American History, 1492 to 1865 美國史（一）
Fall 2015
Tuesday 9:10-12 二 34C 季陶 340516
Office – 340527
Joe Eaton, PhD
wjeaton@nccu.edu.tw
Please, no eating during class (please save food for class breaks) – thanks!
Please put your cell phone away during class. Restrict computer/tablet use to note
taking (no FB, social networking, internet surfing). No computers/laptops during
movies/video – thanks!
Course description: Major components include the exploration of the “New World,”
Native Americans, colonial society, the Revolutionary War and Constitution,
westward expansion, slavery, the Alamo, Mexican War, gold and silver discoveries,
the development of the political parties, and the Civil War.
This semester will focus on the use and interpretation of “primary” source
documents and on “how” and “why” we remember history in particular ways.
Online textbook: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/
Additional reading assignments: from Web or handouts, as needed
Assignments and grading criteria:
Participation and attendance: 10% (‘perfect’ attendance policy – 0, 1, or 2 absences,
regardless of cause)
Mid-term: 30% (November 17) – will include an essay question dealing with one or
more of the movies (“New World” and “Crucible”)
Writing assignment(s): 30% < 6 double-spaced, typed pages more details to be
announced
Final: 30%
Course outline: subject to change
September 15 - Introduction to course & Exploration and Early English Colonization
1. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3574
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3575
September 22 –
1. John Smith, http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/johnsmith.htm
2. Movie and discussion: "The New World" (2005, Terrance Malick, Colin Farrell,
Christian Bale)
September 29 – More colonial history
1. Mayflower Compact (1620) http://www.law.ou.edu/ushistory/mayflow.shtml
2. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3577
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3578
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3579
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3581
October 6 - Salem in the movies – Movie and discussion: “The Crucible” (1996,
Nicholas Hytner, Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder)
1. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3582
October 13 – Patterns of Change, Exceptionalism in the Colonies
1. John Winthrop (1630) "City Upon a Hill”
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/winthrop.htm
2. Crevecour, “Letters from an American Farmer” (1782) read Letter III, paragraphs
49-56
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~Hyper/CREV/letter03.html
3. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3576
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3583
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3590
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3591
October 20 – French and Indian War; Early American Revolution
1. Patrick Henry, “Give me Liberty, or give me Death” speech (1775)
http://www.law.ou.edu/ushistory/henry.shtml
2. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3592
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3593
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3594
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3595
October 27 – More American Revolution
1. Declaration of Independence, July 1776
http://www.law.ou.edu/ushistory/decind.shtml
2. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3213
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3214
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3215
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3216
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3217
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3218
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3219
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3220
November 3 – Articles of Confederation, Critical Period; English Writing
1. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3225
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3226
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3227
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3229
November 10 – The Constitution
1. Federalist Papers, Madison, Paper #10
http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa10.htm
2. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3231
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3233
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3237
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3238
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3240
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3241
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3242
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3243
November 17 – Mid-term examination
[post-midterm reading outline will be indicated on a revised syllabus]
November 24 – Washington’s presidency
December 1 – Jeffersonian Republicanism, War of 1812
December 8 – Jacksonian Democracy
December 15 – The American South
December 22 – Mexican War
December 29 – Impending Crisis and Lincoln’s Election
January 5 – Civil War
January 12 – Final