Skip to main content

U.S. History

Carole Schroeder, Adjunct Faculty, Asian & Eurpean History

Home
Courses

Required Texts:

James Roark, The American Promise (Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2002),

William Wheeler, Discovering the American Past (Houghton Mifflin Co., 2002)

Optional Texts:

Jacob A. Riis, How the Other Half Lives (Dover Publications, 1971, first published in 1890),

Philip Caputo, A Rumor of War (Henry Holt & Company, 1977).

(Note: Both the Riis book and the Caputo book are on a one-hour reserve in the BSU Library. The Riis book is also available on-line at the following address: http://www.cis.yale.edu/amstud/inforev/riis/title.html)

In Hist. 112, United States History we will focus on the history of America after 1877. We will approach U.S. History through the social and political framework within the context of world history during the same timeframe. There is no paper required in this class unless you are writing reaction paper(s) for extra credit. The focus, instead of on writing a paper, will be on reading the textbooks. We will begin each Tuesday with a quiz on the prior week’s assigned readings. Either nine or ten questions will be on the assigned readings; 9 or more correct answers will be an A, 8 correct a B, 7 correct a C, etc. There will be two or three additional questions over the extra credit reading. The student with the highest cumulative quiz score as of March 7 will not have to take the final exam; a different student with the highest cumulative quiz score from March 12 through May 2 also will not have to take the final exam. The final grade for both students will be cumulative quiz scores plus attendance.

We will have an open book, open note final exam; the questions are attached to this syllabus.

Optional Movie Reaction Papers: The purpose of these papers are for extra credit. I realize that sometimes it is necessary to miss a quiz, and sometimes you may earn a score on a quiz that is not up to your usual standards. These papers are your lifeline if something like that happens. Don’t bother with extra credit if you are earning all A’s. If you miss a quiz, a movie reaction paper will replace that missed quiz with a C. Only one quiz may be replaced before Tuesday, March 12, and only one additional quiz may be replaced before the end of the semester. If you want to raise a grade you received on a quiz, the Movie Reaction Paper will raise your quiz score by 2 grades; for example, from a D to a B, from a C to an A, etc. Keep in mind that these reaction papers are not reviews; they are not summaries of the plot. I will hand them back to you without credit if this is what you hand in. The papers are your reaction to the movies. Several tips: avoid the word “interesting.” Use phrases like, “In my opinion,” “I particularly enjoyed/didn’t enjoy…”, “I believe…”, “I saw ______ in this movie,” “My reaction was….”, “If I were making this movie I would do this differently, emphasize this more, etc. ….”, “Historically I think this movie….” Notice that the word “I” is prominent in a reaction paper.

Finally, this class is geared toward the serious student who regularly attends class and who completes reading assignments in a timely manner. I will take attendance each day. I strongly advise you to drop out of this class if this type of structure is not one in which you are able to function.

Grading:

Class attendance: 20% Class quizzes: 40% Final Exam 40%

Presidential Elections 1876 Rutherford B. Hayes 1880 James A. Garfield 1884 Grover Cleveland 1888 Benjamin Harrison 1892 Grover Cleveland 1896 William McKinley 1900 William McKinley 1904 Theodore Roosevelt 1908 William H. Taft 1912 Woodrow Wilson 1916 Woodrow Wilson 1920 Warren G. Harding 1924 Calvin Coolidge 1928 Herbert Hoover 1932 Franklin D. Roosevelt 1936 Franklin D. Roosevelt 1940 Franklin D. Roosevelt 1944 Franklin D. Roosevelt 1948 Harry S. Truman 1952 Dwight D. Eisenhower 1956 Dwight D. Eisenhower 1960 John F. Kennedy 1964 Lyndon B. Johnson 1968 Richard M. Nixon 1972 Richard M. Nixon 1976 Jimmy Carter 1980 Ronald Reagan 1984 Ronald Reagan 1988 George H. W. Bush 1992 William J. Clinton 1996 William J. Clinton 2000 George W. Bush

Approval of extra credit movie(s) Attach to Reaction Paper – you need my signature…
Movie #1 (Reaction Paper due date no later than Tuesday, March 12 (no extensions)
Movie I propose for extra credit:_________________________________________
This is why I believe this movie is historically beneficial to watch:

