ALABAMA A & M UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
Fall, 2004
2645 HIS 201 (01) American History I, 3 Credits
Class Meetings: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00 – 12:15, in NCB 105
COURSE PREREQUISITES: none
INSTRUCTOR: Edward L. Bond
OFFICE LOCATION/PHONE: Joseph Drake Hall
X5343, 372 - 5343 from off-campus
edward.bond@email.aamu.edu
OFFICE HOURS:
Wednesday 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday/Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.; 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: America History I is a survey of the political, economic, social,
and religious development of the United States from pre-European contact to Reconstruction.
RATIONALE/RELATIONSHIP TO THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK (School of
Education majors):
This course represents a performance-based approach to teacher education designed to
enable the advanced candidate to become an educational service professional with knowledge
skills and dispositions required by institutional, state, regional, and national standards. Through
a constructivist design, learning will be facilitated by the entry-level candidate’s participation in
activities that will involve the intellect as well as the dispositions. Creativity in learning will be
facilitated by collaboration and feedback that should result in continual reflection and selfassessment. The ultimate outcome of this course is the further development of a skilled, highly
proficient, entry-level teacher.
COURSE TEXTBOOK: George Tindall and David Shi, America: A Brief Sixth Edition,
Norton. Frederick Binder and David Reimers, The Way We Lived, Houghton-Miflin.
DISABILITY STATEMENT: Alabama A&M University is committed to serving the needs of
students with disabilities, and the institution recognizes its responsibility for creating an
instructional climate in which students with disabilities can strive. If there is a documented
disability for which special requirements are required in order to promote learning in this class,
please contact the Office of Disability Services to verify eligibility and to discuss the options for
reasonable academic accommodations that might be available.
ETHICS STATEMENT: All acts of dishonesty in any academic work constitute academic
misconduct that could result in a failing grade for HIS 201. Academic dishonesty includes but is
not limited to cheating, plagiarism, and fabrication of information.
“The value of History is, indeed, not scientific but moral: by liberalizing the mind, by
deepening the sympathies, by fortifying the will, it enables us to control, not society, but
ourselves. . .it prepares us to live more humanely in the present and to meet the future."
--Carl L. Becker
COURSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:
1. to acquire an understanding and appreciation of the origins and historical development of
cultures in their chronological setting S290-3-3-.20 1.a.1, .22 1.a.1/I1A, 1D/P2.0
2. to understand the interrelationship of economic, political, social, psychological,
intellectual, and technological forces in shaping the nation S290-3-3-.22 1.a.2/I1A/P2.0
3. to understand the major characteristics of American institutions and movements, the
nation’s successes and failures, the ability of its people to cooperate and to engage in
domestic conflict, and the role of cultural diffusion in American life S290-3-3-.22
1.a.4/I1A/P2.0
4. to encourage students to think critically by developing the skills of inquiry and analysis
I1C, IE/P2.1
5. to develop an awareness both of the various interpretations of history and an appreciation
for the complexities of historical causation S290-3-3-.20 1.a.6; 290-3-3-.22 1.a.4,5
6. to develop a clearer idea of what it means to be a citizen of the United States as well as
the opportunities, responsibilities, and burdens of citizenship S290-3-3-.20 1.a.2
MODES OF INSTRUCTION:
American History I will combine lectures with student readings and discussions. The use
of videos at the State Black Archives is also a possibility.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
All students will be allowed three (3) unexcused absences with no penalty. For each
unexcused absence above three (3), the student will lose four (2) points from his or her
attendance grade. Two tardies will count as one absence.
If you miss an exam, you must present me with a University-approved excuse within 2
class meetings in order to be able eligible to take a make-up exam. All make-up exams must be
completed before Friday, November 19, 2003, at 5:00 p.m.
I cannot stress strongly enough to you the importance of attending class. The vast
majority of students who earn grades lower than a C have very poor attendance. Please keep in
mind that this class only meets twice a week, therefore, each class you miss is very significant.
COURSE EVALUATION:
Course requirements include regular class attendance, the required readings listed in the
COURSE OUTLINE section below, two in-class writing assignments at dates still to be
determined, two exams during the semester, 3 optional quizzes on the textbook readings, and one
final exam. Outstanding classroom participation will be taken into account at the end of the
semester.
Attendance
50 points
In-class writing assignments 150 points
Exam One
200 points
(S290-3-3-.20 1.a.1 1.a.2; 290-3-3-.22 1.a.2 1.a.4/I1A/P1.1 2.0)
Exam Two
200 points
(S290-3-3-.20 1.a.1 1.a.2; 290-3-3-.22 1.a.2 1.a.4/I1A/P1.1 2.0)
Final Exam
200 points
(S290-3-3-.20 1.a.1 1.a.2; 290-3-3-.22 1.a.2 1.a.4/I1A/P1.1 2.0)
Optional Quizzes: You will have the opportunity to take three optional quizzes on your textbook
reading throughout the semester. Each will count for a possible 20 points. At the end of the
semester, I will add the scores of your quizzes and divide by ten. I will add the result to your
final average. For example, if you have quiz scores of 10, 4, and 8, for a total of 22, I will add
2.2 points to your final average.
A: 720 – 800 points
B: 640 – 719 points
C: 560 – 639 points
D: 480 – 559 points
F: below 480 points
COURSE OUTLINE OF UNITS OF INSTRUCTION:
Week of
Lecture topic
Assignment in Tindall
August 23
Introduction; Early Exploration
10 - 25
August 30
Native Americans; English Approach to Empire
September 6
English Approach to Empire, New England
27 - 45
September 13
The Middle Colonies; Slavery, Racism and Lower South
45 - 88
September 20
Government and Deferential Politics
97 - 119
September 27
Enlightenment and Great Awakening, EXAM 9/28
88 - 95
October 4
Coming of the American Revolution; Revolutionary War
97 - 192
October 11
The Need for a New National Government
194 - 216
October 18
The Constitution; Defining the Nation I
218 – 249
October 25
Defining the Nation II; Era of Nationalism
251 - 278
289 – 314
November 1
The Jacksonian Era
315 - 335
November 8
Changes in American Society
344 - 378
November 15
Preserving a Republican Society; Slave Culture
451 - 478
November 22
Sectional Crisis THANKSGIVING BREAK on 11/25
481 - 515
November 29
Sectional Crisis II
EXAM 11/2
The preceding topics address the following guidelines: (S290-3-3-.20 1.a.1 1.a.2; 290-3-3-.22
1.a.2 1.a.4/I1A 1D/P2.0)
Final Exam: December 9 at 11:00 a.m. in NCB 105
The publisher as yet to send me a desk copy of Binder and Reimers, The Way We Lived.
You will receive a schedule of readings for this book by September 2.