The American Revolution
History 412/512
Professor: Dr. Ian Chambers
University of Idaho
Spring 2010
Course Description
The course will explore the origins, experience, and consequences of the
American Revolution from 1763 to the early 1800s. Special attention will
be paid to issues of ethnicity and gender, with an eye toward assessing the
ways in which group identity influenced various perspectives about the
significance and meaning of the revolution.
Contact Details:
Professor: Dr. Ian Chambers
Office: History department, 315 Administration building
Phone: (208) 885-5777
Office hours:
Tuesday
3:00 – 4:00 pm
Thursday
3:00 – 4:00 pm
Additional office hours available by appointment
E-mail: chambers@uidaho.edu
Texts
Cynthia Kierner, Revolutionary American 1750-1815: Sources and Interpretations
Rhys Issac, Landon Carter’s Uneasy Kingdom
Carol Berkin, Revolutionary Mothers
Paul E. Johnson, The Early American Republic, 1789-1829
Course Requirements
There will be three sections of a portfolio due during the semester. This portfolio
will be based on written answers based of the questions from Kierner,
Revolutionary American
Portfolio I due
Thursday February 18th
Portfolio II due
Thursday April 1st
Portfolio III due
Day of Final (acts as final)
Research paper: Students will select a topic on some aspect of Revolutionary
American history and prepare a research paper of 2800 – 3200 word paper, typewritten and double spaced.
Paper due
Thursday April 22nd
Class Participation
Class participation counts as 10% of the course grade
Requirements/Grades
Your Grades on the written work will reflect + and –
However your posted grade will contain only full letter grade
A) Portfolio I
15%
B) Portfolio II
15%
C) Portfolio III
15%
D) Research Paper
45%
E) Class participation 10%
Class Rules and Regulations
Three-One System
You must wait ONE day before contesting any grade
You must write ONE paragraph explaining why your grade should be adjusted
You must challenge the grade within ONE week of receiving it.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism WILL NOT be tolerated
Late Papers
You will lose one point per minute for any late work.
Information for Written Work
Internet sources
No more than two internet sources can be used
All internet sources must be authorized by the Professor – any internet sources not
authorized result in a loss of points
NO use of Wikipedia at all
All quotations must have equivalent amount of explanatory text
The participation grade will be based upon attendance, completion of reading, and
active participation in class discussions.
Class may also include a number of pop quizzes, and group work. Both these inclass assessments are planned not only to ensure that you have both done and
understood the reading but also to give an opportunity for an open discussion.
In order to ensure that all students, and I, get the full benefit of the class,
attendance will be mandatory - non attendance will be penalized. Miss four (4)
classes and you will automatically lose on grade point from your final grade.
Your research paper will have a cover page containing a paper title, the word
count, and your name. They must also contain correctly cited sources and a
bibliography. We will spend time in class discussing formatting.
Schedule – Tentative subject to change
Week/ Date
Important Notes
Topic /discussion (Thurs)
From Kierner
Issac
Chap
Berkin Johnson
Chap Chap
1
2
3
11-15 Jan
18-22 Jan
25-29 Jan
MLK Day
The Bonds of Empire
Language of Liberty
II
I
II &
VIII
4
1-5 Feb
III &
IV
7
Guest Lecture Feb Reform and Resistance
2nd
8-12 Feb
The Road to Rebellion
15-19 Feb Presidents Day
Asserting Independence
Portfolio I Due
22-26 Feb
Times that Tried Men’s Soul
8
1-5 March
I
9
8-12 Mar
5
6
A World Turned Upside
Down
Who Should Rule at Home?
15-19 Mar Spring Break
10 22-26 Mar
11 29 Mar2 Ap
12 5-9 Ap
13 12-16 Ap
14 19-23 Ap
15 26-30 Ap
16 3-7 May
17 10-14 May
Portfolio II Due
Paper Due
No Exam Week
Finals
Portfolio III
Confederation and
Constitution
Federalists and AntiFederalists
The Federalist Era
Forging a National Culture
Securing the Revolution
Remembering the Revolution
III
V
IV &
IX
V
VI &
VII
I
II
III & IV
V
Afterword