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HIST 021: AMERICAN CIVILIZATION SINCE 1877
SEMESTER SYLLABUS
Instructor: Assistant Professor Joy M. Giguere
Office: GIST 219
Office Phone: (717) 771-8449
E-mail: jmg66@psu.edu
Office Hours: Monday, Noon-1:30PM; Wednesday, Noon-1:30PM; Friday, Noon-1PM
Class Time & Location: MWF 9-9:50AM (Section 1); MWF 11-11:50AM (Section 2)
COURSE DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES: This course covers major themes in modern American history
including the post-Civil War period, western expansion, industrial growth of the nation and its effects,
immigration and urban discontent and attempts at reform, World War I, the Roaring Twenties, social and
governmental changes of the thirties, World War II and its consequences, the growth of the federal
government, social upheaval in the sixties and seventies, and recent trends in conservatism, globalization,
and cultural diversity. By the end of the semester, in addition to having a firm grasp of the contents of these
themes, students will also be expected to be able to critically read, analyze and write about primary and
secondary documents and what they tell us about the past; be able to weigh different kinds of information
and make coherent arguments regarding major historical themes; as well as be able to critically analyze an
historical monograph on a particular theme.
REQUIRED COURSE READINGS: The following books will be required for the completion of reading
and writing assignments. They may be purchased at the campus bookstore.
Elizabeth Cobbs Hoffman and Jon Gjerde, Major Problems in American History, Volume
II: Since 1865, 3rd Edition (Houghton-Mifflin); ISBN-13: 978-1-111-34316-3
Chase, Marilyn, The Barbary Plague, 3rd Edition (Random House); ISBN-13: 978-0-37575708-2
The following book is strongly recommended, albeit not required for the course. I largely consider a general
history textbook as supplemental to the lectures, but students may find it useful to be able to read the weekly
chapters before reading their primary documents in Major Problems in order to have a greater sense of the
historical context for their documents.
Henretta, James, America: A Concise History, Volume II: Since 1865, 5th Edition
(Macmillan); ISBN-13: 978-0-312-64329-4
These books will also be available on reserve at the Penn State York Library the semester, so if you choose
not to purchase the books, you can still keep up on assignments. As these books are available at the library,
there is NO excuse for not completing reading/writing assignments!
ASSIGNMENTS & GRADING: The semester grade will be based upon performance in the following
categories: class participation, short (1-2 page) weekly papers, a 4-6 page paper on Marilyn Chase’s The
Barbary Plague, and 3 semester exams. Your final grade will be determined according to the percentages in
the following categories, NOT out of a running total of points.
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Class Participation (20% of semester grade): It is of the utmost importance that students attend every class
meeting. However, class participation goes beyond simple attendance. This portion of the grade is based
upon the student’s level of engagement in the class, including asking questions, discussing readings and
sharing ideas.
Weekly Document Analysis Papers (30% of semester grade): Throughout the semester, students will
complete readings in Hoffman and Gjerde’s Major Problems in American History. For each chapter, students
will read a variety of primary documents and secondary scholarly essays. Please refer to the instructions at
the end of the Syllabus for this assignment.
Historical Monograph Paper (20% of semester grade): Students will be required to Marilyn Chase’s The
Barbary Plague on their own throughout the semester. Students will then need to write a 4-6 page analysis of
the book and how the material it discusses fits in within the broader context of American History. This paper
will be due at the end of the semester.
Exams (10% x 3 = 30% of semester grade): There will be three examinations throughout the course, each of
which will include a take-home essay portion and an in-class short answer identification portion.
GRADING:
On any given writing-based assignment, content (that is, what you know) will be graded most heavily.
However, poor writing (grammar, spelling, punctuation), will negatively affect your grade. Late assignments
will be accepted within two weeks of the assignment’s due date, with 10 points taken off for each week late.
If an assignment is more than two weeks late, it will NOT be accepted for credit.
If you must miss a class, you may e-mail me your weekly paper so that it is counted as on-time; however,
you must hand a hardcopy in to me at the next class meeting for the assignment to receive full credit.
All late or extra credit work must be handed in to me, in hardcopy, NO LATER than the last week of lectures
BEFORE finals week.
All grading will be done according to a 100-point scale. Numeric Grade Breakdown:
93-100
A
90-92
A87-89
B+
84-86
B
80-83
B77-79
C+
70-76
C
60-69
D
0-59
F
EXTRA CREDIT:
Students will have the option to write extra credit primary document papers. For any given week in which
more than one chapter of Major Problems is assigned, students may write an additional primary document
paper to count as extra credit. Extra credit will be applied at the end of the semester in the case of a
borderline grade – in other words, if a student’s final grade comes within 1 point of the next higher grade, the
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extra credit will be applied to “bump” the final grade up (For example, if the final grade is a 79 and the
student has done extra credit papers, they will receive a B- for the semester instead of a C+).
