HISTORY 1000, Themes in American History
Baruch College, Spring 2003
Section EG24 TuTh 9:05-10:20 (room B3-160) and Section KM24p TuTh 11:10-12:25 (room B5-165)
The instructor is Dr. Bert Hansen, Associate Professor of History.
His office is Room B5-249; his telephone is (646) 312-4337. Drop-in office hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:30-11 a.m.
and 12:30-1:15 p.m. (except when cancellation has been announced). Also by appointment.
COURSE DESCRIPTION. This course,
is designed for students with little or no
background in American history. It provides an introductory examination of three major episodes in American
history from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries: the American Revolution (1770s and '80s), the Civil War and
Reconstruction (1850s, '60s, and '70s), and the Great Depression and New Deal (1920s and '30s). Our goal is to
understand the shape of these major events, their key features, their contexts, and their continuing relevance to
contemporary culture, social life, and government.
OUR TEXTBOOK is the THIRD edition of Making America by Berkin, Miller, Cherny, and Gormly. Please purchase a copy
right away. (Do NOT buy any other edition.) You may buy our textbook in either the single-volume or the twovolume format. I
REQUIREMENTS. Class participation, frequent in-class quizzes, and three examinations. All reading must be done on time
to allow for active engagement in the classes. The number of pages assigned for reading each week is very modest,
but you are expected to study these pages thoroughly and carefully. This course has no research papers or library
assignments. All students are expected to do AT LEAST SIX HOURS of studying outside of class EVERY week.
Anyone with weaker study skills or limited vocabulary and language skills should plan to spend more than six hours a
week preparing for this course.
CLASS MEETINGS. The syllabus is organized by class-meeting dates. For each date, the instructions describe the content of
that class and the work to be done BEFORE that class. Lectures during class time will not substitute for the readings,
which you must study thoroughly outside of class. Class time will be used by the instructor to help you think about the
material, not just to learn the facts. In class, the instructor will clarify parts of the reading, add new perspectives,
present new information at some points, and answer your questions. But note that, even when the instructor does not
present a formal lecture, you should take notes during class to assist your reading and your studying for the exams.
Often the instructor will hand out study questions or other information to help you prepare for class. You are
responsible for information, announcements, and handouts from EVERY class whether you are present or
absent. If you miss a class, you must make yourself a copy of new handouts and read any announcements that are
ATTENDANCE. Participation in class is required. Irregular attendance not only hurts a student's course work, but it weakens
the class as a whole and is not permitted. Since this course has frequent in-class quizzes, missing one of those days
will also affect your grade in the course. A person not actively participating in the course for whatever reason does not
deserve to get credit for it. Attendance is recorded every day, and students with excessive absences will be officially
dropped from the course in accordance with College rules.
Freshmen and sophomores (fewer than 61 credits completed) will be dropped if more than four classes are
missed. Juniors and seniors (over 60 credits) will be dropped after six missed classes.
Note that even absences for medical, religious, or family reasons or for subway delays are counted against your
allowed limit of four (or six) classes missed. There are no make-ups for quizzes or other in-class exercises for
ANY reason. With documentation and the instructor's approval a make-up will be given for an exam, but the make-up
will be an essay, not a multiple-choice or short-answer exam. In case of an extended medical problem or any other
special problem, please discuss your situation with the instructor.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES may receive assistance and accommodation of various sorts to enable them to participate
fully in courses at Baruch. To establish the accommodations appropriate for each student, please alert your instructor
to your needs and contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities, part of the Division of Student
Development and Counseling. For more information contact Ms. Barbara Sirois, Coordinator of this office, B2-271,
(646) 312-4590. Baruch College is energetically committed to making individuals with disabilities full participants in
its programs, services, and activities.
THEMES OF THE COURSE
events of lasting significance
structures of government: how and why they were established and shaped by their origins)
leaders and leadership
movements organized by ordinary people to create social changes
different groups' experience of the same situation
ways that historians discover, interpret, and appreciate the past
GRADES (For more information, see the College's Undergraduate Bulletin or the Schedule of Classes.)
A, A90-100
Excellent
B+, B, B80-89.9
Very good
C+, C, C70-79.9
Average
D+, D
60-69.9
Poor; merely passing; not adequate to maintain enrollment.
F
Below 60
Failure; no credit.
YOUR FINAL GRADE for this course will be calculated as follows:
The eight best grades on 8 chapter quizzes and 2 optional exercises
40% ( 5% each)
Three cumulative examinations (one at the end of each Part)
60% (20% each)
Active contributions to the class will be taken into account by the instructor's making an adjustment to
the calculated grade. Course grades are lowered for repeated late arrivals or for disruptive behavior.
Two optional exercises to replace a low or missing quiz grade will be available in classes 7 and 17.
