
course. Details on this project will be provided in class. Dates and deadlines for all assignments are
listed on the course calendar.
Make-up Policy:
There are no make-ups for assignments except in the case of a school-excused absence, a medicalexcused absence, or by prior arrangement with the Professor. If that should occur, make-ups will be
given or will be due within 10 days of the original assignment due date on a day determined by the
Professor. Make-ups will not be the same as regular assignments. All absences require a note from a
health care professional or school official confirming date and time of visit/event in order for the absence
to count as excused.
Academic Dishonesty / Integrity:
Academic dishonesty, including plagiarism or cheating on the exams or other assignments will result in
failure of those assignment and class and possibly grounds for suspension from the College. Do not cheat
in this class.
Attendance:
Regular, consistent attendance is an essential component of your overall success in this course. In a
lecture-driven course such as this, there is a direct correlation between success on assignments and
attendance. You are urged not to miss any class days. Attendance will be taken throughout the semester.
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Disabilities:
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing) who needs
to arrange 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 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 at 713.718.6164
Course Calendar:
Week 1:
June 8th: Introduction to the Course
June 9th: Post-Civil War America: Reconstruction and its Legacy, Chap. 16
June 10th: Raiding the Continent: Native Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, Chap. 17
June 11th: Raiding the Continent: Native Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, Chap. 17
June 12th: The Search for New Frontiers: The Industrial Revolution, Chap. 18
Week 2:
June 15th: The Rise of the Labor Movement, Chap. 18
June 16th: NO CLASS DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER
June 17th: The Progressive Period, Chap. 19
June 18th: Empire Building: US Global Expansion & American Imperialism, Chap. 20
June 19th: Mexican American Studies Workshop
Week 3:
June 22nd: Oral History Project Interview One
June 23rd: Oral History Project Interview Two
June 24th: The First World War, Chap. 21
June 25th: The Roaring Twenties, Chap. 22
June 26th: Midterm Exam
Week 4:
June 29th: The Great Depression & WWII, Chaps. 23-25
June 30th: The Second World War & the Cold War, Chaps. 24-27
July 1st: Oral History Project Interview Three
July 2nd: Street Politics: The Sixties, and Seventies, Chaps. 28-29
July 3rd: NO CLASS: 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY
Week 5:
July 6th: Limits of Liberalism: America in the 1980s and 1990s, Chap. 30
July 7th: Into the Global Millennium: American in the 21st Century, Chap. 31
July 8th: Final Exam & Oral History Project Due
Assignment Breakdown:
Midterm:
worth 100 pts.
Final:
worth 100 pts.
Oral History Project: worth 100 pts.
Grading System:
A
90-100
B
80-89
C
70-79
D
60-69
F
1-59
I
Incomplete
W
Withdrawal
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Determining Grades:
Individual assignment grades are determined by way of an average. Your instructor divides the number
of points received on an individual assignment by the total number of points that assignment is worth.
Final grades, by extension, are determined by averaging out all individual assignment grades together.
That is, your instructor will add all individual assignments and then divide by three since there are three
total assignments.
Classroom Conduct:
One last word of wisdom I’d like to impart regarding classroom behavior. Classroom department requires
a certain degree of civility – translated; this means you are to conduct yourself appropriately. As such,
the following is prohibited: talking in a disruptive manner, dipping, smoking, sleeping, reading the
newspaper, studying for other classes, fighting, wearing sun glasses or shades, or any similar behavior
that is deemed disruptive or inappropriate by the Professor. This brings us to electronic devices. This
class offers you a zero tolerance policy on cell phones, iPhones, iPods, MP3s, PSPs and other similar
devices. Make sure they are turned off and put away during class time. Regarding laptops, iPads, and
voice recorders, they are allowed but only after speaking with the Professor first. For those utilizing
laptops or iPads, be sure that you use them only for class purposes; do not check your e-mail, MySpace,
face book, blog, twitter, or watch videos during class. If the Professor suspects that you are using your
laptop or iPad for purposes other than class, he will ask you to shut it off and/or to leave. Lastly, please
do not text during class; do not check e-mail through your phone during class; and if you need to leave
early please make sure you let the Professor know before class starts. Also, be sure to ask the Professor
for permission to bring guests to class. Only those enrolled in the course should attend the class. The
Professor reserves the right to remove from class anyone who violates any of these policies.
Disclaimer:
Be it understood that the dates of proposed lectures, assignments, and chapters can and often do change.
As such, the instructor reserves the right to deviate from the course calendar outlined in the syllabus so as
to accommodate the class. Be advised also that it is the intent of the instructor to use various forms of
audio/visual technology in the classroom to supplement and stimulate the lectures. Be aware, however,
that at times the information presented to the class can be considered highly sensitive and that viewer
discretion is advised.
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