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Dr. Caroline Merithew
Office Address: 439 Humanities Building
Office Phone: 229-3047
Email Address: Caroline.Merithew@notes.udayton.edu
Office Hours: Wed 1-3:00, Thu 1:45-2:45
Website: academic.udayton.edu/CarolineMerithew
History 103: The West and the World
“History and humanity are not in fact enclosed in boxes, whether national, ethnic, local, or
continental. Good empirical history ought to reflect this truth; it then proffers, as well, a
fundamental ethical principle.” – Thomas Bender
This section of the West and the World is part of the Honors Program’s learning and living
community cohort: Making History: The Ethics of Political Choice. We have a dual focus
this semester: The first is to place into historical context the cohort common reading -- John
Stuart Mill’s On Liberty. The second is to make the U.S. history narrative a cosmopolitan
one. We focus on the integration of world and American history to understand (1) that the
cultural, economic, political and social roots of the U.S. are global and (2) the historical
trajectories of these global connections. Primary and secondary source readings have been
chosen to contextualize and compare world history when we understand America’s place in
it. History 103 is reading, writing, and thinking intensive – more importantly, the course’s
functioning relies on student participation to propel our learning. As part of the Humanities
Base, History 103 integrates the 4 themes that tie together the university’s HB curriculum:
Autonomy and Responsibility; Community; Faith and Reason; and Human Beings and
Nature.
Readings
Thomas Bender, A Nation Among Nations: America’s Place in World History
John Stuart Mill, The Basic Writings of John Stuart Mill
Olaudah Equiano, Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano
Clorinda Matto DeTurner, Torn from the Nest
Electronic Reserve and Web Documents
Course Goals
 To think historically and understand historical causation
 To identify the historical roots of the world’s interconnectedness
 To draw connections over cultural, chronological, and geographical landscapes
 To assess the extent to which global interdependence among nations and cultures
affected the way in which people lived their daily lives
 To compare political, economic, social, and family institutions to highlight
commonalities and distinctions of these structures
 To ask informed questions about history and the world
Grading
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
22.5%
22.5%
2
Research Paper
Class Participation
Reading Quizzes
Lecture Review
Reading Presentation
25%
10%
10%
5%
5%
Course Policies
 Attendance: You may miss 3 classes throughout the semester. For each class missed after
the third, I will deduct 5% from your total grade. Plan ahead. If you have a family
obligation or a doctor’s appointment and you must miss class, these will be counted
toward the 3 absences. If you miss a quiz you may not make it up.
 Readings: Print out all readings from Electronic Reserve and the web. All reading
assignments must be completed before the day they are listed on the syllabus. Bring
books to class on the day the reading is due.
 Class participation is essential for your success in this class (10% of your points for the
semester are based on how well you engage in discussion). You must read and think
about the material if you hope to do well in the participation component of 103. You are
expected to read each assignment listed for a given date before coming to class. I suggest
you keep a journal with your responses to the readings. Bring the journal to class to help
remember ideas you had about the material and the details you’d like to address.
 Be on time for class. If you walk into class more than 10 minutes late, see me after class
and explain why you were late.
 If you are too tired to stay awake in class on a given day, do not attend section. Sleeping
during a class period will count as 1 of your 3 approved absences.
 Do not plagiarize. UD’s Student Handbook defines plagiarism as the following:
“Plagiarism consists of…
“Quoting directly from any source of material – including other
students’ work and materials purchased from research consultants – without
appropriately citing the source and identifying the quoted material; knowingly
citing an incorrect source; using ideas (i.e. material other than information
that is common knowledge) from any source of material – including other
students’ work and materials purchased from research consultants – without
citing the source and identifying the borrowed material.” Student Handbook,
Academic Information, p. 36)
If you have questions regarding plagiarism, please discuss them with me.
 If you engage in any type of academic dishonesty, you will receive an F for the course.
For more information on the university’s policies and penalties for academic dishonesty,
see the following website:
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Course Requirements
HST103 will be a mixture of lecture and discussion. Your grade for the course is made up of
scores from the following -- writing assignments (research paper, lecture review), Exams and
quizzes, and presentation.
 Participation: Your participation grade will be based on in-class discussion (full class,
small group, etc.). In-class exercises, lecture, and outside reading will all help you
prepare for discussion. We will be using a variety of discussion formats and your input is
important! You will not get an A in this course without participating verbally!
 Exams: There will be a Midterm and a Final Exam in the class. These exams are each
worth 22.5% of your grade. The exams will NOT be open-book. The exams will be based
on material from the unit and will involve an essay, short answer, and objective
questions. The final exam will also have a comprehensive essay question. More about the
exam structure will be explained in class.
