North Central Texas College
Course Syllabus
Course Title: U.S. History to 1865
Course Prefix and Number: HIST 1301
Semester Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Course Description (NCTC Catalog):
Lab Hours: 0
A survey of the social, political, economic, cultural, and intellectual history of the United States from the preColumbian era to the Civil War/Reconstruction period. United States History I includes the study of preColumbian, colonial, revolutionary, early national, slavery and sectionalism, and the Civil War/Reconstruction eras.
Themes that may be addressed in United States History I include: American settlement and diversity, American
culture, religion, civil and human rights, technological change, economic change, immigration and migration, and
creation of the federal government.
Course Prerequisites: None
Course Type:
Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course
Name of Instructor:
Campus/Office Location:
TelephoneNumber:
E-mail address:
Kendra Langston
Steele Accelerated High School
817-6985829
klangston@nctc.edu
Name of Chair/coordinator:
Office Location:
Telephone Number:
E-mail address:
Crystal R.M. Wright
Gainesville Campus, Room 824
940-668-7731, ext. 4320
cwright@nctc.edu
Required or Recommended Course Materials
Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People. 7th edition.
McGraw-Hill. 2014. ISBN 978-1229371448
The web-based material is unique to NCTC. You must purchase it from the NCTC bookstore
or directly from McGraw-Hill publishing.
Student Learning Outcomes
At the successful completion of this course, the student will be able to
 Create an argument through the use of historical evidence
 Analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources
 Analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, cultural, and global forces on
this period of United States history.
Attendance Policy
Attendance will be taken daily and the NCTC attendance policy will be adhered to.
Core Curriculum Foundational Component Area
 American History
Required Core Objectives
 Critical thinking
 Communication
 Personal and social responsibility
Grading Criteria
Number of
Graded Course Elements
Graded Course
Elements
4
Exams: Multiple Choice and Essay
6
1
Primary Source, Historical Argument and
Analysis Activities
Historical Research and Writing Assignment
Point
Values
Due Dates
400
9/15; 10/15;
11/12; 12/8
9/10; 9/29; 10/8;
11/5; 11/19; 12/1
10/22
180
100
Exams: There will be four examinations over the material discussed in class as well as any
assigned reading. The exams will consist of multiple choice and essay questions. The instructor
will retain all exam papers. The exams will be 100 points each.
Primary Source, Historical Arguments and Analysis Assignments: There will be six
assignments designed to facilitate primary and secondary source analysis, historical arguments
and points of view, and creating persuasive historical arguments. The assignments will be
posted/given at the beginning of each unit of study. These activities will be 30 points each.
Historical Research and Writing Assignment: There will be one research-based writing
assignment during the semester which will require students to write a critical essay on a
historical topic. The paper will be three to four pages, typed, double spaced. Late papers will be
severely penalized. Plagiarism is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The writing assignment
will 100 points.
No Grades are Dropped or Curved
A=100-90, B=89-80, C=79-70, D=69-60, F=59-0
Tentative Course Calendar/Grading Policy
Dates
8/24-28
8/31-9/4
9/8-11
Topic
Collision of Cultures
Transplantations and Borderlands
Society and Culture in Provincial
America
9/15
Test #1: Multiple Choice and Essay
9/16-18
9/21-25
The Empire in Transition
Transition and the American
Revolution
American Revolution and the Articles
of Confederation
9/28-10/2
10/5-9
The Constitution and the New Republic
10/12-16
The New Republic and
Test #2: Multiple Choice and Essay
10/19-23
The Jefferson Era
10/26-30
11/2-6
Varieties of American Nationalism
Jacksonian America
11/9-13
America’s Economic Revolution and
Test #3: Multiple Choice and Essay
11/16-20
Cotton, Slavery, and the Old South
Antebellum Culture and Reform
11/23-24
11/30-12/4
The Impending Crisis
The Civil War
12/7-10
Test #4: Multiple Choice and Essay
Readings and Assignments
Chapter 1: pp. 1-24
Chapter 2: pp. 25-53
Chapter 3: pp. 53-81
Primary Source and Historical
Arguments Activity: Origins of
Slavery September 10
Test #1 September 15
Chapter 4: pp. 82-104
Chapter 5: pp. 105-130
Primary Source and Historical
Arguments Activity: The American
Revolution September 29
Chapter 6: pp. 131-150
Primary Source and Historical
Arguments Activity: The Constitution
October 8
Test #2 October 15
Chapter 7: pp. 151-179
Historical Research and Writing
Assignment October 22
Chapter 8: pp. 180-196
Chapter 9: pp. 197-220
Primary Source and Historical
Arguments Activity: Age of Jackson
November 5
Chapter 10: pp. 221-246
Test #3 November 12
Chapter 11: pp. 247-268
Primary Source and Historical
Arguments Activity: Character of
Slavery November 19
Chapter 13: pp. 289-312
Chapter 14: pp. 313-342
Primary Source and Historical
Arguments Activity: Causes of the
Civil War December 1
Test #4 December 8 – FINAL
EXAM
Student Rights and Responsibilities
NCTC Board policy FLB (Local) Student Rights and Responsibilities states that each student
shall be charged with notice and knowledge of the contents and provisions of the rules and
regulation concerning student conduct. These rules and regulation are published in the Student
Handbook published in conjunction with the College Catalog.
Scholastic Integrity
Scholastic dishonesty shall constitute a violation of college rules and regulations and is
punishable as prescribed by Board policies. Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be
limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. See the student handbook for more
information.