HISTORY 109: HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1865
Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC)
Spring 2007
Professor Rick Smoot
History, Languages, and Social Sciences Division
OFFICE: Moloney Building 218, Suite 211. Telephone: (859) 246-6317 OFFICE
HOURS: MWF 1-1:50; TR 11-12.
CONTACT ME: For your convenience, there are several easy ways to reach me,
such as (a) by calling my office phone: 859-246-6317, leaving a voice-mail message,
or (b) by e-mail (the *best* way to contact me), either smoot@uky.edu , or
rick.smoot@kctcs.edu, or (c) at my WEB HOME PAGE address [This is currently
being changed; I'll get back to you with the new address as soon as it's available to
me], or (d) by leaving me a written note on my Office door, Moloney Building 218,
or by writing same and putting it in my mail slot in the Moloney Building office
suite 226 (the office suite at the opposite end of the hall from where my office suite
[MB211] is located), or (e) visiting during my office hours, or (f) by making an
appointment with me before or after class, or (g) drop off a written note to the UK
History Dept. where I maintain a mailbox. YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO
CONTACT ME REGARDING YOUR CONCERNS!
If for any reason you feel it necessary to talk to someone about the class other than
myself, the Coordinator for the History and Political Science Area is Dr. Steven J.
White. His office is located in the Moloney Building, 232, in Suite 226, telephone
859-246-6326.
HLSS Division Telephone (emergencies only): (859) 246-6310.
GENERAL COURSE DESCRIPTION AND COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course traces the nation's development since the Civil War. It is designed to
meet the demands for a general understanding of American history. One of the
goals of this course is to acquaint you with the political, economic, social, and
religious forces that shaped this country's development, from the Civil War to the
present. This course fulfills the requirements for the elementary teaching
certificate. This American History survey is a continuation of American History
108.
All assignments are designed to develop certain skills and create a greater
knowledge base for all students. By doing so, you will become better at CRITICAL
THINKING. Knowing about the past helps people make more intelligent decisions
and judgments.
PROGRAM-APPROVED OBJECTIVES: After completion of this course, a
student should be able to: (1) read and evaluate historical resources critically, and
(2) demonstrate an understanding of cultural, economic, political, religious, and
social values related to the period covered by this course.
This course requires the learning of a substantial amount of factual information,
developing knowledge of other people who lived in the past and, perhaps, a greater
knowledge of your self. You also are expected to develop strong communication
skills (writing, listening, discussion, etc.), all skills that help forward professional
and career objectives.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:
George Brown Tindall and David E. Shi, America: A Narrative History Vol. 2, 7th
ed. (NewYork: W.W. Norton, 2007).
Required ancillary readings:
Gary C. Anderson, Sitting Bull and the Paradox of Lakota Nationhood 2nd ed.
(New York: Longman, 2006).
Philip Caputo, A Rumor of War (New York: Henry Holt, 1996).
EXAMINATIONS AND GRADING: You will have two regular exams including
both multiple choice and essay questions and a comprehensive final exam, all
multiple choice. Your two regular exams will be valued at 100 points apiece, and
your final exam will be valued at 100 points.
Examination questions come directly from my lectures and from any assigned
readings. THUS, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO ATTEND CLASS
AND TAKE EXTENSIVE NOTES!
You also will write a one-page, typed, single-spaced critique of the assigned book by
Anderson, Sitting Bull and the Paradox of Lakota Nationhood. Your critique is
expected to be WELL ORGANIZED and written on a collegiate level. ALL
WRITTEN WORK IN THIS CLASS IS EXPECTED TO BE GRAMMATICALLY
CORRECT, demonstrating your ability to communicate effectively using standard
written English. All words are expected to be SPELLED CORRECTLY. (This is
college: no more excuses!) Your critique is valued at 100 points.
Plagiarism will not be tolerated. PLAGIARISM is defined in Merriam-Webster's
Collegiate Dictionary, 10th edition (Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1994), p.
888, as meaning "to steal or pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own:
use (a created production) without crediting the source" and also means "to commit
literary theft: present as new and original an idea or product derived from an
existing source." Please keep this definition in mind as you prepare your written
assignments in my classes.
Work turned in late and unexcused will be penalized, the severity not less than a
letter grade, up to and including a failing grade.
GRADING
Grades are based upon a 100-point scale, to wit:
90-100=A
80-89=B
70-79=C
60-69=D
Below 60 is an E, a failing grade.
RESERVING THE RIGHT TO GIVE A QUIZ AT ANY TIME and exclusive of
exercising that right, the anticipated total points possible is 400. Thus:
360-400=A
320-359=B
280-319=C
240-279=D
From 239 and below is an E, a failing grade.
My ATTENDANCE POLICY is no more than 3 unexcused absences. Beyond that
your grade may be lowered one letter per absence, possibly to failure. It is
important to attend class.
In accordance with the college regulations governing Incompletes or the "I" grade
at the end of the course, please note that such a grade will be given only when the
student has been unable to complete a small portion of the course requirements and
when, upon completion and in my judgment, the student can reasonably expect to
pass the course. An "I" will never be given in lieu of a failing grade or when so
much of the course has been missed that the student will have to attend the class in
another semester.
CHEATING will result in the student being expelled from the class and failing the
course. This includes anyone who employs PLAGIARISM (see above) in addition to
any other form of cheating.