 Research Paper: By September 15, you will choose a topic in American history in which
you are most interested. Email me the topic by Saturday at noon. You will research the
global dimensions of the topic throughout the semester and write a 7-8 page typed paper
which explains how, in this instance, American history is world history.
 Reading Presentation: With one of your peers, you will sign up to give a short 10 minute
presentation on the readings listed on the syllabus. Your presentation should explain the
arguments of the author and tie together the primary and secondary source readings. Your
presentation will be a coordinated, concise, and thoughtful response that you and a
classmate work on together. (There is no written component to this presentation). A
signup sheet will be handed out during the first week of class.
 Lecture Report: On Thu Sept 20 at 8 pm in Sears Auditorium Dr. Lisa Pollard, University
of North Carolina, Willmington will present an invited lecture to the cohort. You are
required to attend and write a 2 page typed summary of her argument. You are required
to attend. If you have a conflict, you may read and report on Dr. Pollard’s book,
Nurturing the Nation (Available at Roesch library)
 Reading Quiz: There will be 7 short reading quizzes throughout the semester (their dates
will not be announced beforehand – come to each class prepared). The quizzes will have
4 questions which focus on large themes and arguments presented in the material. You
may drop the grade for (or miss) 2 of the quizzes.
 Films: You are required to watch 3 films listed for the semester (Black Robe, The
Mission, and Amazing Grace). Each will be shown on Flyer TV and the schedule will be
announced ASAP.
Semester Schedule
Week 1
T8.21: Introductions
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R8.23: Thinking about World and Global History
Read: Bender 1-14, 296-301
Assignment for Thu: World History in the Month You Were Born
Instructions: Go to Roesch library. Find a hard copy of Life, Newsweek, U.S.
or News and World Reports for the day, week, or month you were born. What
articles, ads, photographs focus on the U.S.? For the material that is oriented
outside the U.S., what is the focus?
**Presentation Signup
Week 2
T8.28 The Ocean Revolution and the Meaning of “America”
Readings: Bender 15-42
Primary Doc:
 DaGama http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1497degama.html
 Ibn Battuta (ER)
 Zheng He (ER)
R8.30 The African World (Group 1: Mike M. and Tim)
Reading: Thornton, “The Development of Commerce,” (Excerpts) and “Slavery and
African Social Structure” (ER)
Primary Doc:
 Leo Africanus
http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~wldciv/world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader_2/leo
_africanus.html
 Richard Eden
http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~wldciv/world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader_2/ede
n.html
 Nzinga Mbemba (ER)
**Begin reading Equiano
Week 3
T9.4 A New World (Group 2: Logan and Courtney)
Readings: Milanich, Laboring in the Fields of the Lord, p150-180 (Hard copy reserve
at Roesch circulation); Richter, “Confronting a Material New World,” (ER and also
available as an electronic book – read ch4)
Primary Doc:
 Cabeza de Vaca, Adventures in the Unknown Interior of America (Electronic
book, search library catalog by title), p1-20
R9.6 Contact and “Exchange” (Group 3: Alex R. and Lydia)
Readings: Bender 42-53; Crosby, “The Columbian Exchange Continues,” (ER)
 Humanities Base Readings
http://portfolio.udayton.edu/Learning/GeneralEducation/HBase/CommonReading
s/History/hst103commonreadings.pdf
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
Castillo on Doña Marina
http://www.historians.org/tl/LessonPlans/ca/Fitch/DIAZ3.htm
Film: Black Robe
Week 4
T9.11 The Plantation Complex (Group 4: Jim and John)
Readings: Bender 52-60; Mintz, “Production,” and “Consumption,” (ER)
Primary Doc:
 “Anthony Johnson, Free Negro, 1622” (JSTOR – do basic search on terms)
R9.13 Abolitionism
Readings: Equiano
Film: the Mission
Week 5
T9.18 Library Tour
R9.20 Dr. Lisa Pollard’s Lecture
Sears Auditorium, 8pm
Be sure to sign in at the lecture
Lecture Review due on Friday by 4:30 pm via email (See assignment explanation)
Week 6
T9.25 The Atlantic Economy on the Frontier (Group 5: Corey and Kevin)
Readings: Bender 61-81; Usner, “Trade and Settlement in the Formation of a
Colonial Region,” (ER)
Primary Doc:
 Galissoniere, http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/D/1726-1750/7yearswar/galis.htm
R9.27 Atlantic Cities (Group 6: Kara and Mary)
Readings: Nash, “Urban Wealth and Poverty in Pre-Revolutionary America,”