MAKE-UP & ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Only one test a semester (either the first exam or the midterm) may be made up. If you know you will
have to miss a test, you must make arrangements with the instructor before the test date in order to take the
test at an alternate time. In an emergency situation (i.e. flat tire, emergency room visit) you must contact the
instructor via means outlined in the syllabus to make arrangements to make up the test. Arrangements to
make up a test must be made with the instructor within one week of the original date of the test. There is no
make-up for the Final Exam. The semester is over.
Being late or not attending class will negatively affect your grade. Missing 25% of the class may result
in failure of the course due to missed instruction and missed work that cannot be made up. You are
responsible for all missed material due to any absences, and there is no make-up for absence from class.
In case of a documentable emergency, the policies may be adjusted at the discretion of the instructor.
ACADEMIC HONESTY STATEMENT:
Penn State defines academic integrity as the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and
responsible manner. All students should act with personal integrity, respect other students’ dignity, rights and
property, and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their
efforts (Faculty Senate Policy 49-20).
Dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated in this course. Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to,
cheating, plagiarizing, fabricating information or citations, facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others,
having unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work of another person or work previously used
without informing the instructor, or tampering with the academic work of other students. Students who are
found to be dishonest will receive academic sanctions and will be reported to the University’s Judicial
Affairs office for possible further disciplinary sanction.
RIGHT OF REVISION:
It remains at the discretion of the instructor to alter assignments, exams and meeting agenda as outlined in
this syllabus.
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE:
Cell phones MUST be turned off or put on vibrate mode. Text messaging is NOT allowed during class – it
is rude. You must gain permission from the instructor if you wish to use your laptop or tablet to take notes
during the class.
DISABILITY SERVICES:
It is Penn State York's policy to not discriminate against qualified students with documented disabilities. If
you have a disability-related need for accommodations in this course, please contact your instructor during
the first week of class. You may also wish to contact Dr. Dzubak in the Nittany Success Center (771- 4013
and cmd14@psu.edu ) for assistance with testing accommodations that extend beyond the scope of the
instructor.
CAMPUS CLOSURE STATEMENT:
In the event of a campus closure, course requirements, classes, deadlines and grading schemes are subject to
changes that may include alternative delivery methods, alternative methods of interaction with the instructor,
class materials, and/or classmates, a revised attendance policy, and a revised semester calendar and/or
grading scheme. Information about course changes will be communicated through [ANGEL, e-mail, etc….]
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For notification about campus closures, please refer to Penn State York’s website at
http://www.yk.psu.edu , call the weather hotline at 717 771-4079, or sign up for live text messages at
PSUAlert (https://psualert.psu.edu/psualert/ ). This is a service designed to alert the Penn State community
via text messages to cell phones when situations arise on campus that affect the ability of the campus students, faculty and staff - to function normally.
SEMESTER SCHEDULE:
WEEK 1
Monday (8/25) – Introductions & Syllabus Overview
Wednesday (8/27) – What is History?
Friday (8/29) – Class Discussion of Diane F. Britton’s “Public History and Public Memory,” The
Public Historian 19:3 (Summer 1997), 11-23 (This article is available through the
Library Course Reserves in Angel)
Assignment for Friday: Public History Paper (1-2 pages)
Questions to address in this paper: What is Britton’s argument? What kinds of examples does she use
to support her argument? Conclude with a paragraph in which you reflect about the ways in which
you interact with history in your own daily life.
WEEK 2
Monday (9/1) – NO CLASS (LABOR DAY)
Wednesday (9/3) – Memory & The Civil War
Friday (9/5) – The Agony of Reconstruction (Begin)
WEEK 3
Monday (9/8) – More Agony of Reconstruction
Wednesday (9/10) – The Agonizing Finale to Reconstruction
Friday (9/12) – Document Discussion of Major Problems, Chapter 1
Readings for Class: Major Problems, Chapter 1, pp.1-36; America: A Concise History, Chapter 15
(Optional)
Assignment for Friday: Primary Document Analysis on Chapter 1 of Major Problems
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WEEK 4
Monday (9/15) – Westward Expansion
Wednesday (9/17) – Plague & Persecution
Friday (9/19) – Document Discussion of Major Problems, Chapter 2
Readings for Class: Major Problems, Chapter 2, pp.37-69; Begin Chase’s The Barbary Plague for
Wednesday’s Q&A; America: A Concise History, Chapter 16 (Optional)
Assignment for Friday: Primary Document Analysis on Chapter 2 of Major Problems
WEEK 5
Monday (9/22) – Industrial Capitalism & Class Conflict
Wednesday (9/24) – Urban Expansion
Friday (9/26) – Document Discussion of Major Problems, Chapter 3