IMPORTANT NOTE: ALL assignments are REQUIRED. You must take both
regular examinations, the Final Examination, and complete all other assignments
made in order to pass the course.
WITHDRAWALS from this class may be made up the last day approved by the
college. Please consult your registration materials, or the calendar of the college, for
specific dates.
STUDY SUGGESTIONS: Students are advised to REGULARLY ATTEND
CLASS, COPY MY OUTLINE OF THE LECTURE, TAKE GOOD NOTES, AND
STUDY OUTSIDE OF CLASS. Statistics clearly show that the better the
attendance, the better the grade, in most instances. Three or more absences are
considered excessive in this class. Generally it is recommended that you spend
about 7 to 10 hours per week studying outside of class for this course. You may
record my lectures on tape, but you must also take notes if doing so. DO NOT SIT
IDLY IN CLASS WHILE I LECTURE. TAKE NOTES. IT IMPROVES YOUR
LEARNING OF THE MATERIAL.
Supplies should include sufficient paper, preferably in a college-ruled bound
notebook, and a writing instrument, usually an ink pen, all needed for note taking.
Please talk to me regarding any personal or family emergencies. If an illness or
death or some other emergency arises that causes a student to miss a class
assignment, a make-up time will be scheduled. Generally, any work to be made up
must be completed in one week.
Class etiquette:
1. Please turn off all cell telephones, beepers, and any other similar items that
might interrupt our lecture, class discussion, taking notes, etc.
2. No eating in class.
3. Please raise your hand to ask a question.
4. Please respect your classmates and your professor.
5. Please do not talk during lecture.
6. If you come to class late, please DO NOT walk in front of your professor; take
the first seat available in the class nearest the door.
Thank you.
Code of Student Conduct
All rules and regulations set forth in the current edition of the Code of Student Conduct of the
Kentucky Community and Technical College System will be followed in this course. It is the
student's responsibility to obtain a copy of the Code. The Code may be accessed on the KCTCS Web
Page, http://www.kctcs.edu/student/code.htm <http://www.kctcs.edu/student/code.htm> .
Reasonable Accommodation
If you have a special need that may require an accommodation or assistance, please inform the instructor of
that fact as soon as possible and no later than the end of the second class meeting.
COURSE OUTLINE AND TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE:
The course outline is basically chronological with some more topically oriented
lectures interspersed where I think it appropriate to promote a clearer
understanding of the American story. For the most part, the course outline and
lecture schedule follows the chapters outline in your Tindall and Shi textbook,
America: A Narrative History, vol. 2. You should read the textbook chapters that
correspond to the lectures, preferably in advance of the lecture covering that
material.
TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE:
RECONSTRUCTION (Tindall/Shi textbook Chapter 18)
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION (Chapter 20)
LABOR AND THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
AGRICULTURE AND THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION (Chapter 22)
POLITICS, 1865-1900
FOREIGN AFFAIRS, IMPERIALISM, AND WAR, 1865-1901 (Chapter 23);
First Regular Examination
THE WIZARD OF OZ MEETS WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN (Chapter 24);
PROGRESSIVISM
THEODORE ROOSEVELT, 1901-1909
WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT, 1909-1913
THOMAS WOODROW WILSON, 1913-1921
FOREIGN POLICY, 1900-1917
WORLD WAR I (Chapter 25)
POLITICS, 1921-1929 (Chapter 27)
SOCIETY OF THE ROARING TWENTIES (Chapter 26)
HERBERT HOOVER, THE GREAT DEPRESSION, 1929-1933 (Chapter 28)
FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT AND THE NEW DEAL-Second Regular Examination
FOREIGN AFFAIRS, 1921-1941 (Chapter 29)
WORLD WAR II, 1941-1945 (Chapter 30)
COLD WAR, PART I, 1945-1974 (Chapters 31, 32, 33, 34, 35);
DOMESTIC AFFAIRS, 1945-1974
DISILLUSIONMENT, ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, 1974-1981
RONALD WILSON REAGAN, 1981-1989 (Chapter 36)
Final Examination
IN ADDITION . . .
ALWAYS FEEL FREE TO ASK ME QUESTIONS, BEFORE, DURING, OR
AFTER CLASS, IN MY OFFICE, OR ELSEWHERE. I WANT YOU TO LEARN
IN THIS CLASS. PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU ARE WELCOME AND THAT I
WISH YOU A PLEASANT AND SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCE IN THIS CLASS!
GOODLUCK!
________________________________________________________________________
General Education Competencies
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Communicate Effectively
1.
Read and listen with comprehension.
2.
Speak and write clearly using standard English.
3.
Interact cooperatively with others using both verbal and non-verbal means.
Think Critically
1.
Make connections in learning across the disciplines and draw logical
conclusions.
2.
Demonstrate problem solving through interpreting, analyzing,
summarizing, and/or integrating a variety of materials.
Learn Independently
1.
Use appropriate search strategies and resources to find, evaluate, and use
information.
2.
Make choices based upon awareness of ethics and differing
perspectives/ideas.
3.
Apply learning in academic, personal, and public situations
4.
Think creatively to develop new ideas, processes, or products.
Examine Relationships in Diverse and Complex Environments
1.
Recognize the relationship of the individual to human heritage and culture.
2.
Demonstrate an awareness of the relationship of the individual to the
biological and physical environment.
3.
Develop an awareness of self as an individual member of a multicultural
global community.