US History
HI301
Abigail Medford, Instructor
Course Description: This course is a chronological study of America from its colonial beginnings through the circumstances that helped shape the United States of America into a global military power.
One semester, three hours
Required Materials:
- A Patriot’s History of the United States, 15th Anniversary Edition by Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen
- The Patriot’s History Reader by Larry Schweikart, Michael Allen, and Dave Dougherty
Grading Distribution:
- Papers, 40%
- Quizzes, 20%
- Required reading, 10%
- Essays, 20%
- Notes, 10%
General Requirements
- Watch each lecture, in order, and take notes. These notes must be typed and emailed to the instructor per the assignment
- Complete and email the homework essay question upon completion of each lecture. The essay question will be assigned and explained during each
- Complete reading assignments from The Patriot’s History Reader, when assigned during the lecture.
- All assignments (including notes) must be typed and submitted by email to [email protected]. Assignments should be written in an 11-point simple font (e.g., no Papyrus or Edwardian Script) with 1.5 spacing and standard margins on all sides. Please include a standard NFBC title
- Assignments must be submitted on schedule. Late assignments will not be
Grading Guidelines for Assignments:
- A+ — all parts of the question answered thoroughly and logically and clearly went above and beyond. No formatting/spelling/grammatical
- A-B — all parts of the question answered thoroughly and logically. Some spelling/grammatical/formatting
- C-D — all parts of the question answered thoroughly, but with logical faults. Many spelling/grammatical/formatting
- F — incomplete and/or clearly lazy. Excessive spelling/grammatical/formatting
Assignment Schedule
Lecture 1 – Introduction
Lectures 2-3 – Chapter 1, The City on the Hill Lectures 4-5 – Chapter 2, Colonial Adolescence
Quiz: Lectures 1-5
Lectures 6-7 – Chapter 3, Colonies No More Lectures 8-9 – Chapter 4, A Nation of Law
Paper topic: How was George Washington uniquely suited to be the Father of Our Country? (1 page) Lectures 1-9 notes due
Lectures 10-11 – Chapter 5, Small Republic, Big Shoulders
Quiz: Lectures 6-11
Lectures 12-13 – Chapter 6, The Promise and Perils of Jackson’s America Lectures 14-15 – Chapter 7, Red Foxes and Bear Flags
Paper topic: Give a history of the Second Great Awakening, listing at least six influential leaders or groups. What was the historical, social, musical, and spiritual impact of this movement? (1 page)
Lectures 16-17 – Chapter 8, The House Divided
Quiz: Lectures 16-17
Lectures 18-19 – Chapter 9, The Crisis of the Union
Lectures 20-21 – Chapter 10, Ideals and Realities of Reconstruction
Midterm topic: Beginning with our nation’s founding on July 4, 1776, detail some specific times that the United States government attempted to deal with the issue of slavery. Were these measures successful? Why or why not? Do you believe the United States government had the constitutional right to make laws regarding slavery in the states and territories? Why or why not? (3 pages)
Lectures 10-20 notes due
Lectures 22-23 – Chapter 11, Lighting Out for the Territories
Quiz: Lectures 18-23
Lectures 24-25 – Chapter 12, Sinews of Democracy Lecture 26 – Chapter 13, “Building Best, Building Greatly”
Paper topic: Choose one of the captains of industry listed on page 447. Give a brief biography of him, making sure to include his historical significance. (1 page)
Lectures 27-28 – Chapter 14, “War, Wilson, and Internationalism”
Quiz, Lectures 27-28
Lecture 29 – Chapter 15, “The Roaring Twenties and the Great Crash” Lecture 30 – Chapter 16, “Enlarging the Public Sector”
Lectures 31-32 – Chapter 17, “Democracy’s Finest Hour”
Quiz, Lectures 29-32
Lecture 33 – Chapter 18, “America’s Happy Days” Lecture 34 – Chapter 19, “The Age of Upheaval”
Paper topic: How did Lyndon Baines Johnson’s War on Poverty devalue the family unit and reward immoral behavior? What are some of the fruits of this program in our modern era? In your opinion, did Lyndon Baines Johnson win or lose the War on Poverty? Why or why not? (1 page)
Lecture 35 – Chapter 20, “Retreat and Resurrection” Lectures 36-37 – Chapter 21, “The Moral Crossroads” Lecture 38 – Chapter 22, “Decline and Restoration”
Quiz: Lectures 33-38
Lecture 39 – Conclusion
Final paper topic: Conservative public opinion often ranks Washington, Lincoln, and Reagan as the top three American Presidents. Accepting these rankings, who would you personally place in the fourth, fifth, and sixth positions? Defend your rankings.
(3 pages)
Lectures 31-39 notes due