History of the United States Since 1876

HISTORY 1302
INSTRUCTORS CLASS REQUIREMENTS
Instructor: James Withers, Jr.
Semester: Spring, 2014
Adjunct Faculty, History Department

Required Text:

You should have a copy of the text: Alan Brinkley, The Unfinished Nation A Concise
History of the American People, 7
th
Edition

Class Focus- Course Description:
HIST 1302 United States History II
A survey of the social, political, economic, cultural and intellectual history of the United
States from the Civil War/Reconstruction era to the present. United States History II
examines industrialization, immigration, world wars, the Great Depression, Cold War,
and post-Cold War eras. Themes that may be addressed in United States History II
include: American culture, religion, civil and human rights, technological change,
economic change, immigration and migration, urbanization and suburbanization, the
expansion of the federal government, and the study of United States foreign policy.
Prerequisite: RDNG 0361 or RDNG 0363 with a grade of C, plus achieve 11 th grade
level score on Nelson-Denny, or an approved alternative.
COURSE TYPE Academic Core
COURSE GOALS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
Course goals are linked to required Core Curriculum Intellectual Competencies,
Perspectives, and Exemplary Educational Objectives as defined by the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board. Specific core requirements are linked to the class
schedule.



Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
1. Create an argument through the use of historical evidence by using appropriate reading,
listening, writing and critical analysis skills. The student will be able to
a. comprehend text materials and other documents;
b. Demonstrate an understanding of lectures, presentations, and film;
c. Prepare written work as assigned.

2. Analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources. The student will be able to
a. Comprehend primary and secondary sources as part of a larger
understanding of the discipline of history and how historians work;
b. Demonstrate an understanding of various interpretations of specified
historical events.

3. Analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, cultural and global forces
on this period of United States history. The student will be able to
a. Explain the impact of industrialization and the growth of big business in the
late nineteenth century;
b. Summarize the causes and results of the Spanish-American War in terms of
United States global power and acquisition of territory;
c. Demonstrate an understanding of the Populist and Progressive political
movements and their impact on United States politics in the twentieth
century;
d. Explain the causes of the Great Depression and the impact of the New Deal
on American life, attitudes, and politics;
e. Explain evolving post-World War II politics, from the idealism of the 1960s
to the neo-conservatism of the 1980s;
f. Describe the Watergate scandal, its impact on the American presidency, and
the role played by the media in American politics during Watergate and since
the resignation of Richard Nixon.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the social growth and development of the United
States during this period. The student will be able to
a. Describe the impact of post-Civil War segregation on Americans in general
and African-Americans specifically;
b. Trace the evolution of the Civil Rights Movement from the beginning of the
twentieth century through the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights
Act of 1965, with emphasis on the events of the 1950s and 1960s that
generally define the movement;
c. Describe post-Civil War immigration trends as well as the accompanying
issues faced by the United States as a result of a large population of arriving
immigrants from both Europe and Asia;
d. Explain the growth and impact of mass media from the 1890s to the present,
including but not limited to yellow journalism, muckrakers and investigative
journalism, and the role of radio and television during the twentieth century;
e. Describe the cultural and political impact of late twentieth century
movements involving civil rights of minority groups such as women,
Hispanics, Native Americans and homosexuals.

5. Demonstrate an understanding of how history is related to other disciplines. The
student will be able to
a. Comprehend the relationship of history to economics;
b. Comprehend the relationship of history to sociology;
c. Comprehend the relationship of history to psychology;
d. Comprehend the relationship of history to literature;
e. Comprehend the relationship of history to philosophy;
f. Comprehend the relationship of history to the arts;
g. Comprehend the relationship of history to other relevant disciplines.

6. Demonstrate an understanding of the United States place in a global society, both
historically and as a prelude for understanding both the present and the future. The student
will be able to
a. Explain the causes and consequences of American involvement in World
War I and World War II;
b. Explain the cultural and political impact of the Cold War (c. 1947-1989)
between the United States and the Soviet Union, including the conflicts of
Korea and Vietnam;
c. Analyze the role of the United States in the world during the twentieth
century through examinations of selected United States Presidential
administrations.

COURSE ASSESSMENT
Student success is measured by assessment techniques aligned with course goals and
learning outcomes. A variety of techniques may be used, including but not limited to
objective exams, essay exams, written reports, written journals, oral presentations, and
group projects. Individual faculty members are responsible for designing evaluation
instruments to measure student mastery of course goals and learning outcomes and for
indicating the nature of such evaluation instruments in the instructors class requirements.
SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY
Students are responsible for adhering to the TCCD policy on scholastic dishonesty as
stated in the outline student handbook at www.tccd.edu

RESOURCES
For additional information regarding the student handbook, academic calendar, course
evaluations, attendance policy, SCANS skills, Core Competencies, etc. see www.tccd.edu

Instructional Method
The class format is lecture/discussion. There will also be video presentations.
Examinations will be given in class in accordance with the Testing Schedule. Make-up
examinations will not be allowed. Students who miss assignments are directed toward
extra credit assignments to regain lost credit.