Note that there are no make-ups on quizzes. (See explanation on prior page in the section on Attendance.)
COLLEGE RULES AND EXPECTATIONS. It is each student's responsibility (and it's also smart) to fully understand
academic policies of the College and its rules and regulations on grades, dropping courses, cheating and plagiarism,
deadlines, etc. Knowing them well will allow you to proceed to graduation efficiently and with a strong transcript.
Study carefully everything in Baruch's brochure on Academic Honesty. If you do not have a copy, please go to the
Baruch College homepage at http://www.baruch.cuny.edu where the
-down
Everyone must be aware that borrowed or stolen work as well as certain kinds of shared work are regarded as
cheating or fraud in the academic environment and that violations are unfair to other students and will not be tolerated.
Instances of plagiarism, cheating, or fraud are handled through the College's disciplinary system. Protect yourself in
all your courses: (1) by understanding academic expectations clearly and (2) by avoiding any behaviors that might
possibly be interpreted as cheating. When you have any uncertainty about what might or might not be appropriate,
consult with your professor in advance. Remember that giving improper help is as clearly a violation as taking it.
Cover your answers during all in-class quizzes and exams.
Because academic work (and intellectual activity in general) depends so thoroughly on trust and on respect for
each person's right to his or her own words and other products of personal creativity, violations of College rules will be
dealt with very firmly. This course has a
Any student who breaks academic
rules in this course has violated the mutual trust on which teaching and learning are based and will not only receive a
zero for that assignment, but will be excluded from taking any further quizzes or exams in this course, which is likely to
result in a failing grade for the course. For serious infractions the instructor will ask the College's Disciplinary Panel to
suspend the violator from all Baruch courses.
DISRUPTION OF CLASS is not permitted. Rude behavior is disruptive. We have a large class and a crowded classroom, so
everyone's cooperation is required to maintain an optimal learning environment. (1) Arriving late interferes with other
students' learning and is not acceptable. Subway delays and other problems are unavoidable on occasion, but it is each
student's responsibility to plan carefully to arrive on time and well prepared. Late students may be counted absent or
locked out, and they often miss a quiz, as the quizzes are usually given at the beginning of the class period. Repeated
latecomers will be penalized. (2) You must TURN OFF beepers and cell phones BEFORE class. If your phone
rings, you will be asked to leave and be marked absent for that day. You may not use cell phones (even for receiving
text messages) or other ELECTRONIC DEVICES OF ANY KIND, including lap tops, during class meetings. (3)
Leaving early is disruptive and unfair to other students' opportunity to learn, and you may be marked absent for that
day. (4) It is not appropriate to leave and return during a class meeting. Plan ahead. Anyone with a medical problem
that affects his or her presence in class should discuss the matter privately with the instructor in advance. Plan to use
the restroom BEFORE class starts. (5) Finish all food and drink BEFORE you enter the classroom. Eating in class is
rude and distracting to other students; it is responsible for dirty classrooms and is not permitted.
History 1000, Prof. Hansen, Spring 2003, page 2
THE COURSE WEBSITE. From an internet-connected computer, access Baruch's homepage: www.baruch.cuny.edu. At the
upper right, pause your cursor on
You can then log-in. For this course, HIS 1000 (Prof. Bert Hansen), you will find a COMBINED entry for both EG24
and KM24. If the computer doesn't recognize your ID, you can use
term; after that, the Preview function will be closed, so get the problem corrected.
KEYS FOR WRITERS. You are strongly encouraged to study the College's new writing handbook Keys for Writers by Ann
Raimes as an active part of your daily preparation for this course. While that book focuses on writing, a full
appreciation of correct English diction is also needed for successful reading and studying of this course's textbook and
for a full understanding of explanations given in class. At several points in this course, we will study an historical text
very closely for both content and style. Even short-answer and multiple-choice questions require basic grammar.
Without an appreciation of the rules concerning number, possessives, tenses, moods, etc., one cannot adequately follow
Each student has different areas of grammar and reasoning that need improvement, so you will do well to
discover your own weaknesses and then find the relevant sections within Keys for Writers. Your instructor will make
explicit comments about language and vocabulary from time to time, but it is your responsibility to be sure you are able
to follow the points and to seek clarification and assistance as needed. Make a dictionary and Keys for Writers active
tools in your effort to control the information and analysis of this course.
Important parts of this book to read and review repeatedly include Chapters 5a and 5b (pp. 48-53, esp. p. 49 on
words used in exams); Chapter 9 on sources (pp. 101-113, esp. pp. 104-105 on avoiding even the suspicion of
plagiarism); the Glossary of Usage (pp. 437-445); and the Glossary of Grammatical Terms (pp. 450-456). Keep in
mind that teachers in all college subjects sometimes discuss language, and they presume you will know they what mean
by such terms as agreement, dependent clause, first person, passive voice, simile, or subordinate clause. Learn them
gradually, working hard on those that are new to you. But learn them thoroughly. Don't just memorize definitions; be
isn't clear, this is a good occasion to consult your dictionary to develop a better feel for shades of meaning
among similar words.)
