HIST 2314.

17
American Heritage II
Spring 2011
TTH 7:45am – 9:00am
SBSC 117

DR. GRAHAM COX

Email: coxgb@utpa.edu
Office: COAS 347-A
Office Hours: MW 10:45-1:00pm, TTH 9:10am-10:25pm, and by Appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course analyzes the history of modern America, from its rise as an industrial and military power in the late
nineteenth century to the Presidency of George W. Bush. It charts the revolutions in business, morals, politics, race
relations, and everyday living that have transformed American life over the past century and a quarter. Contemporary
American society emerged out of the complex legacy of a nation born out of the struggle for liberty and equality as
promised in the founding documents of this country. The historical realities of class, racial, and gender oppression as
well as imperialist expansion, however, have called persistently into question America’s commitment to those same
ideals. The complex and contested relation between the reality of American culture and its mythical image forms the
basis of this course as we explore whom we are as a nation, where we came from, and more importantly, where we are
headed.

REQUIRED RESOURCES
American Power American People, Volume II 3e: 978-1-60803-015-6
As They Said It, Volume II e: 978-1-60803-014-9 – [available as an e-book: www.nunnmcginty.com ]
Taken Hostage: The Iran Hostage Crisis and America's First Encounter with Radical Islam – David R. Farber (ISBN:
069112759X)

PLEASE NOTE: This course utilizes Blackboard CE for announcements and supplementary material provided by your
professor.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES for all US survey history classes: The student should be able to
 examine social institutions and processes across a range of historical periods, social structures, and cultures.
 analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, cultural, and global forces on the area under study.
 comprehend the origins and evolution of U.S. and Texas political systems, with a focus on the growth of political
institutions, the constitutions of the U.S. and Texas, federalism, civil liberties, and civil and human rights.
 understand the evolution and current role of the U.S. in the world.
 differentiate and analyze historical evidence (documentary and statistical) and differing points of view.
 recognize and apply reasonable criteria for the acceptability of historical evidence and social research.
 identify and understand differences and commonalities within diverse cultures.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES for HIST 2314: The student should be able to

• analyze a historical argument and identify the thesis in a historical work.
• demonstrate an understanding of how bias and points of view influence the historical record.
• use primary and secondary sources to develop an argument.
• be able to write a book critique.
• demonstrate knowledge of proper periodization and their characteristics in multiple areas of the world in history
and be able to make comparisons between those periods, areas, and events.
• demonstrate the ability to present orally and in written form important historical concepts, debates, and differing
historical interpretations.
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ASSESSMENT AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION
Exam I – Thursday, February 17
• Exam I will consist of multiple-choice and essay problems, covering Topics 1 thru 6 (see Tentative Class Schedule and
Reading Assignments). Maximum score = 100.
ASSIGNMENT I – DUE 5:00pm, Monday, March 21 (submitted via Blackboard)
• Assignment I will consist of 10 essay problems, covering “The Scottsboro Boys: An American Tragedy,” a DVD
documentary available for viewing on Blackboard (time permitting, it may also be shown in class). Assignment
instructions and questions will be available on Blackboard. Maximum score = 50. Late assignments will NOT be
accepted.
Exam II – Thursday, March 31
• Exam II will consist of multiple-choice and essay problems, covering Topics 7 thru 12 (see Tentative Class Schedule and
Reading Assignments). Maximum score = 100.
ASSIGNMENT II - DUE 5:00pm, Monday, May 2 (submitted via Blackboard)
• Assignment II will consist of 10 essay problems, covering the book, Taken Hostage: The Iran Hostage Crisis and
America's First Encounter with Radical Islam. Assignment instructions and questions will be available on Blackboard.
Maximum score = 50. Late assignments will NOT be accepted.
Makeup/Optional Exam – Tuesday, May 3
• This is an OPTIONAL Exam, primarily for students who may have missed Exam I and/or Exam II, but it is also available
for any other students who want to take it, whether or not they missed Exam I or Exam II. The Makeup/Optional
Exam will consist of multiple-choice problems only, covering Topics 1 thru 12 (see Tentative Class Schedule and
Reading Assignments). Maximum score = 100.
Exam III – 8am-9:45am, Tuesday, May 10
• Exam III will consist of multiple-choice and essay problems, covering Topics 13 thru 19 (see Tentative Class Schedule
and Reading Assignments). Maximum score = 100.
At the end of the semester, your lowest score for Exam I and Exam II will be dropped (Exam III may not be dropped).
Your final course grade will be based on the average of your remaining scores as follows:

A =90-100%, B =80-89%, C =70-79%, D =60-69%, F=0-59%.

Please Note: you CANNOT do additional work to raise your final semester grade.

