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Instructor: Irma V. Montelongo
Office: Liberal Arts 320-A
Email: imontelo@utep.edu
Phone: 747-5870
Office Hours: TR 10:30-11:50, R 3-4:20
or by appointment
Website: http://faculty.utep.edu/imontelo
Fall 2004
History 1302: U.S. History Since 1865
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is an introduction to the history of the United States since
1865. Through lecture, discussion, and readings of primary sources, the student will gain an
understanding of the people and events that shaped the course of recent American history. Among the
topics we will examine are the ways diverse populations created and contested the meaning of “the
nation”; the expansion of the federal government; reform as a means for change; the U.S. sense of
“mission” at home and abroad; and struggles for equality.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: Students will emerge from this course with a greater appreciation of the
complexity and diversity of the United States since 1865, and how the flow of historical events has
created the conditions in which we live today, in the United States specifically and in the world in
general. In addition, students will develop a number of skills to include critical thinking, reasoning,
analysis, and presenting a point of view, verbally and in writing, with appropriate supporting evidence.
GRADING: Final Grades will be determined based on three (3) exams and four (4) short reaction
papers (3-4 pages). There is also an opportunity to earn up to four (4) points of extra credit by writing
a 1-2 page review of the film “Lakota Woman” (November 2) and one campus event to be assigned by
the instructor.
Three Exams:
Four Reaction Papers:
Extra Credit:
20% each
10% each
Up to 4 additional Points (Lakota Woman: 2pts and one Campus Event:
2pts)
ATTENDANCE: You are expected to attend class and be there on time; your grade naturally
depends, in part, on your attendance. If you miss an exam due to scheduled university activities,
health problems, or serious family emergencies (such as the illness of a child or a death in the family)
you will be excused, but only if you document them with a note from an appropriate professional
(university official, physician, funeral director, etc.). If you miss a class period, it is your
responsibility to inform the instructor and obtain handouts (from the instructor) and notes (from a
fellow student). If you miss an exam for any reason other than a scheduled university activity or
family emergency that you can document, you will not be eligible for a make-up. Finally, you are
responsible for turning papers in on time. Late papers will be penalized.
PARTICIPATION: The primary format of this course will be lecture with some student-centered
discussions of the material. Your active and informed participation, however, is encouraged. It is
especially important that you read and review the designated material before the class meeting for
which they are assigned.
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Finally, there are a few ground rules for discussion. The appeal of studying history is that we can think
and talk, maturely and responsibly, about topics like race, gender, and sexuality. I expect that we will
have some lively and heated debates about how societies in the past have viewed the core aspects and
meanings that make up personal and ethnic identities. As we grapple with the difficult questions that
will surely arise, we will all need to make an effort to treat each other, and each other’s
contributions to class discussions, with respect. FINALLY, TURN OFF ALL CELL PHONES
AND PAGERS BEFORE CLASS
REACTION PAPERS: To help you articulate your ideas both in class and out, you will be required
to turn in four (4) short (3-4 pages, double-spaced) reaction papers over the course of the semester.
The reaction papers will provide an opportunity for you to think critically about the readings for each
assignment – and to come to terms with the significance and meaning of the readings. Simple
summaries will not suffice, nor will emotional responses. The papers will evaluate primary sources by
discussing the major arguments made by the different authors and by answering any questions assigned
by the instructor. Reaction papers are due at the beginning of class on the dates designated. Late
papers will be penalized one full letter grade for each class period that they are late.
ACADEMIC HONESTY: All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism (representing
another person’s words or ideas as your own) is unacceptable, and cheating will not be tolerated.
Evidence of cheating on any assignment, to include exams, will result in failure of the class.
REQUIRED BOOKS:
Jaqueline Jones, et al., Created Equal: A Social and Political History of the United States, Volume II
From 1865.
Elliot J. Gorn, et al., Constructing the American Past: A Source Book of a People’s History, Volume 2.
SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND ASSIGNMENTS
Week 1:
Aug 24
Aug 26
Why do we study history?
Introduction
Film: Race: The Power of an Illusion
Week 2:
Aug 31
The Politics of Reconstruction
Black, Presidential, and Radical Reconstruction
Chapter 15
Reconstruction (cont’d.) and the Rise of Big Business
Finish Chapter 15 and Begin Chapter 16
Sept 2
Week 3:
Sept 7
Sept 9
Industrialization, Cities, and Immigrants
Cities and Immigrants (cont’d) and the American West
Finish Chapter 16 and Begin Chapter 17
The American West (cont’d) and the Populist Revolt
Finish Chapter 17 and Begin Chapter 18
REACTION PAPER #1 DUE
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Week 4:
Sept 14
Sept 16
Imperialism and Progressivism
The Populist Revolt (cont’d) and U.S. Imperialism
Chapter 18
U.S. Imperialism (cont’d) and The Progressive Era
Finish Chapter 18 and Begin Chapter 19
Week 5:
Sept 21
Progressivism and the “Great War”
The Progressive Era and World War I
Finish Chapter 19 and Begin Chapter 20
Sept 23
TEST #1
Week 6:
Sept 28
The Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression
World War I (cont’d) and the Twenties
Finish Chapter 20 and Begin Chapter 21
The Twenties (cont’d) and the Great Depression
Finish Chapter 21 and Begin Chapter 22
Sept 30
Week 7:
Oct 5
A “New Deal” for America
Great Depression (cont’d) and the First New Deal
Finish Chapter 22
REACTION PAPER #2 DUE
Oct 7
First New Deal and the Second New Deal
Begin Chapter 23
Week 8:
Oct 12
War: Hot and Cold
World War II
Finish Chapter 23
World War II (cont’d) and the Cold War
Begin Chapter 24
Oct 14
Deadline to Withdraw with a “W” is October 18, 2004
Week 9:
Oct 19
Oct 21
Week 10:
Oct 26
“Pachuco”
Film: “Zoot Suite”
Finish Chapter 24
Film: “Zoot Suite” (cont’d) and the Cold War (cont’d)
Begin Chapter 25
The Second Red Scare and the Death of Jim Crow
The Cold War (cont’d) and the Civil Rights Movement
Finish Chapter 25
REACTION PAPER #3 DUE
Oct 28
Civil Rights Movement (cont’d)
Film: “The Death of Emmett Till”
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Week 11:
The Vietnam War, the New Frontier, and the Great Society
Nov 2
TEST #2
Nov 4
Vietnam, JFK, and LBJ
Begin Chapter 26
Week 12:
Nov 9
A Nation Divided
Vietnam, JFK, LBJ (cont’d) and Social Conflict(s) at Home
Continue Chapter 26
Social Conflict(s) at Home (cont’d)
Finish Chapter 26
Nov 11
Week 13:
Nov 16
Return to Wounded Knee
Film: “Lakota Woman”
REACTION PAPER #4 DUE
Nov 18
Film: “Lakota Woman” (cont’d) and the Seventies
Begin Chapter 27
Week 14:
Nov 23
The “Me” Decade and a Turn to the Right
Watergate and The Seventies
Finish Chapter 27 and Begin Chapter 28
EXTRA CREDIT FOR “LAKOTA WOMAN” DUE
Nov 25
Happy Thanksgiving Day!
Week 15:
Nov 30
Reaganomics, the First Bush, and Clinton
The Closing of the Twentieth Century
Finish Chapter 28 and Begin Chapter 29
Where do we go from here?
Finish Chapter 29
Dec 2
Dec 7
FINAL EXAM
1:00 PM – 3:45 PM