PART 1: THE REVOLUTION AND THE CONSTITUTION
(10 classes, 3 chapters, 3 quizzes, 1 exam)
Tues
1/28
(1)
No preparation. Watch and discuss film clip. Handout of syllabus.
Th
1/30
(2)
Start reading Chap. 5. Study our syllabus carefully.
Bring to class a photocopy of your Baruch ID card on an 8.5 x 11 sheet. Make sure the photo
is at least moderately clear. Leave a blank margin of 1 or 2 inches at the top, just above the card.
Starting in the next class, we'll have assigned seating. If you have a special need to sit in front, add a
note to the lower part of that sheet explaining your needs.
Overview of changes from 1763 to 1776. Review of some course procedures.
Handout of Chap. 5 study questions and study questions about
Tues
2/4
(3)
Study all of Chap. 5. Arrive early to find your assigned seat. Take a practice quiz in class. In class,
You must bring your textbook to class
for this exercise.
Th
2/6
(4)
No new reading. Review all of Chap. 5 for Quiz #1. Lecture on Chap. 5. Handout of text of the
Tues
2/11
(5)
For inlass.
Prepare for class by thinking about what it says, why it says those things, and how each of its parts
is related to the events studied in Chap. 5. Begin your reading of Chap. 6.
2/12
WED
COLLEGE CLOSED for Lincoln's Birthday.
2/13
(6)
Study all of Chap 6 for Quiz #2. Lecture and general discussion.
Special NOTE: Feb. 14th is the last day students may resign from a course without receiving the
grade of
2/17
MON
COLLEGE CLOSED for Presidents Day.
Th
History 1000, Prof. Hansen, Spring 2003, page 3
Tues
2/18
(7)
Further discussion of Chap. 6. Students choosing to do the Optional Exercise # 1 will write it out
during the last 10 minutes of this class; others will be dismissed then.
Th
2/20
(8)
Study all of Chap. 7 for Quiz #3. Read casually through the Constitution in the back of your textbook
to discern topics and general structure (pp. B6and discussion of Chap. 7.
Tues
2/25
(9)
Th
2/27
(10)
General review of the course so far.
Tues
3/4
(11)
Examination #1 on everything covered so far. Handout of reading assignment for next class.
PART 2: REGIONAL CHANGES, CIVIL WAR, AND RECONSTRUCTION
(9 classes, 3 chapters, 3 quizzes, 1 exam)
Th
3/6
(12)
Orientation to Part 2. Start reading Chap. 14. For in-class discussion, study the reading handed out at
Exam #2 about movements for social change.
Tues
3/11
(13)
Lecture and discussion of tensions in the 1850s.
Th
3/13
(14)
Study all of Chap. 14 for Quiz #4.
Tues
3/18
(15)
Start reading Chap. 15.
Th
3/20
(16)
Study all of Chap. 15 for Quiz #5.
Tues
3/25
(17)
Initial discussion of Chap. 16. Skim the whole chapter and begin studying the important parts.
Students choosing to do the Optional Exercise # 2 will write it out during the last 10 minutes of this
class; others will be dismissed then.
Th
3/27
(18)
Study all of Chap. 16 for Quiz #6.
Tues
4/1
(19)
Continued discussion of Chap. 16.
Th
4/3
(20)
Review of Part 2.
Tues
4/8
(21)
Examination #2 covering all of Part 2. It may include some material from Part 1.
PART 3: THE TWENTIES, THE GREAT DEPRESSION, AND THE NEW DEAL
(7 classes, 2 chapters, 2 quizzes, 1 exam)
Th
4/10
(22)
Lecture orientation to Part 3. Read Chap. 23. This is our last class for over two weeks.
Tues
4/15
Tues
4/29
(23)
Study Chap. 23 for Quiz #7
Th
5/1
(24)
From prosperity to crisis.
Tues
5/6
(25)
Read through Chap. 24.
Th
5/8
(26)
Study all of Chap. 24 for Quiz #8.
Tues
5/13
(27)
Continued discussion of Chap. 24.
Th
5/15
(28)
General course wrap up. Final Exam is cumulative, with emphasis on Part 3.
NO CLASS for us. THE COLLEGE FOLLOWS A WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE.
SPRING VACATION runs Wed., April 16, through Thurs., April 24.
FINAL EXAM for EG24 (9:05 class)
FINAL EXAM for KM24p (11:10 class)
on Tuesday,
on Thursday,
May 20th,
May 22nd,
History 1000, Prof. Hansen, Spring 2003, page 4
from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.