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Rowan University
Department of History
History 05 151 3 U.S. History from 1865
Spring Semester 2008
Wilson Hall M/W 1:45-3:00
Dr. Jayne Morris-Crowther morriscr@hotmail.com
(State HIST 151)
Telephone: TBA
Office Hrs. Rm 216 B
T/Th 11-12
(or by arrangement)
Description: Surveys American history from Reconstruction to the present, emphasizing the emergence of the United States as an industrial-urban nation with global interests.
Specific Course Objectives:
American History from 1865 until the present is a daunting study in both scope and complexity. In an effort to preserve the complexity, this course will narrow the scope to four main themes. They are:
1. The ongoing struggle of marginalized or excluded groups for their political, social, and economic rights.
2. Increasing technology, industrialization, urbanization and cultural homogenization.
3. The increasing centralization, bureaucratization and invasive techniques of the national government.
4. World involvement, from world trade to ideological imperialism.
Particular attention will be paid to the ways in which people negotiate their lives amid the economic and ideological constraints of the times. While the format of the class necessitates a certain periodization for lectures and readings, the four main themes will provide a framework upon which they rest. The course will be generally chronological, but each lecture will address a broad, general topic.
Required Readings:
The reading assignments are noted in the Daily Class Schedule. These assignments are relatively short, but the material is dense and therefore, should be read by the assigned dates. Failure to keep up with the reading will result in an immense burden just prior to the exams and cannot be “crammed” easily.
Alan Brinkley, The Unfinished Nation Vol. II: From 1865 5th Edition (New York:
McGraw Hill, 2004) ISBN: 978-0-07-330702-2
Ida B. Wells-Barnett, On Lynchings - Classics in Black Studies,(New York: Humanity
Books, 2002) ISBN: 1-59102-008-5
Philip Caputo, A Rumor of War, (New York: Owl Books, 1996) ISBN 0-8050-4695-X

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Policies - Attendance: Believing that the interaction between the instructor and the students provides the best learning environment, daily attendance is required for a successful completion of this class. Examination questions will oftentimes be discussed at length during class time and quizzes may not be made up (if you need to miss a quiz, there are two dropped from the final evaluation).
Woody Allen says that most of success is simply “showing-up.”
Students should come to office hours when they have questions regarding course material or assignments.
Policies - Academic Dishonesty:
Academic dishonesty is not tolerated at Rowan University. Such behavior threatens the integrity of other students and the institution itself. Consequently, there is zero tolerance for cheating or plagiarizing. Students who cheat in History 151 can expect to fail that assignment (with no make-up) and will be reported to the Dean of Students for further disciplinary action. Please review the Rowan University catalog pages on “Academic
Policies and Procedures.”
Policies – Behavior:
Students are expected to behave in an appropriate manner that is respectful of the subject matter and their fellow students. Consequently, no beepers, cell phones or casual chitchat are allowed (this instructor may grant a one-time-only permission for a cell phone in an emergency situation).
Evaluation: Grades will be based on the students’ ability to explain historical events.
This will place emphasis on both clarity and logical development.
1. There will be two examinations during the semester. Each exam will consist of a short answer and essay format. It is expected that each student will take the exam at the expected time with his/her class. Under special circumstances, with prior approval of this instructor, a make-up exam may be scheduled. Warning !! Make-up exams are by nature more difficult than the in-class exam. Final exams may NOT be made up because final grades are due to the registrar 48 hours after the final.
2. There will be twelve simple quizzes on the Brinkley book. Each quiz will be worth ten points and I will drop the two worst grades in my final evaluation. Quizzes can not be made up.
Assignments – Critical Review
Students are required to read an additional book of their own choosing, but with instructor approval . The subject must be about American history and coincide with the time frame of this class (from1865). Students must then write a 2-3 page critical review assessing the quality of the author’s argument. Their analysis must answer the following:
1) What is the author’s argument? 2) How does the author defend that argument? What evidence does he provide? 3) What is the quality of those sources? 4) Is the argument, therefore a valid one? It must be typed and quotations must be cited. All papers must conform to a standard academic style sheet (MLA. CMS, APA). Extensive errors in mechanics or format will be penalized. The due date is variable either or April 2nd or

