HS A260-03
American History to 1865
Mr. Richard Venn
E-mail:
vennrw@slu.edu
Class Meets: MWF 9:00-9:50 a.m.
Office Hours: F 10:00-11:00 and by appointment.
Introduction:
This is a survey course of the History of the United States from the earliest
contact of indigenous North Americans with Europeans until the end of the Civil War and
the beginnings of Reconstruction. We will study not only the political aspects of this
history, but the social, economic and intellectual aspects as well. Yes, names and dates
are important (although exact dates are not as important knowing the chronology of
events), but understanding why things happened as they did are even more important.
Students will be asked to analyze as well as to absorb information. At the end of this
course, students should understand the underlying trends that have shaped American
history and, consequently, America’s present.
History is interpretive. Differing opinions exist among historians, and interpretations of
America’s history have evolved over time. Students should leave this course with an
understanding of how this interpretation has evolved. Students are free to discuss their
opinions, and must be respectful of the opinions of others. I will never downgrade a
student whose opinion different than mine. Rather, a student’s grade depends on how
well the student supports an opinion with historical knowledge.
Required Texts:
Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People,
Volume I: to 1877. 5th Edition. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2008. ISBN #: 978-007-330701-5.
Madaras, Larry and James M. SoRelle, eds. Taking Sides: Clashing Views in United
States History, Vol. 1. 13th Edition. ISBN #: 978-0-07-351533-5.
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Grading:
Grading will be on a 1000 point scale:
934 – 1000 points
900 – 933 points
867 – 899 points
834 – 866 points
800 – 833 points
767 – 799 points
734 – 766 points
700 – 733 points
600 – 699 points
0 – 599 points
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD
F
Course Requirements:
Two Exams
Research Paper
Two Book Reviews
Final Exam
Class Participation
300 points total (150 points each)
200 points
150 points (75 points each)
300 points
50 points
The Two Exams will be in class, a portion that will be short answer identification and a
portion that will be an essay. Exams will be closed book, closed notes.
The Research Paper is a 6-8 page paper on a topic of the student’s choosing. Before
beginning on the paper, the student must meet with me to discuss the topic and the
research methodology. Any paper turned in without my meeting with the student and
approval of the topic will be rejected. Papers shall be double-spaced, with 12-point
Times New Roman Font and standard margins. Papers shall be properly footnoted. A
bibliography (MLA Style), and a Title Page are a must, and are in addition to the 6-8
page body of the paper. Only hard copies will be accepted and will be due at the
beginning of class on the date posted in this Syllabus. E-mailed papers will not be
accepted. Late papers are subject to a twenty point deduction for each class period not
turned in after the time due.
The Research Paper shall be graded according to the following rubric:
A - The paper has an excellent, clearly defined thesis with several good supporting
arguments. The writing is clear and concise, with a good introduction that lays
out what the student intends to cover and a good conclusion that sums up the
student’s arguments. The analysis is excellent and thoughtful. No misspellings,
grammatical errors or editing issues shall exist. The paper meets the length
requirements.
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B - The paper has a good thesis with several good supporting arguments. The writing
is good, if not excellent. The paper analyzes as well as narrates. A minimal
amount of editing issues exists. The paper meets the length requirements.
C - The paper is a good narrative, but lacks depth of analysis. The paragraphs that
follow are germane to the topic. A minimal amount of editing issues exist.
D - The paper is a fair narrative, with little analysis. The paragraphs that follow do
not always support the topic. Editing issues exist.
F - The paper is a bad “D” paper.
For the Book Reviews, the student shall choose the following: 1) a scholarly non-fiction
book whose subject fits into any period of American History from pre-Columbian times
to the present. Students may choose a book listed in one of the bibliographic essays that
are at the end of each chapter in Brinkley. Any chosen book not found in these
bibliographic essays must have the instructor’s approval. 2) And a book of historical
fiction, approved by the instructor, set in the time period discussed in class. The Book
Reviews shall include the following:






A brief synopsis of the book.
The type of history the book examines (i.e. political history, social history, etc.)
The author’s thesis.
The methodology used by the author to support the thesis (for the non-fiction
book).
Where the book fits into the historiography.
What the book reviews say about the book. (Book reviews can be found on
JSTOR.)
The Book Reviews shall be 2-3 pages and are due by the dates listed below. Hard copies
only will be accepted. A letter grade per class period for late submissions will be
deducted.
Students are expected to read ahead in the Unfinished Nation textbook for the day’s
lecture. The instructor will also assign readings in the Taking Sides book for in-class
discussion on a weekly basis. Students are expected to take part in the discussion. Class
participation points will be based on attendance and participation in the discussion.
The Final Exam will take place Wednesday, May 6, 8:00 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. The short
answer identification portion of the Final Exam will not be comprehensive. The essay
portion will consist of two essays, and this portion will be comprehensive.
