HS 132
U.S. History II
Professor Robert Money
Office: 307 Library
Phone: 635-2327
Office Hours: MTWR--12-1 p.m., T--2:00-3:00 P.M., and by appointment
Hats will not be worn during class.
Text: Brinkley, The Unfinished Nation—any edition OR any college level
U.S. History text. There are 6-8 U.S. History texts on 2-hour reserve in the
library.
Attendance:
Attendance will be taken and will be a factor in your final grade.
Grades and grading:
There will be a test in a couple of weeks. There will be 2 or more 50-minute
tests and an hour final. You will get a week’s notice before each test. The
tests will be essay and either short or long answer. Make-up tests will be
scheduled 1 week later and at the same hour as the class. These will be long
essay and you will have far fewer choices. Do not pester about when you
will get your test back! Much on the tests will come from the lectures.
Course Description:
This second part of the U.S. History series begins with the Reconstruction
after 1865. The Post-Civil War era brings railroads, industrialization,
westward expansion, massive immigration, and urbanization with all its ills.
Twain’s “Gilded Age” sees the gulf between haves and have-nots grow to a
dangerous degree. America becomes a world imperial power, which leads to
our involvement in WWI followed by the fascinating but shallow 1920’s.
The Great Depression is our second worst trauma and will be followed by
F.D.R. and then WWII. We bring on the Atomic Age, the Cold War-Korea,
Viet Nam, and the collapse of the old Soviet Union, which brings in the era
of international anarchy with the U.S. playing an uncertain role.
Specifically, we will discuss:
1. The Reconstruction and its basic failures.
2. Westward expansion into the Great Plains (including conflict with the
Plains Indians) and the West.
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3. Railroads and what they mean to the post-C.W. era—their glory and
shameless exploitation.
4. The tremendous industrial growth after the C.W. when we become a
major industrial power.
5. Immigration that occurs at a rate that spawns urban blight with all its
problems. City government, conditions, corruption, and other issues,
which have carried over to the present.
6. The politics of the Progressive Era and the election of 1896—America
is never the same.
7. The Spanish-American War and our emergence as an imperial world
power. What will this mean?
8. T.R. and Wilson and the beginning of the reform movement.
9. WWI and Wilson’s failure at Versailles and at home.
10.The “Roaring 20’s” as a strange decade of contradictions and contrast.
The halt of reform for this period.
11.The Great Depression, FDR, and the New Deal.
12.WWII and the coming of both the Atomic Age and the Cold War.
The U.N. attempts what the League failed to do.
13.The post-war affluent society, the 1960’s, and Viet Nam.
14.The shifting politics of the south, Civil Rights, the New Politics
15.Reagan, Clinton, and others. The 2000 election.
Course Standards:
1. The students will be able to analyze and understand why the
Reconstruction failed and why it created the long lasting bitterness
between the North and South.
2. Students will see how the post war westward expansion created the
long running Plains Indian Wars and allowed the development of the
Great Plains.
3. The students will understand the major role played by railroads in the
post 1865 era and how few elements of our industrial history are more
important or corrupt.
4. Students will understand how the C.W. stimulated industrial growth
with good and bad effects.
5. Students will see the source of, and distribution of, the millions of
new immigrants, how their origins create new issues in America, and
the birth of the ghetto.
6. The students will become familiar with the uncontrolled and
unplanned growth of the urban sprawl. Students will be able to
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discuss the complications associated with this growth and describe
how we are basically still struggling with this legacy.
7. Students will understand the origins of the Progressive Era and the
struggle with the entrenched forces of laissez faire.
8. Students will see how the Spanish-American War launched the U.S.
onto the world stage and be able to describe the long-term
ramifications of this.
9. Students will become familiar with the significance of our
involvement in WWI and how its basic failure to attain Wilson’s goals
was the end of innocence.
10.Students will be able to compare and contrast the 1920’s and 1930’s
and understand the importance of FDR and the New Deal.
11.Students will be able to understand and discuss WWII and our
participation init and the formation of the United Nations.
12.Students will become familiar with the Cold War, Korea, Viet Nam,
and the collapse of the Soviet Union. They will be able to discuss
what this has meant.
13.Students will be able to discuss the social, economic, and political
issues that have often dominated the post WWII era and some of their
long-term effects.
14.Students will understand the era of New Politics and also the
uncertain role of the U.S. as the only, but faltering, super power.
Students will be able to discuss what the future will be.
15.Students will use the facts they know to sequence major eras and key
events in order to examine relationships and explain cause and effect.
Students Accommodations and Support Services: In compliance with lake Superior State University
policy and equal access laws, disability-related accommodations or services are available. Students who
desire such services are to meet with the professor in a timely manner, preferable the first week of class, to
discuss their disability-related needs. Students will not receive services until they register with the
Resource Center for Students with Disabilities (RCSD). Proper registration will enable the RCSD to verify
the disability and determine reasonable academic accommodations. RCSD is located in Library 101. The
telephone number is (906) 635-2454
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