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9th.
Each will be considered late any time after its respective due date. The papers will go down one grade for each tardy week.
Extra Credit: From time to time there may be appropriate lectures on campus, programs on TV or a movie. I will notify you what lectures or television programs will permit extra credit. I will post worksheets for the two movies (Glory and Good Night and Good Luck) on the web site. You may watch Glory before the mid-term and Good Night and Good
Luck before the last class. A student would receive 10 points for attending the lecture or television program and taking notes and may do this up to an additional 20 points.
Assignments – Group Discussions
At four different times during the semester, there will be assigned topics for group discussion. The groups may have up to 4 members and will be given a series of questions.
Students will then discuss these topics, present their findings to the class and hand-in their written notes. The group grade will be evaluated by the thoroughness of the notes and presentation. (Students who are absent and want credit must write a one-page paper on the day’s topic.) The dates are: Feb. 11, Feb. 27, April 7 and Apr. 23.
Final grades will be calculated in the following manner:
Group Discussions
Critical review ten quizzes at 10 pts each
100 points
100 points
100 points
Mid-term exam (March 10 & 12) 100 points
Final exam (week of May 6-10) 100 points
500 points
Daily Class Schedule: (subject to change)
1/23 Introduction
Syllabus
450-500 points = A
400-449 points = B
350-399 points = C
300-349 points = D
299-below = F
1/28 QUIZ on syllabus
Reconstruction
Rdg: Brinkley Chap 15
1/30 Reconstruction
Rdg: Brinkley Chap 16
2/4 QUIZ Chaps 15 & 16
Rise of Big Business
Rdg: Brinkley Chap 17
2/6 Rise of Labor
Rdg: Brinkley Chap 18
2/11 QUIZ Chaps 17 & 18

Group Discussions - Industrialization
Progressive Era - urbanization
Rdg: Brinkley Chap 19
2/13 Progressive Era - immigration
Rdg: Brinkley Chap 20
2/18 QUIZ Chaps 19 & 20
Progressive Era – race relations
Rdg: Brinkley Chap 21
2/20 Progressive Era –race relations
Rdg: Brinkley Chap 22
2/25 QUIZ Chap 21 & 22
Imperialism
Rdg: Brinkley Chap 23
Wells-Barnett
2/27 Group Discussions – Progressive Era
Imperialism
Rdg: Brinkley Chap 23
Wells-Barnett
3/3 QUIZ Chap 23
World War I
Rdg: Wells-Barnett
3/5 All extra credit for first half of semester is due. discuss On Lynchings
World War I
Study for mid-term
3/10 MID-TERM EXAM
Lectures and readings from 1/23-3/5
Short Answer & Book Essay
3/12 MID-TERM EXAM
Lecture Essay
SPRING BREAK YIPPEE!!
3/24 The Twenties
Boom to bust
Rdg: Brinkley Chap 24
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3/26 Great Depression
Rdg: Brinkley Chap 25
3/31 QUIZ Chaps 24 & 25
New Deal
Rdg: Brinkley Chap 26
4/2 CRITICAL REVIEWS DUE (FIRST WAVE)
Between the Wars
Rdg: Brinkley Chap 27
4/7 Group Discussions – Social Welfare
QUIZ Chaps 26 & 27
World War II
Rdg: Brinkley Chap 28
4/9 CRITICAL REVIEWS DUE (SECOND WAVE)
World War II
Rdg: Brinkley Chap 29
4/14 QUIZ Chaps 28 & 29
Cold War, Home and Abroad
Rdg: Brinkley Chap 30
4/16 Cold War, Home and Abroad
Rdg: Brinkley Chap 31
4/21 QUIZ Chaps 30 & 31
Civil Rights & Rebellion
Rdg: Brinkley Chap 32
4/23 Group Discussions – Cold War
Civil Rights & Rebellion
Rdg: Brinkley Chap 33
4/28 QUIZ Chaps 32 & 33
The New Conservatism
Rdg: Brinkley Chap 34
4/30 LAST QUIZ (yippee) Chap 34
All extra-credit and assignments due
Terrorism
Rdg: Caputo
5/5 Prep session for final exam
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discuss Rumor of War
Study for final
WEEK OF May 6-10 th
FINAL EXAM
Lectures and readings from 3/24 -5/5
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