Readings for Class: Major Problems, Chapter 3, pp.70-104; America: A Concise History, Chapters 17
& 19 (Optional)
Assignment for Friday: PDA on Chapter 3 of Major Problems
WEEK 6
Monday (9/29) – The Rise of Jim Crow
Wednesday (10/1) – The Populist Movement
Friday (10/3) – American Imperialism & Document Discussion for Major Problems, Chapter 4
Readings for Class: Major Problems, Chapter 4, pp.105-131; America: A Concise History, Chapter
20 (Optional)
Assignment for Friday: PDA on Chapter 4 of Major Problems
WEEK 7
Monday (10/6) – EXAM #1
Wednesday (10/8) – The Progressive Era
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Friday (10/10) – Document Discussion for Major Problems, Chapter 5
Readings for Class: Major Problems, Chapter 5, pp.133-163; America: A Concise History, Chapters
18 & 20 (Optional)
WEEK 8
Monday (10/13) – World War I
Wednesday (10/15) – Spanish Influenza
Friday (10/17) – Document Discussion for Major Problems, Chapter 6
Readings for Class: Major Problems, Chapter 6, pp.164-192; America: A Concise History, Chapter
21 (Optional)
Assignment for Friday: PDA on Chapter 6 of Major Problems
WEEK 9
Monday (10/20) –The Roaring Twenties & Conservative Backlash; The Great Depression
Wednesday (10/22) – Conservative Backlash: Resurgence of the KKK & The Scopes Trial
Friday (10/24) – Document Discussion for Major Problems, Chapter 7
Readings for Class: Major Problems, Chapter 7, pp.193-227; America: A Concise History, Chapter
22 (Optional)
Assignment for Friday: PDA on Chapter 7 of Major Problems
WEEK 10
Monday (10/27) – The Great Depression
Wednesday (10/29) – FDR’s New Deal
Friday (10/31) – Document Discussion for Major Problems, Chapter 8
Readings for Class: Major Problems, Chapter 8, pp.228-263; America: A Concise History, Chapter
23 (Optional)
Assignment for Friday: PDA on Chapter 8 of Major Problems
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WEEK 11
Monday (11/3) – Background on WWII
Wednesday (11/5) – America in WWII
Friday (11/7) – Document Discussion for Major Problems, Chapter 9
Readings for Class: Major Problems, Chapter 9, pp.264-296; America: A Concise History, Chapter
24 (Optional)
Assignment for Friday: PDA on Chapter 9 of Major Problems
WEEK 12
Monday (11/10) – EXAM #2
Wednesday (11/12) – Origins of the Cold War
Friday (11/14) – Document Discussion for Major Problems, Chapter 10
Readings for Class: Major Problems, Chapter 10, pp.297-329; America: A Concise History, Chapter
25 (Optional)
WEEK 13
Monday (11/17) – 1950s America
Wednesday (11/19) – To Boldly Go…
Friday (11/21) – Civil Rights: The Beginning
Readings for Class: Major Problems, Chapters 11-12, pp.330-395; America: A Concise History,
Chapters 26-27 (Optional)
Assignment for Friday: PDA on Chapter 11 or 12 of Major Problems
THANKSGIVING BREAK (11/22-11/30) – NO CLASS!
WEEK 14
Monday (12/1) – Civil Rights for All(?)
Wednesday (12/3) – Vietnam
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Friday (12/5) – Document Discussion for Major Problems, Chapters 13 & 14
Readings for Class: Major Problems, Chapters 13-14, pp.396-451; America: A Concise History,
Chapter 28 (Optional)
Assignment for Friday: BARBARY PLAGUE PAPERS ARE DUE!!!
WEEK 15
Monday (12/8) – Nixon & 1970s Disillusionment
Wednesday (12/10) – The New Right
Friday (12/12) – Globalization & The New American Imperialism
Readings for Class: Major Problems, Chapters 15-16, pp.452-523; America: A Concise History,
Chapters 29-31 (Optional)
Assignment for Friday: PDA on Chapter 15 or 16 of Major Problems
Any extra credit PDAs for the semester MUST be handed in by this Friday’s class!
WEEK 16
Monday (12/15) – FINAL EXAM
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUR WEEKLY PRIMARY DOCUMENT ANALYSIS:
Each week, you will read one (or more) assigned chapters in Hoffman & Gjerde’s Major Problems in
American History. The object of this weekly assignment is to help you get acquainted with the idea of not
only reading primary documents, but analyzing what they mean in the time period and context in which they
were written. When reading primary documents from the past, we are striving to get an idea as to what
people were thinking and how they were responding to the world around them.
For each week’s paper, I want you to choose three documents and one quote from each on which to
focus your analysis. This does not need to be formatted as a traditional paper, but rather what I want you to
do is to
1) Type out the quote (including quotation marks and a page number in parentheses at the end of the
sentence)
2) In a separate paragraph, explain who the author is and what is the context in which they wrote the
document. Then be sure to explain the specific significance of the quote you chose – what is the
meaning of this statement? What does it reveal about the author’s perspective? What does it tell us
about that person, or the issues that were relevant during that particular time period?
The final component of your weekly assignment will involve the end-of-chapter scholarly essays
(there are always two in each chapter). I want you to choose one quote from one of the two essays that you
feel best expresses the author’s overall argument (that is, what is the point of the essay?). Then, based upon
your knowledge of having read the primary documents earlier in the chapter, briefly explain whether the
historical evidence supports or refutes the point being made in the essay.
So in all, each week, you will choose a total of four quotes for analysis and provide four
accompanying paragraphs. These should not be overly long writing assignments – try to keep it to about two
pages (Times New Roman font, size 12, 1-inch margins).