Journal of Interdisciplinary History (JSTOR); The following are in Commonplace http://www.common-place.org/vol-03/no-04/:
Smith, “Walking Moraley’s Streets (Philadelpha), Delage, We Shall be One
People” (Quebec), Denis, “Treasure City” (Havana), Price, Violence and Hope in
a Space of Death” (Paramaribo)
Week 7 Exam Week
T10.2 Midterm Review
R10.4 Midterm Exam
Week 8
T10.9 Atlantic Revolutions I, North America (Group 7: Liz and Megan)
Readings: Bender, 87-93
Primary Doc:
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
Pitt, http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/D/1751-1775/stampact/sapitt.htm
Decl of Indepce, http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm
**Paper Progress: Hand in today a paragraph describing your research, sources
you have consulted, material you have ordered, and any concerns. The
paragraph should end with a tentative thesis statement,
Midterm Break Thu Oct 11-Sun Oct 14
Week 9
T10.16 Atlantic Revolutions II, Haiti (Group 8: Kailee and Julia)
Readings: Bender, 93-112; DuBois, “Power” and “Enemies of Liberty” (ER)
 L’Ouverture, http://college.hmco.com/history/primary/haiti.htm
R10.18 Agriculture, Markets, and Industrialization (Group 9: Steve and Matt)
Readings: Clark, “Rural America and the Transition to Capitalism,” Journal of the
Early Republic, Vol 15, No. 2, 223-236; Rorobaugh, “Market Revolution,” (ER)
 Robinson, http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/robinson-lowell.html
 Mule Spinner, http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/27
**Start Mill On Liberty
Week 10
T10.23 Immigrants and Migrants (Group 10: Dan and Katie)
Readings: John Mack Faragher, “The Midwestern Farming Family” (ER), Johnson,
“On the Eve of Emigration” (ER)
Primary Doc:
 Andrew Jackson, State of the Union,
http://www.swarthmore.edu/Humanities/kjohnso1/jackson.html
 Bill Simms Go to: http://www.inmotionaame.org/home.cfm?bhcp=1, Click
Texts, Click Western Migration, Search Sims and Click on Interview
 “My Husband Was Seized with Mania,”
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5715
R10.25Freedom and Making New Nations (Group 11: Maggie, Jen and Carmine)
Readings: Bender117-150
Primary Doc:
 Mazzini, http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1852mazzini.html
 Kossuth, http://www2.tltc.ttu.edu/kelly/Archive/New/kossuth.htm
 Clay,http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/documents/documents_p2.cfm?doc=58
 Alvarez,http://college.hmco.com/history/world/bulliet/earth_peoples/2e/stude
nts/primary/mexicanwar.htm
Week 11
T10.30 Unifying the Nation (Group 12: Ryan and Peter)
Readings: Bender 150-181
Primary Doc:
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

Lincoln, http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/gadd/gadrft.html (Read either the
Nicolay or Hay versions of the Gettysburg Address
Renan, http://www.tamilnation.org/selfdetermination/nation/renan.htm
R11.2 Research Meetings
Week 12
T11.6 The New Industrial Capitalist Nation
Readings: Scott, “Fault Lines, Color Lines, and Party Lines” (ER); Rorabaugh,
“Industry and Labor in the Guilded Age”
 Hine, http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/childlabor/index.html
 Factory Rules in Berlin (ER)
 Suma Mills (ER)
R11.8 On Liberty
Readings: Mill
Week 13:
Tue 11.13 Liberty and Empire
Readings: Bender 182-211
Primary Doc:
 Ross, http://www.historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6598/
 Ferry, http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1884ferry.html
Thu 11.15 Writing Day
Week 14:
R11.20 The Spanish-Cuban-FilipinoWars
Readings: Bender 219-245, Primary Doc:
 Louisiana Purchase Exposition Images (ER)
 Agoncillo, http://www.boondocksnet.com/ai/vof/fa_013099.html
 Kipling, http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/Kipling.html
**Paper due today
Week 15
T11.27 Social History and Memory
Readings: De Turner, Torn from the Nest
R11.29 Industrial Promises
Readings: Bender, 246-295
Primary Doc:
 Rerum Novarum(points 1-30)
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/leo_xiii/encyclicals/documents/hf_lxiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum_en.html
 Abbot,
http://tigger.uic.edu/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/urbanexp/main.cgi?file=new/show_do
c_search.ptt&doc=506
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Week 16
T12.4Industrial Imperial War, World War I
Readings: Morrow, “The Great War: An Imperial War”(ER); Adas, “Contested
Hegemony”(http://web.ebscohost.com.libproxy.udayton.edu/ehost/pdf?vid=4&hid=1
23&sid=a368fefd-50e4-4564-8092-e1078ab4cc41%40sessionmgr7)
Primary Doc:
Film Excerpts of The Great War
R12.6 Conclusions
Final Exam Tue Dec 11 4:30-6:20