History 152-2: United States since 1877
Spring 2013 ● Monday/Wednesday/Friday ● 7:30-8:20am
UNIV 101
Instructor: Patrick A. Pospisek
Email: [email protected]
Office: REC 403
Office Hours: Wed., 8:30-10am
or by appointment
Course Objectives:
1. To expand students’ familiarity with American history.
2. To develop students’ ability to think critically about the past.
3. To build and enhance students’ ability to discuss complex issues with historical evidence.
Required Texts:
James Oakes, et al., Of the People Vol. 2, Concise Second Edition (ISBN: 9780199924752)
James Welch, Killing Custer (ISBN: 9780393329391)
Paul Chaat Smith & Robert Allen Warrior, Like a Hurricane (ISBN: 9781565844025)
Assignments & Grading:
Book Review I
Exam I
Book Review II
Exam II (Final)
Reading Quizzes
Total:



20%
20%
25%
25%
10%
100%
Book Reviews (20% & 25%): Students will write a 3-5 page review for each of the two
monographs assigned over the course of the semester. Review papers must be typed
double-spaced using standard one inch margins and 12-point font size. Papers will be
submitted through Blackboard. Missed review papers may be turned in late with a one
letter-grade penalty for each day that has elapsed since the due date. For purposes of this
course, the close of the due date’s class session begins “day two” and papers received
after class on the due date will be subject to the one letter-grade penalty. Additional
details & instructions will be distributed in class previous to the due dates.
Exams (20% & 25%): Over the course of the semester, there will be one in-class exam
and a final, each covering roughly half the course material. Each exam will be composed
of 1) a major essay question based on themes and problems covered in the books and
lectures & 2) other short questions as decided upon by the instructor. The exams will not
be cumulative, per se, but an understanding of the broader context of the course will
always be beneficial. Possible exam questions and/or a study guide will be distributed
the week before each exam. Exams may not be made-up without a formally documented
excused absence.
Reading Quizzes (2% each): To reward attendance and diligent reading, there will be
five pop quizzes on the readings distributed randomly throughout the semester. Quiz
formats may vary but you may expect them to be short. Quizzes may not be made-up
without a formally documented excused absence.
Course Schedule
Week:
One:
Two:
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven:
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen:
Date:
Mon. 1/7
Wed. 1/9
Fri. 1/11
Mon. 1/14
Wed. 1/16
Fri. 1/18
Mon. 1/21
Wed. 1/23
Fri. 1/25
Mon. 1/28
Wed. 1/30
Fri. 2/1
Mon. 2/4
Wed. 2/6
Fri. 2/8
Mon. 2/11
Wed. 2/13
Fri. 2/15
Mon. 2/18
Wed. 2/20
Fri. 2/22
Mon. 2/25
Wed. 2/27
Fri. 3/1
Mon. 3/4
Wed. 3/6
Fri. 3/8
3/11-3/15
Mon. 3/18
Wed. 3/20
Fri. 3/22
Mon. 3/25
Wed. 3/27
Fri. 3/29
Mon. 4/1
Wed. 4/3
Fri. 4/5
Mon. 4/8
Wed. 4/10
Fri. 4/12
Mon. 4/15
Wed. 4/17
Fri. 4/19
Mon. 4/22
Wed. 4/24
Fri. 4/26
TBA
Topic:
Introduction
The Civil War & Reconstruction
An Uneasy Peace
The Rise of Big Business
Work in the Late 19th Century
Immigration and Immigrant Culture
MLK Day-NO CLASS
Chicago Triumphs Over Nature
Beer, Part I
The West
Competing Visions of the West: Twain v. Turner
Discussion, Book Review I Due
Solidarity Forever: Labor Politics to 1900
The Populists
The Rise of Jim Crow
Race in the North: 1908’s Springfield Race Riot
Executive Powers: Government in Flux
The U.S. Gains an Empire
America Becomes Urban
The Progressives
Environmentalism?
WWI
Review
Exam I
The 19th Amendment: Women’s suffrage at last
Making Modern America: The 1920s
TBA
Spring Break-NO CLASS
The Crash and The Great Depression
A Chicken in Every Pot: The New Deal
New Deal Reactions & Government Redefined
A World on the Brink
Double V and Rosie: WWII at Home
TBA
Containment: The Early Cold War
Bowling Alleys, Diners, and Trailer Parks
Affluence and Anxiety: American in 1950
The Other 1950s and Birth of “the Sixties”
Rebirth of the Women’s Movement
Civil Rights
Two Societies
Discussion, Book Review II Due
The Urban Crisis
Beer, Part II
Rise of Conservatism
Review
Final
Reading Assignment:
Skim Chap. 16
Chapter 18
Chapter 17
Killing Custer
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Like A Hurricane
Chapter 29
Skim Chapter 30
Disclaimers:
Attendance & Make-up Policy:
Attendance will not be taken during class sessions and will not formally contribute to final
grades. Please note that regular attendance is strongly encouraged and necessary to receive the
full percentage for reading quizzes. Make-ups will not be allowed without formal, written
documentation from the university or a doctor. Students planning to be absent for university
sponsored activities must provide documentation to the instructor in advance of the planned
absence. Students wishing to make-up assignments for any reason must provide documentation
to and make arrangements with the instructor as soon as possible following the excused absence
or risk a lower grade on the made-up assignment. Students must contact the Dean of Students’
Office for the appropriate documentation regarding family emergencies, bereavement, etc.
(http://www.purdue.edu/odos/)
Cheating / Plagiarism:
Plagiarism refers to the reproduction of another's words or ideas without proper attribution.
Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are serious offenses, and will be treated as
such in this class. You are expected to produce your own work and to accurately cite all
necessary materials. Cheating, plagiarism, and other dishonest practices will be punished as
harshly as Purdue University policies allow. Gross and/or blatant instances of academic
dishonesty will result in a grade of F for the assignment and notification of the Dean of Students
Office. Additional information on Purdue’s academic dishonestly policy can be found at:
http://www.purdue.edu/univregs/studentconduct/
Disclaimer:
In the event of a major campus emergency, the above requirements, deadlines and grading
policies are subject to changes that may be required by a revised semester calendar. Any such
changes in this course will be sent via email once the course resumes or can be obtained by
contacting the instructor via email.