The Unfinished Nation:
History of the United States Since 1865
History 261
MWF 10:00-10:50
Xavier Hall G14
Instructor:
Flannery Burke
Office Hours: Wednesday 1-3 and by appointment
Office: 252 Humanities
Phone: 977-2910
Email (best way to reach me): fburke@slu.edu
Course Description
This course examines major events in United States history from the end of
Reconstruction to the present. We will consider topics with which many of us are
probably already familiar and study them in greater depth. Our examination of the past
should enhance our understanding of the present and better prepare us to approach
problems with a historical mind. To that end, we will work on honing our reading and
writing skills as well as expanding our knowledge of U.S. history.
Class Format
We’ve got a lot of material to cover so I will often lecture, but I’ve found that class is
much more enjoyable and much more productive for me and for my students when we
have lots of discussion and activities as well. Whenever I can, I’ll bring in additional
materials to kick off a discussion or a debate or a role-playing exercise. Please bring
your textbooks to class every time so that we can use your textbooks for these exercises.
I’ll tell you if we won’t need your books. I also have a tendency to talk a bit too quickly
so feel free to interrupt during lecture to clarify your notes or just to tell me to slow
down.
Requirements
For this class you will need to complete two exams, two draft assignments (details below)
a paper and attend class regularly. I allow two absences, no questions asked. Beyond
that your grade will drop a letter grade for every class missed. If you can not be present
for an exam, you must take it in advance. No late assignments will be accepted.
Here’s how the grading breaks down:
Midterm: 15%
Final: 20%
Draft assignment #1: 10%
1
Draft assignment #2: 10%
Paper: 25%
Participation: 20%
Reading
Required texts:
1) Out of Many: A History of the American People volume II by John Mack Faragher,
Daniel Czitrom, Mari Jo Buhle, and Susan H. Armitage
2) Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody
3) The Things They Carried: A Work of Fiction by Tim O’Brian
4) How The Other Half Lives by Jacob A. Riis and Luc Sante
Recommended text:
Our Dumb Century: The Onion Presents 100 Years of Headlines from America’s Finest
News Source by The Onion Editors
Web reading:
Sometimes our reading will be online. Live links are available on the online syllabus at
the SLU Department of History website. All links should be functional, but please let me
know if you run into any difficulties.
Reading assignments are listed at the beginning of each week. At the end of each day,
I’ll tell you what reading we’ll be discussing next. Out of Many is a textbook so we
won’t necessarily be discussing its content in depth everyday. The remaining texts are
much richer reading. We’ll devote at least one whole class session to each one.
Assignments:
Exams:
Midterm: October 24
Your exam will consist of two clusters, three interrelated names or events. You will
write one paragraph for each cluster explaining the relationship between the three items.
The remainder of the midterm will consist of three essay questions. You will write on
one of them. We will have a review session prior to the midterm.
Final: Monday December 15 12 PM in our regular classroom
2
Your final exam will consist of two clusters. The remainder of the final will consist of
two essay sections. The first essay section will cover the course material surveyed since
the midterm. The second essay question will cover the course material from the entire
class. You will have a choice of three questions in each section. We will have a review
session prior to the midterm.
Paper: Hard copy (not email) due December 8 at the beginning of class
Choose a person or a generation or people from several generations in your family and
write a 4-6 page paper about how their lives intersected with major trends or
developments in American history. You may want to interview various members of your
family to refresh your memory. If you are from outside the United States, chances are
that events in U.S. history, particularly via its foreign policy, have still had a significant
impact on you and your family. If you’re still concerned about your ability to meet the
paper requirements, please email me or see me during office hours. Of course, any time
you have questions about an assignment feel free to talk about it with me. We’ll discuss
the paper in greater depth throughout the semester as your draft assignments come due.
Your paper should be double-spaced, use 12-point Times New Roman font, and have
one-inch margins. If you interview members of your family or if you use any other
sources, you should have a bibliography and footnotes or endnotes. Follow the Chicago
Manual of Style for proper citation style in your notes. Your bibliography does not count
towards your page total.
Late papers are not accepted. No papers will be accepted from students who do not
attend class. You cannot pass this class without turning in the paper. Failure to turn in
the paper means an automatic “F” in the course. Plagiarism of any kind will result in an
“F” in the course and disciplinary action.
St. Louis University’s academic honesty policy defines plagiarism as follows:
“Plagiarism involves the intentional representation of someone else's thoughts or words
as if they were one's own. Instances include the following:
1. Quoting directly from someone else's work without using quotation marks and without
giving proper credit to the author;
2. Paraphrasing someone else's ideas, concepts, arguments, observations, or statements
without giving proper credit;
3. Submitting as one's own work a paper or other assignment that has been prepared,
either wholly or in large part, by another person, group, or commercial firm.”
Draft assignments: Hard copies (not email) due September 26 and November 21 at
the beginning of class
3
Your first draft assignment will consist of one paragraph addressing what three historical
events you will examine in your final paper. If you are feeling ambitious, this paragraph
could be a first draft of your introductory paragraph. It should be a full paragraph, 5-7
sentences in length, with a topic sentence.
Your second draft assignment will consist of an outline for your final paper. If you are
feeling ambitious, you may include a revised draft of your introductory paragraph for my
review. Your outline should be 1-2 pages in length and should include full topic
sentences for each major section.