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Approval of extra credit movie(s)
Attach to Reaction Paper – you need my signature…
Movie #2 (Reaction Paper due date no later than Tuesday, May 14 (no extensions)
Movie I propose for extra credit:_________________________________________
This is why I believe this movie is historically beneficial to watch:

Schedule of Classes and Readings

Week #1
Review syllabus and course objectives; background; (No reading quiz for Week #1)

Week #2
1. Read Chapter 16, The American Promise, Roark, pages 575-613 (9 questions) 2. Extra credit: Introduction & Chapters 1 & 2, How the Other Half Lives, Jacob A. Riis, pages 1 – 17 (3 questions) 3. Tuesday Quiz #1 over Roark & Riis

Week #3
1. Read Chapter 17, The American Promise, Roark, pages 617-646 (9 questions) 2. Extra credit: Chapters 3 & 4, How the Other Half Lives, Jacob A. Riis, pages 19 – 41 (3 questions) Tuesday Quiz #2 over Roark & Riis

Week #4
1. Read Chapter 18, The American Promise, Roark, pages 651 – 680 (5 questions) 2. Read Chapter 2, Discovering the American Past, Wheeler, pages 27 – 56 (5 questions) 3. Extra credit: Chapters 5 & 6, How the Other Half Lives, Jacob A. Riis, pages 43 – 59 (2 questions) Tuesday Quiz #3 over Roark, Wheeler & Riis

Week #5
1. Read Chapter 19, The American Promise, Roark, pages 685 – 720 (5 questions) 2. Read Chapter 3, Discovering the American Past, Wheeler, pages 57-101(5 questions) 3. Extra credit: Chapters 7 & 8, How the Other Half Lives, Jacob A. Riis, pages 61 – 75 (2 questions) Tuesday Quiz #4 over Roark, Wheeler & Riis

Week #6
1. Read Chapter 20, The American Promise, Roark, pages 725 – 762 (5 questions) 2. Read Chapter 4, Discovering the American Past, Wheeler, pages 102 – 131 (5 questions) 3. Extra credit: Chapters 9 & 10, How the Other Half Lives, Jacob A. Riis, pages 77 – 95 (2 questions) Tuesday Quiz #5 over Roark, Wheeler & Riis

Week #7
1. Read Chapter 21, The American Promise, Roark, pages 769 – 805 (5 questions) 2. Read Chapter 5, Discovering the American Past, Wheeler, pages 132 – 164 (5 questions) 3. Extra credit: Chapters 11 & 12, How the Other Half Lives, Jacob A. Riis, pages 97 – 113 (2 questions) Tuesday Quiz #6 over Roark, Wheeler & Riis

Week #8 Tuesday & Thursday, March 5 & 7
By Tuesday, March 5: 1. Read Chapter 22, The American Promise, Roark, pages 811 – 850 (5 questions) 2. Read Chapter 6, Discovering the American Past, Wheeler, pages 165 – 187 (5 questions) 3. Extra credit: Chapters 13, 14 & 15 How the Other Half Lives, Jacob A. Riis, pages 115 – 143 (2 questions) Tuesday Quiz #7 over Roark, Wheeler & Riis

Week #9
1. Read Chapter 23, The American Promise, Roark, pages 855 – 892 (5 questions) 2. Read Chapter 7, Discovering the American Past, Wheeler, pages 188 – 204 (5 questions) 3. Extra credit: Chapters 16, 17 & 18, How the Other Half Lives, Jacob A. Riis, pages 145 – 169 (2 questions) Tuesday Quiz #8 over Roark, Wheeler & Riis

Week #10
1. Read Chapter 24, The American Promise, Roark, pages 897 – 937 (5 questions) 2. Read Chapter 8, Discovering the American Past, Wheeler, pages 205 – 234 (5 questions) 3. Extra credit: Chapters 19, 20 & 21, How the Other Half Lives, Jacob A. Riis, pages 171 – 199 (2 questions) Tuesday Quiz #9 over Roark, Wheeler & Riis