Text Reference Material

You should have a copy of the text: Alan Brinkley, The Unfinished Nation A Concise
History of the American People, 7
th
Edition


Grading Practices

Your grade will be determined by the traditional grading scale. Letter grades will follow
a percentage breakdown which will correspond to a point system.

90% = A 90 100 900 or more points
80% = B 80 - 89 800-899 points
70% = C 70 - 79 700-799 points
60% = D 60 - 69 600-699 points
F Below 60 599 or less points


Your grade will be based on 1,000 points. You will acquire points by completing graded
assignments which include tests, quizzes, and projects. There will be 3 multiple choice
exams worth 100 points each. The final exam will be a 4
th
exam and it will be
comprehensive. It will be worth an additional 100 points. We will have 15 quizzes
worth 20 points each for a total of 300 points. There will also be homework which will
be valued at 200 points. Additional assignments which will add to your grade will be an
essay which is valued at 100 points, and optional extra credit assignments which you may
complete, if you want. Failure to take an exam or complete an assignment or quiz will
result in a failing grade for that test or assignment. Failure to take the final examination
will result in a 0 for the examination grade. Here is a breakdown of assignments and
maximum points you can earn:

Test #1 100 points
Test #2 100 points
Test #3 100 points
Test #4 100 points
15 Quizzes 300 points
Homework 200 points
Essay 100 points

Total 1,000 points

Tests

There will be four tests. Test #1 will consist of 100 multiple choice questions @ 1 point
each, from chapters 15-18.

Test #2 will consist of 100 multiple choice questions @ 1 point each from chapters 19-
22.

Test #3 will consist of 100 multiple choice questions @ 1 point each from chapters 23-
26.

Test #4 (Final Examination) will be comprehensive and consist of 100 multiple choice
questions @1 point each from chapters 15-32.

Classroom Assignments/Quizzes:

This is work to be completed in class. There will be 15 assignments worth 20 points
each.

Essay

There will be one essay worth 100 points. The subject of the essay will regard President
Franklin Delano Roosevelts New Deal policy, which represented a controversial remedy
to cure the ills of the Great Depression. Not everyone was impressed with FDRs way of
coping with the Depression. And in fact, Roosevelt did not have a coherent plan, or a
fully developed set of ideas about how the U.S. economy worked and how it could be
reformed. His approach was, as he put it, to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it
frankly and try another. Within the context of his reform policy, Roosevelt said the
following in a 1932 speech: The country needs, and unless I mistake its temper, the
country demands bold, persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method
and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.
What were some of the experiments that Roosevelt tried to implement in his efforts to
help the country? Who were some of Roosevelts critics, and what did they say? Do you
agree with Roosevelts idea here about common sense? (NOTE: An expression of
your personal opinion will be a vital element of this essay.)

The essay is to be typewritten, double-spaced and should be 2 to 2 pages in length.
Your essay should be constructed with a thesis statement or introduction. You should
support that statement and finally, reach a conclusion. Essays should be neat and follow
a legitimate academic format, as directed by your instructor. Your essay should contain
your name, the title of the essay followed by the essay narrative. No cover page or other
superfluous data is required. You should also include a minimum of three works cited.

Your work should be stapled at the top of the page on the left side. Spelling, punctuation
and neat appearance will be considered. This should be your most professional work.
You should make a point, support that point, and then finalize your report.


Homework Project:

This assignment will be submitted in four increments. There will be 20 separate topics to
be reported by the student. These will be submitted in increments of 5 as directed below:

HOMEWORK TOPICSFirst Batch (DUE 2/3)
1. Radical Republicans
2. Compromise of 1877
3. Andrew Carnegie
4. W.E.B. Du Bois
5. Populism

HOMEWORK TOPICSSecond Batch (DUE 3/3)
6. Theodore Roosevelt
7. Imperialism
8. Woman Suffrage
9. Woodrow Wilson
10. The Scopes Trial

HOMEWORK TOPICSThird Batch (DUE 4/7)
11. The Great Depression
12. Franklin D. Roosevelt
13. Attack on Pearl Harbor
14. Harry S. Truman
15. The Cold War

HOMEWORK TOPICSFourth Batch (DUE 4/30)
16. The Cuban Missile Crisis
17. Martin Luther King, Jr.
18. Nixons Resignation
19. Ronald Reagan
20. September 11, 2001

The student should record entries regarding each of the above topics. This project should
be brought to class on the due dates listed above. The maximum grade for the project is
200 points or 10 points for each topic. This project should be handwritten in a
notebook or written on individual 8 X 10 notebook paper. You should complete at least
one complete page regarding each topic. You may write on the back of the paper.






