American History to 1877
History 151 (Online through BlackBoard Learn)
Summer 2013: Modules 2 & 3—June 10th – August 2nd
Instructor: Jeff Perry (perry30@purdue.edu)
Overview
This course is a broad survey of the history of North America from European contact
through the Civil War between the states. History is more than simply set of facts and
dates, it is about change over time. Following a chronological path, we will chart aspects of
this change, looking at the major political, economic, cultural, and social changes of the
period, including: Europeans’ settlement and their relations with Natives, the development
and continued expansion of a race-based slave system, the effects of an expanding economic
marketplace, the Enlightenment, Religious Awakenings, Revolutionary fervor, the battle
over the Constitution, the quest for American Empire, and the sectional controversy. By
focusing on larger structural transformations as well as the actions of individuals and
groups, we will see how change emanated from different levels of society, and how a
disparate group of colonies (and then states) came together to form the American nation.
This Course is on BlackBoard Learn at: mycourses.purdue.edu
Materials
Gregory Brown Tindall and David Emory Shi, America: A Narrative History Brief Ninth
Edition, Volume One.
ISBN: 978-0-393-91266-1
The book is also available in these formats:
-
E book: http://books.wwnorton.com/books/detail.aspx?ID=4294973557
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Online access: http://books.wwnorton.com/books/detail.aspx?ID=4294973558
Other readings will be posted on BlackBoard Learn:
Ira Berlin, “Making Slavery, Making Race” from his Many Thousands Gone: The First Two
Centuries of Slavery in North America.
James L. Huston, “Southerners Against Secession: The Arguments of the Constitutional
Unionists in 1850-1851” Civil War History 46 no. 4, (2000), 481-499.
Howard Zinn, “As Long as Grass Grows or the Water Runs” from his A People’s History of
the United States.
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Since this is an online course, it does not resemble traditional courses:
There are NO LECTURES. You are responsible for meticulously reading the textbook
and posted articles as well as completing all the weekly assignments.
There are NO EXAMS. Instead you will be graded on your weekly course work
(discussion questions, discussion responses, and quizzes).
Assignments
QUIZZES: For each unit you will need to complete a quiz by Friday (3 PM).
DISCUSSION POSTS: Discussion questions for each unit will be posted and need to be
completed by Wednesday (3 PM). Each student must also thoughtfully respond to at
least one fellow group member’s post by Friday (3 PM).
As this is an online class, the responsibility to stay on top of course readings and course
assignments resides with you. Quizzes will consist of twenty-five questions that are
both factual and conceptual. There will be two weekly discussion questions. Answers
for each should engage relevant assigned readings and/or videos, and should be at
least 250 words. Responses to your fellow student’s post (at least 100 words) should be
constructive, respectful, and in the spirit of open discussion.
****ALL TIME DEADLINES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME. If you are
traveling outside of this time zone, please adjust accordingly.****
MORE INFORMATION ON QUIZZES AND DISCUSSION GUIDELINES ARE
POSTED ON BLACKBOARD LEARN
Important Days:
 Wednesdays 3 PM: Unit Discussions due

Fridays 3 PM: Unit Quizzes completed and
Discussion Response due
Grade Distribution
This course is based on a total of 600 points:

8 Quizzes, 50 points each for a total of 400 points.
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

16 Discussion Questions, 10 points each for a total of 160 points.
8 Discussion Responses, 5 points each for a total of 40 points.
Grading Scale:
I do not give out minuses, but will use plusses. This course is not graded on a curve.
A+ = 580-600 points
A = 540-579.5
B+ = 520-539.5
B = 480-519.5
C+ = 460-479.5
C = 420-459.5
D+= 400-419.5
D = 360- 399.5
F = 0-359.5
Attendance Policy and Missing Assignments:
Good news, we do not have class meetings! That being said, you must complete your
assignments for each unit by the due date. As many of you will be traveling and maybe
out of Eastern Standard Time, please remain aware of time deadlines.
I am required to report the “Initial Course Participation” to the Registrar’s Office.
Therefore, in order to receive an “attending” mark, you must complete all of Unit One’s
assignments on time. Failure to do so may affect your financial aid status.
Cheating/Plagiarism:
Plagiarism refers to the reproduction of another's words or ideas without proper
attribution.
University Regulations contains further information on dishonesty.
Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are serious offenses, and will be
treated as such in this class. You are expected to produce your own work and to
accurately cite all necessary materials. Cheating, plagiarism, and other dishonest
practices will be punished as harshly as Purdue University policies allow. Any
instances of academic dishonesty will likely result in a grade of F for the course and
notification of the Dean of Students Office. See Student Regulations for details:
www.purdue.edu/policies
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A major issue in online classes is plagiarism. In answering your discussion posts, for
instance, you should not simply copy word from word from your textbook, Wikipedia,
or any other source. Even if it is not a direct quotation, any ideas that are not your own
should be properly footnoted. To assist with this, I have posted guidelines for
referring to sources when completing your writing assignments in the HIST 151 Help
Folder.
Students with Disabilities:
If you have a disability that may require modification of class requirements, please
email me as soon as possible so we can make appropriate arrangements. I will keep all
discussions confidential as long as the situation permits. Please note that, in order for
Purdue University to accommodate your needs, you will need to provide appropriate
written documentation for your disability and have it on file with Adaptive Services.
Disclaimer:
In the event of a major campus emergency, the above requirements, deadlines and
grading policies are subject to changes that may be required by a revised semester
calendar. Any such changes in this course will be posted once the course resumes
on Blackboard or can be obtained by contacting the professor via email.
Schedule
Unit One: (6/10-6/14)
- Read Chapters 1 & 2 in America: A Narrative History AND the class guidelines on
plagiarism/proper citations (Posted on BlackBoard)
- Wednesday, Complete discussion questions (3 PM)
- Friday, Complete Quiz and discussion response (3PM)
Unit Two: (6/17-6/21)
- Read Chapters 3 & 4 in America AND Ira Berlin, “Making Slavery, Making Race”
(Posted on BlackBoard Learn)
- Wednesday, Complete discussion questions (3 PM)
- Friday, Complete Quiz and discussion response (3 PM)
Unit Three: (6/24-6/28)
- Read Chapters 5 & 6 in America
- Wednesday, Complete discussion questions (3 PM)
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-
Friday, Complete Quiz and discussion response (3 PM)
Unit Four: (7/1-7/5)
- Read Chapters 7 & 8 in America
- Wednesday, Complete discussion questions (3 PM)
- Friday, Complete Quiz and discussion response (3 PM)
Unit Five: (7/8-7/12)
- Read Chapters 9 & 10 in America AND Zinn, “As Long as the Grass Grows or
Water Runs” (Posted on BlackBoard Learn)
- Wednesday, Complete discussion questions (3 PM)
- Friday, Complete Quiz and discussion response (3 PM)
Unit Six: (7/15-7/19)
- Read Chapters 11 & 12 in America
- Wednesday, Complete discussion questions (3 PM)
- Friday, Complete Quiz and discussion response (3 PM)
Unit Seven: (7/22-7/26)
- Read Chapters 13 & 14 in America
- Wednesday, Complete discussion questions (3 PM)
- Friday, Complete Quiz and discussion questions (3 PM)
Unit Eight: (7/29-8/2)
- Read Chapters 15 & 16 in America AND Huston, “Southerners Against
Secession” (Posted on BlackBoard Learn)
- Wednesday, Complete discussion questions (3 PM)
- Friday, Complete Quiz and discussion questions (3 PM)
Finished!
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