SYLLABUS
ECON120 - Economic History of the United States
Spring 2014
Location: 1637, 11:00-12:20 TR
Instructor: John Liscano
Office: 1030C
Phone: 256-7733
Office hours: TR 12:30-1:30, or by appointment.
E-mail: jliscano@napavalley.edu
Internet: http://www.napavalley.edu/people/jliscano/Pages/welcome.aspx
Course:
“Economic History of the U.S.” is a survey course that will explore the American
economy from its beginnings through the 20th century. The class will cover a variety of
macro and micro economic issues, including the development of labor markets,
government policy, the organization of industry, productivity growth, and agriculture, to
name a few. We will always be looking at one major issue: How did the United States
go from being a small isolated colony on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean to the largest
and most prosperous economy on the planet?
While neither economics nor statistics is a prerequisite for the course, you should
have a basic understanding and knowledge of economics and you should be
prepared to reason using graphs and numbers. Although basic knowledge of U.S. (noneconomic) history is desirable you cannot rely on what you have learned in other history
courses and expect to do well in this course. Although this course covers topics you
have probably seen in other courses, the interpretations offered here will differ sharply
from what you have confronted elsewhere.
We will be using basic economic theory and concepts to examine some of the
causal factors underlying U.S. economic growth. By the end of the semester you will, I
hope, have a much better understanding of how we as a nation arrived at where we
are today.
Course Approach:
As the disciplines of economics and political science rejoin after a century long
separation, the study of power and politics is also essential. Thus, the interdisciplinary
nature of the course makes it challenging. As the previous discussion suggests, doing
well requires that you learn and understand economics, history and politics. To develop
such understanding, you need to regularly attend class, actively participate in class
discussions, and complete required reading assignment prior to coming to class
(approx 30-40 pages a week).
Texts:
Price Fishback, et al. Government and the American Economy: A New History. University
of Chicago Press. 2007.
Exams:
Your final grade will be determined primarily by your performance on two equally
weighted exams (1 midterm and 1 final); each exam is worth 45% of your final grade.
Class Participation:
You can earn the additional 10% of the course grade based on your participation in
class discussions.
Your final grade will be computed on the following point scale:
A= 90-100 points
B= 80-89 points
C= 70-79 points
D= 60-69 points
F = 59 points & below
Also, keep in mind that I only read and respond to emails between Monday and
Thursday.
Next, I’m a pretty easy going fellow so if tests or assignments don’t go your way please
don’t come at me with “it’s totally unfair Liscano,” or “that’s messed up Liscano;” Just
be a level headed human being and I’ll be as fair as I can with your circumstances. It
goes without saying that I do not tolerate profanity or cell phones going off, so again,
just use your head.
Schedule of Lectures and Readings.
Wk 2 – 1/29-1/31
Ch 1 – Government & The Economy
Wk 3 – 2/5-2/7
Chs 2 & 3 – Colonial America and The Founding
Wk 4 – 2/12-2/14
Ch 4 – Property Rights & Federal Land Policy
Wk 5 – 2/19-2/21
Ch 5 – The Financial System since 1789
Wk 6 – 2/26-2/28
Ch 6 – The “National Era”
Wk 7 – 3/5-3/7
Ch 7 & 8 - The Civil War, Slavery and Reconstruction
Wk 8 – 3/12-3/14
Ch 8 & 9 – The “Gilded” Age
Wk 9 - 3/19
Ch 9 – The “Gilded” Age con’t
st
March 21
Test 1 – The Political Economy of the 18th & 19th Centuries
Wk 10 – 4/2-4/4
Ch 10 – The “Progressive” Era
Wk 11 – 4/9-4/11
Ch 11 & 12 – Demographics & The Federal Bureaucracy
Wk 12 – 4/16-4-18
Ch 13 – The “New” Deal
Wk 13 – 4/23-4/25
Ch 14 – War Economies
Wk 14 – 4/30-5/2
Ch 15 – Agriculture & Farm Programs
Wk 15 – 5/7-5/9
Ch 16 – Seeking Economic Security in the Postwar Era
May 14th
Test 2 - The 20th Century American Political Economy
Finally, for any questions, please just email directly and I’ll help you as quick as I can. Thanks
everybody!!!
Disability Statement - Students in need of accommodations in the college learning environment:
Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a learning disability should contact Learning Services in the Library and
Learning Resource Center (LLRC), room 1766, phone (707) 256-7442. A Learning Disability Specialist will review your needs and determine appropriate
accommodations.
If you need accommodations for physical or other types of disabilities, schedule an appointment with DSPS Counselor, Sheryl Fernandez, in the Counseling
Department located on the top floor of the 800 building, phone (707) 253-3040 for appointment.
All information and documentation is confidential.