We will discuss both draft assignments in greater detail in class. The draft assignments
are also an early opportunity for me to assess your writing skills. If you are concerned
about your writing ability and would like to get earlier feedback, feel free to come and
see me.
Regardless of your level of preparation, you will likely find it helpful to consult with
someone at the writing center. To make an appointment at the writing center, use the
online schedule tool or call 977-2930. The writing center’s webpage is located at:
http://www.slu.edu/x13305.xml. They have multiple locations throughout campus and
also allow walk-ins.
If you require particular accommodations for taking an exam or writing your papers, or, if
you want additional help improving your studying and comprehension skills, please
speak with me early in the semester. You may also want to visit the Student Educational
Services Center. Their website is at: http://www.slu.edu/x23624.xml
You can make a tutoring appointment by calling: 977-2930.
Extra credit: Periodically
At four points throughout the semester, we will write one paragraph in response to an
article from Our Dumb Century and the question: “Why is this article funny?” To reply to
the questions, you will need a familiarity with the content that we have recently covered.
These paragraphs are not required, but they are an easy way to gain extra credit toward
your final grade.
Week 1
Getting Started and Reconstruction
August 25
August 27
August 29
Introductions
Civil War & Its Aftermath
Reconstruction
Reading:
Out of Many Chapter 17
Week 2
Gateway to the West
September 1 No class
4
September 3 An Internal Empire
September 5 Transformation of Indian Nations
Reading:
Out of Many Chapter 18
Play the animation on the maps at: www.prenhall.com/faragher6/map18.2
and www.prenhall.com/faragher6/map18.3
We will talk about map 18.3 on September 3 and map 18.2 on September
5.
Week 3
Incorporation of America
September 8 Big Business and Political Machines
September 10 Labor and Populist Movements
September 12 Immigration and Urbanization
Reading:
Out of Many Chapter 19
You also might want to get a start on How the Other Half Lives
Week 4
Making Progress in the Progressive Era
Reading: How The Other Half Lives by Jacob A. Riis and Luc Sante
September 15 Spirit of Reform
September 17 Institutions of Reform
September 19 Limits of Reform
Reading:
Out of Many Chapter 21
How the Other Half Lives entire
Week 5
Over Here
September 22 Catching up and a brief review – preparing your first assignment
September 24 Imperialist America, Neutral America
September 26 Stateside
Reading:
Out of Many Chapters 20 & Chapter 22
Week 6
Roaring Twenties
September 29 Culture of Consumption
October 1
The Business Connection: Politics in the 1920s
October 3
Cultural Intolerance and its Discontents
Reading:
Out of Many Chapter 23
Check out the map at: www.prenhall.com/faragher6/map23.1
5
We’ll discuss it on October 3.
Week 7
Hard Times
October 6
October 8
October 10
Roots of the Depression
Everyday life in a Depressed Economy
Roosevelt’s Election and the First New Deal
Reading:
Out of Many Chapter 24
Check out the map at: www.prenhall.com/faragher6/map24.3
We’ll discuss it next week on the 15th.
Week 8
And Even More Hard Times
October 13
October 15
October 17
Labor’s Rise and the Second New Deal
New Deal and the Arts
Midterm Review
Reading:
Catch up on Out of Many if you’ve fallen behind.
Examine the then-and-now photos at: www.ganzelgroup.com under “The
Book Projects” tab
Week 9
Midterm!
October 20
October 22
October 24
No class -- Holiday
Midterm
In class viewing: The Plow That Broke the Plains
Please take fifteen minutes and write a brief paragraph describing your
reaction to the film and how you think it might have differed from
audiences who saw it in the 1930s.
Reading:
Study for Midterm
Week 10
USA Rising
October 27
Entering War in a Modern Age
October 29
The Home Front
October 31 – In-class viewing: A Family Gathering
Extra credit for those who dress as historical characters on Halloween!
Reading:
Out of Many Chapter 25
Week 11
Shivering Through the Cold War
November 3
November 5
Hot Seat of the Cold War
Anxiety in America’s Living Room
6
November 7
Rising Sun in the West
Reading:
Out of Many Chapters 26 & 27
Week 12
The Cold War’s Home Front
November 10 Liking Ike
November 12 Teenagers, Housewives, and Organization Men
November 14 The New Frontier & Discussion of Next Draft Assignment
Reading:
Coming of Age in Mississippi Parts 1 & 2
Week 13
A Nation Divided
November 17 Everyday People Behind the Movement
November 19 From Movement to Legislation
November 21 Civil Rights – Beyond a Black/White Divide
Reading:
Coming of Age in Mississippi Part 3 to end
Out of Many Chapter 28
Week 14
War Abroad, War At Home
November 24 Vietnam
November 26 Nation in Tumult
November 28 No class – Thanksgiving
Reading:
The Things They Carried: A Work of Fiction by Tim O’Brian
Out of Many Chapter 28
Week 15
To The Right, To The Right
December 1
December 3
December 5
A Troubled Economy
A New Conservatism
Sunbelt Rising
Reading:
Out of Many Chapter 29
Week 16
Final Reflections and Final Paper Due
December 8
History Does Not Repeat Itself, But This Class Does – Suggestions for
Improvement
7