MAKE-UP POLICY
Students missing Exam I or Exam II must take the Makeup/Optional Exam; no documentation for missed exam is
required. Students missing Exam III with a documented emergency may be allowed to schedule a make-up exam. You
MUST contact your Professor via email stating the reason for your absence. You MUST provide documentation and you
will take an all-essay exam to make-up the exam you missed.
ATTENDANCE
Perfect attendance is not required, but regular attendance is strongly encouraged. You are expected to attend class
daily, arrive on time, and stay for the entire duration of the lecture. Any announcements will be made only at the
beginning of class. If you are late or absent for any reason, it is your responsibility to get class notes and information for
that time. If you need to leave early, you must let me know in advance.
STUDENT WITH DISABILITIES
If you have a documented disability which will make it difficult for you to carry out the work as I have outlined and/or if
you need special accommodation/assistance due to the disability, please contact the Office of Services for Persons with
Disabilities (OSPD), Emilia Ramirez, Schunior Hall Room 1.101, immediately. Appropriate
arrangements/accommodations can be arranged.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
All students are required to exercise academic honesty in completion of all tests and assignments. Penalties for
academic dishonesty (cheating on a test, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration on an assignment, etc.) may include a
grade of 0 or F for the particular assignment, failure in the course, and/or recommendation for adjudication by the Dean
of Students for further disciplinary action including possible dismissal from the University.
CLASSROOM DECORUM
Disruptive students in the academic setting hinder the educational process. Examples include, but are not limited to
persistently speaking without being recognized or interrupting other speakers; behavior that distracts the class from the
subject matter or discussion; or in extreme cases, physical threats, harassing behavior or personal insults, or refusal to
comply with faculty direction. Any behavior that adversely affects the normal educational functioning or the
professional standards of the class may result in failure for the course.
Cell phones, beepers, or pagers are a significant distraction and MUST BE TURNED OFF or PUT IN SILENT MODE (VIBRATE
MODE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE) prior to coming to class. Do not answer phones during class. If you are expecting an
emergency phone call, you MUST make arrangements with your professor prior to class. Those using a cell phone MUST
leave the classroom for the remainder of the class period. Laptops are permitted for note taking during lecture only.
MP3 players, digital recording devices, and other portable electronic devices are not permitted in class. Students who
repeatedly violate this policy may be dropped from the class.
SYLLABUS CHANGES
While every attempt has been made to prepare this syllabus and class schedule in final form, it will be the professor’s
prerogative to make any changes as may be deemed necessary in order to meet the learning outcomes of the course.
Any changes will be announced in a timely manner.
WRITING CENTER
If you need help with writing your essays or would like someone to look it over for you contact the Writing Center in LIB
101 (phone 381-2538). They will look over rough drafts and help you with your writing.

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TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS
The dates shown below for the Exams will not change, barring some unforeseen emergency. The textbook chapters that are listed
with each of the lecture topics deal in general with the subject matter to be taken up in the lectures and should be read in advance
of the lecture.

TOPICS As They Said It American Power American People

Course Introduction

Topic 1 - The United States in 1877 Chapter 7, pp. 310-311 I – Reconstruction, Expansion, and the
Triumph of Industrial Capitalism

Topic 2 - Populism

Topic 3 - Racism and Life in the South, The Chapter 7, pp. 317-321 II – The West
Destruction of Native Americans in the West

Topic 4 - The Dawning of a New Century: Chapter 1, pp. 1-31

“Revolutionary” America

Topic 5 - Becoming a World Power: The Spanish Chapter 2, pp. 33-56

American War

Topic 6 - The Progressive Era Chapter 2, pp. 74-77 III – The Progressive Era

EXAM I – Thursday, February 17

(Topics 1-6)

Topic 7 – The United States and World War I Chapter 2, pp. 56-73 IV – “One Very Wrong Turn”: The Impact of
WWI

Topic 8 – The Roaring Twenties and the Great V – The “Roaring” Twenties and the Origins
Depression, The Scottsboro Boys (in-class DVD) of the “Great Depression”

Topic 9 – FDR and The New Deal Chapter 3, pp. 105-124 VI – A “New Deal for the American People”
and American Power

Topic 10 – World War II Chapter 3, pp. 124-126, 128-132; Chapter 7, pp. 324-348 VII – The Second World War

Topic 11 – The Origins of the Cold War Chapter 4, pp. 140-146, 152-162, 171-183 VIII – The Growth of American Power
through Cold and Hot Wars

Topic 12 – Ike’s America Chapter 4, pp. 183-197; Chapter 5, pp. 202-207; IX – Conformity and its Challenges from
Chapter 7, pp. 348-353 Eisenhower to Kennedy

EXAM II – Thursday, March 31

(Topics 7-12)

Topic 13 – The Foreign Policy of JFK Chapter 5, pp. 207-214

Topic 14 – The Modern Civil Rights Movement X – A New Kind of Democracy? Great
Society and Civil Rights

Topic 15 – LBJ, His “Great Society,” and Vietnam Chapter 4, pp. 197-200; Chapter 5, pp. 214, 220-230; XI – Vietnam and the Culture of Protest
Chapter 7, pp. 365-375

Topic 16 – Richard Milhous Nixon, Watergate, and XII – Power, Lost and Found: America at
the End of the Vietnam War Centuries End

Topic 17 – The Radicalism of the 1960s Chapter 6, pp. 251-258

Topic 18 - Carter, Reagan and the End of the Cold Chapter 5, pp. 230-240
War

Topic 19 – Clinton, Bush, Obama, and the Post-Cold Chapter 7, pp. 380-392; Chapter 8, pp. 414-431 XIII – The Limits of Power: Bush, Iraq,
War World Obama, and “Change”

MAKEUP/OPTIONAL EXAM– Tuesday, May 3

(Topics 1-13)

EXAM III– 8am-9:45am, Tuesday, May 10

(Topics 13-19)