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Academic Honesty:
Students are expected to be honest in their academic work. The University reserves the
right to penalize any student whose academic conduct at any time is, in its judgment,
detrimental to the University. Such conduct shall include cases of plagiarism, collusion,
cheating, giving or receiving or offering or soliciting information on examinations, or the
use of previously prepared material in examinations or quizzes. Violations should be
reported to your course instructor, who will investigate and adjudicate them according to
the Policy on Academic Honesty of the College of Arts and Sciences. If the charges are
found to be true, the student may be liable for academic or disciplinary probation,
suspension or expulsion by the University. From the Saint Louis University College of
Arts and Sciences Newsletter, 11/16 (January 12, 1998: 1. For a complete statement of
the College of Arts and Sciences’ policy on academic integrity, please visit
http://www.slu.edu/colleges/AS/academichonesty.html.
Writing Center:
If a student has difficulty putting thoughts to paper, the student should take advantage of
the Writing Center’s services. For information, call 977-2930 or visit
http://www/slu.edu/departments/sesc/writing.html.
Testing Center:
For students who need extra time to take exams, please make arrangements with Saint
Louis University’s Testing Center. I will make every effort to accommodate the student
in this regard. However, it is up to the student to make these arrangements with the
Testing Center prior to each and every exam. The testing center will then contact me to
finalize the arrangements. Do not simply skip an exam, or tell me the day of the exam
that you have special testing needs and cannot take it that day!! The student will receive
a zero for that exam. Allow one to two weeks for finalization of the arrangements.
Course Schedule:
Jan. 12:
Introductions.
Jan. 14:
Read Brinkley Ch. 1: The Meeting of Cultures.
Jan. 16:
Ch. 1: The Meeting of Cultures.
Jan. 19:
Martin Luther King Day. No Class.
Jan. 21:
Read Brinkley Ch. 2: Transplantations and Borderlands.
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Jan. 23:
Ch. 2: Transplantations and Borderlands. Last day to drop without a
“W.”
Jan. 26:
Ch. 2: Transplantations and Borderlands.
Jan. 28:
Read Brinkley Ch. 3: Society and Culture in Provincial America.
Jan. 30:
Ch. 3: Society and Culture in Provincial America.
Feb. 2:
Ch. 3: Society and Culture in Provincial America.
Feb. 4:
Read Brinkley Ch. 4: The Empire in Transition.
Feb. 6:
Ch. 4: The Empire in Transition.
Feb. 9:
Ch. 4: The Empire in Transition. Last day to choose Audit or P/NP
options (Feb. 10).
Feb. 11:
Read Brinkley Ch. 5: The American Revolution.
Feb. 13:
Ch. 5: The American Revolution.
Feb. 16:
Ch. 5: The American Revolution. Fiction Book Reports due.
Feb. 18:
Ch. 5: The American Revolution.
Feb. 20:
Exam One.
Feb. 23:
Read Brinkley Ch. 6: The Constitution and the New Republic.
Feb. 25:
Ch. 6: The Constitution and the New Republic.
Feb. 27:
Ch. 6: The Constitution and the New Republic.
Mar. 2:
Read Brinkley Ch. 7: The Jefferson Era.
Mar. 4:
Ch. 7: The Jefferson Era.
Mar. 6:
Ch. 7: The Jefferson Era.
Mar. 9-13:
Spring Break. No Classes.
Mar. 16:
Read Brinkley Ch. 8: Varieties of American Nationalism.
Mar. 18:
Ch. 8: Varieties of American Nationalism.
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Mar. 20:
Read Brinkley Ch. 9: Jacksonian America. Last day to withdraw.
Mar. 23:
Ch. 9: Jacksonian America.
Mar. 25:
Ch. 9: Jacksonian America.
Mar. 27:
Read Brinkley Ch. 10: America’s Economic Revolution.
Mar. 30:
Ch. 10: America’s Economic Revolution. Non-Fiction Book Reports due.
Apr. 1:
Ch. 10: America’s Economic Revolution.
Apr. 3:
Exam Two.
Apr. 6:
Read Brinkley Ch. 11: Cotton, Slavery and the Old South.
Apr. 8:
Ch. 11: Cotton, Slavery and the Old South.
Apr. 10:
Good Friday. No School.
Apr. 13:
Read Brinkley Ch. 12: Antebellum Culture and Reform.
Apr. 15:
Ch. 12: Antebellum Culture and Reform.
Apr. 17:
Ch. 12: Antebellum Culture and Reform. Research Papers due.
Apr. 20:
Read Brinkley Ch. 13: The Impending Crisis.
Apr. 22:
Ch. 13: The Impending Crisis.
Apr. 24:
Ch. 13: The Impending Crisis.
Apr. 27:
Read Brinkley Ch. 14: The Civil War.
Apr. 29:
Ch. 14: The Civil War.
May 1:
Ch. 14: The Civil War.
May 4:
Ch. 14: The Civil War.
May 6:
Final Exam (8:00 a.m.-9:50 a.m.)
*This Syllabus is subject to change for academic reasons.*
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