(Week 11) Spring Break no class

Week #12
1. Read Chapter 25, The American Promise, Roark, pages 943 – 976 (5 questions) 2. Read Chapter 9, Discovering the American Past, Wheeler, pages 235 – 252 (5 questions) 3. Extra credit: Chapters 22 – 25, How the Other Half Lives, Jacob A. Riis, pages 201 – 229 (2 questions) Tuesday Quiz #10 over Roark, Wheeler & Riis

Week #13
1. Read Chapter 26, The American Promise, Roark, pages 981 – 1016 (5 questions) 2. Read Chapter 10, Discovering the American Past, Wheeler, pages 253 – 289 (5 questions) 3. Extra credit: Chapters 22 – 25, How the Other Half Lives, Jacob A. Riis, pages 201 – 229 (2 questions) Tuesday Quiz #11 over Roark, Wheeler & Riis

Week #14
1. Read Chapter 27, The American Promise, Roark, pages 1021 – 1054 (5 questions) 2. Read Chapter 11, Discovering the American Past, Wheeler, pages 290 – 307 (5 questions) 3. Read Chapters 1 – 4, A Rumor of War, Caputo, pages 3-75 (2 questions) Tuesday Quiz #12 over Roark, Wheeler & Caputo

Week #15
1. Read Chapter 28, The American Promise, Roark, pages 1061 – 1092 (9 questions) 2. Read Chapters 5 – 9, A Rumor of War, Caputo, pages 76 – 163 (3 questions) Tuesday Quiz #13 over Roark, Wheeler & Caputo

Week #16
1. Read Chapter 29, The American Promise, Roark, pages 1097 – 1143 (9 questions) 2. Read Chapters 10 – 14, A Rumor of War, Caputo, pages 164 – 248 (3 questions) Tuesday Quiz #14 over Roark & Caputo

Week #17
1. Read Chapter 30, The American Promise, Roark, pages 1149 – 1181 (9 questions) 2. Read Chapters 15 – Epilogue, A Rumor of War, Caputo, pages 249 – 356 (3 questions) Tuesday Quiz #15 over Roark & Caputo

Final Exam

These are the questions for your final exam. It is open book, open notes. I will randomly choose one of them on May 14. You will have two hours to write your essay in one or two small bluebooks. First of all, be sure to answer the question. Many students forget the question as they write. It doesn’t work to copy passages verbatim out of your text or from other sources. Too many other students are writing the identical words. Be sure to write your answers in your own words. Remember that what is important is your analysis. You need facts to back up your ideas, but do not simply repeat dates, names, etc. Do not be brief. You will have classmates who write a great deal in great depth and they will receive higher grades than students who write shallow, brief answers. Your grade will be improved if you include class lectures and some reference to extra credit readings as well as required readings in your answers.

1. What are some implications of America being a nation of immigrants? What are the advantages? What are the disadvantages? How might the American character be different if we were had been an insular, less diverse nation throughout our history?

2. How do you believe Herbert Spencer and William Graham Sumner arrived at the concept of Social Darwinism? Were Spencer and Sumner products of their age; that is, were they influenced by the time in which they lived? Does it surprise you that Social Darwinism was accepted by the general public around the world? Why or why not?

3. Why was the United States unable to avoid becoming a participant in two world wars? Speculate how the world order might be different today if the United States had refused to enter either World War I or World War II. In your opinion, did the wars change American society?

4. Analyze General Douglas Mac Arthur’s role in American history, starting with his motives and actions in the Philippines, his motives and actions in Japan in the aftermath of World War II, and his motives and actions during the Korean War.

5. What elements of the federal government were responsible for exposing suspected subversive activities in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s? What was the result of their investigations on people and institutions in America? Do you believe a similar investigation could happen in 2002?

6. What are the reasons for student protests in the 1960s and early 1970s? If you had been a student then, would you have joined the protesters? What impact do you believe student activism had on university programs, on popular culture, and on Vietnam War policy?

7. What are some similarities of the American role in the Philippines in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century and American actions in Vietnam 70 years later? How does the reaction of the Twentieth Kansas soldiers in the Filipino village parallel actions in Vietnam 70 years later? Do you see lasting effects of the Vietnam War on American society today?

8. How did the collapse of the Soviet Union affect America’s foreign policy since 1991? What countries are the “players” in the “new world order”? Do you see some recurring themes from American history prior to 1991? How is the world different without America and the USSR competing as the only two superpowers in the world?