Mandatory Attendance Policy
Regular and punctual class attendance is expected at
Tarrant County College. Student absences will be recorded
from the first day the class meets. In case of absence, it is
the student's responsibility to contact the instructor.
Students absent on official school business are entitled to
make up coursework missed. In all other cases, the
instructor will judge whether the student will be
permitted to make up work and will decide on the time
and nature of the makeup. However, the student is
expressly responsible for any work missed regardless of
the cause of the absence. The student must discuss such
work with the instructor and should do so immediately on
returning to school. Communication between the student
and instructor is most important, and it is the student's
responsibility to initiate such communication. If students
do not appear at the prearranged time for makeup work,
they forfeit their rights for further makeup of that work.
Students who stop attending class for any reason should
contact the instructor and the Registrars office to officially
withdraw from the class. Failure to officially withdraw may
result in a failing grade for the course. Your adherence to
this policy will be appreciated.
Withdrawal Procedures

Regular attendance is expected and recorded. However, if you are unable to complete the
course, it is your responsibility to drop officially. Withdrawal is a formal procedure
which you must initiate. I cannot do it for you. If you stop attending class and do not
withdraw you will receive a performance grade, usually an F. Students often drop
courses when help is available that would enable them to continue. I hope you will
discuss your plans with me if you feel the need to withdraw.




Make-Up Examinations

Make-up examinations are given only in cases of unavoidable absence and only with
individual approval by the instructor. Such cases would be extreme personal illness,
employment conflicts, family tragedy, etc. Most cases will require written verification of
reason for absence. Make-up exams will be arranged on an individual basis. Makeup
work generally will not be allowed. The student is directed toward completing extra
credit assignments to makeup missed points.

The course is divided into four units. You will pace yourself in completing the units.
Reading assignments and test dates are as follows:



UNIT ONE (EXAM 1)

The Unfinished Nation, Chapters 15, 16, 17, and 18




UNIT TWO (EXAM 2)

The Unfinished Nation, Chapters 19, 20, 21 and 22




UNIT THREE (EXAM 3)

The Unfinished Nation, Chapters 23, 24, 25 and 26




UNIT FOUR (EXAM 4)

The Unfinished Nation, Chapters 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32


FINAL EXAM (EXAM 5)

The Unfinished Nation, Chapters 15-32


Last day to drop is April 12
th
.


Tentative Course Calendar, organized by date & topic:


1/13 1/15 Intro, Reconstruction
1/20 MLK Day no class
1/22 The Lure of the West
1/27 Industrialization
1/29 The Labor Movement & the New Urban Nation
2/3 Review Exam 1 FIRST BATCH OF HOMEWORK TOPICS DUE
2/5 Exam 1
2/10 2/12 Populism/Imperialism
2/17 2/19 The Progressive Movement/National Reform
2/24 2/26 World War I
3/3 Review Exam 2 SECOND BATCH OF HOMEWORK TOPICS DUE
3/5 Exam 2
SPRING BREAK
3/17 3/19 The 1920s/The Great Depression
3/24 3/26 The New Deal/Global Concerns
3/31 4/2 World War II
4/7 Review Exam 3 THIRD BATCH OF HOMEWORK TOPICS DUE
4/09 Exam 3
4/14 The Cold War Era
4/16 The Civil Rights Movement
4/21 The Vietnam War TERM PAPERS DUE ON 4/22 AT START OF CLASS
4/23 Political Disorder
4/28 A World Transformed EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENTS DUE
4/30 Review Final Exam FOURTH BATCH OF HOMEWORK TOPICS DUE
Week of Finals Final Exam


Office Hours are Tuesday 12:30 PM 1:30 PM Northeast Campus
Monday 12:30 PM 1:30 PM Northwest Campus

Office: Northeast Campus Faculty Office Building, room NFAC 2120
Northwest Campus Office is located at WSTU 2813A.

Office Phone for Northeast Campus (817) 515-6303.
Office Phone for Northwest Campus (817) 515-7457
Cell Phone (817) 999-5306

My TCC Portal

Student information such as grades can be viewed through the My TCC Portal. All email
to the instructor should be directed through My TCC.

At any time during the semester, I will be available for individual conferences. If you
can not contact me through any of the above methods, you can do so through the
Business & Social Sciences Division Office. The phone number is (817) 515-6645.

******THIS SCHEDULE IS TENTATIVE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE******