U.S. History: Colonial through the Civil War (Hist145)

Towson University

FALL 2007

T/R 12:30-1:45

Linthicum Hall 100

 

Dr. Omar H. Ali

Office Hours: By appointment   (119-B Linthicum)

Tel.: (410) 704-2914 – E-mail: oali@towson.edu

 

Overview:

This is a survey U.S. history course covering the period from the Colonial era through the Civil War. We will focus on the development of democracy beginning with the conflicts that arose during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the Revolutionary War, the beginnings of the new Republic, the Abolitionist movement, and other movements for political reform during the nineteenth century through the Civil War and into Reconstruction.

 

Course Objective:

            Students will develop a critical understanding of U.S. History from its colonial roots through the mid nineteenth century with an emphasis on the development of political democracy.

 

Grading and Requirements:

Attendance and participation (15%)                                               

            Quiz (20%) (no blue book required)

Midterm Exam (35%) (bring at least one blue book)

            Final Paper (30%) 12 page paper (12 point font, Times New York, 1" margins, footnotes, and bibliography)*

               Question to address: "Trace the development of democracy from the colonial period through Reconstruction."

               Use at least four primary sources from the text.

 

NOTE:  Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated. See Student Academic Integrity Policy, Appendix F, University Catalogue, Part V. A standard plus-minus grading scheme will be used.

 

Required Reading:

Eric Foner, Give Me Liberty! An American History, Vol. 1 (New York: W.W. Norton, 2005)

 

Documentaries and Films:

 

Weekly Schedule:

Aug 28-30 – Course overview (All readings below are from the textbook Give Me Liberty!)

Sept 4-6 – Reading: Chapter 1

Sept 11-13 – Reading: Chapter 2 (no class on Sept 13)

Sept 18-20 – Reading: Chapter 3                                                                       

Sept 25-27 – Reading: Chapter 4

Oct 2 – QUIZ

Oct 4 – Reading: Chapter 5

Oct 9-11 – Reading: Chapter 6

Oct 16 – MIDTERM

Oct 18 – Reading: Chapter 7

Oct 23-25 – Reading: Chapter 8

Oct 30-Nov 1 – Reading: Chapter 9

 (Paper proposals due beginning of class on Oct 30th. Hard copy only.)

Nov 6-8 – Reading: Chapters 10

Nov 13-15 – Reading: Chapters 11

Nov 21-23 – THANKSGIVING BREAK

Nov 27-29 – Reading: Chapters 12-13

Dec 4-6 – Reading: Chapter 14-15

Dec 11 – FINAL PAPER DUE (No later than noon in my office in hard copy form only. You must keep an electronic backup.)

 

* Papers should be submitted in the following way:

(unstapled papers, or papers with paper clips, will not be accepted)

 

 

 

 

 

MIDTERM STUDY GUIDE

 

 

KEY DATES AND EVENTS

 

509 B.C. – Roman Republic

4 B.C. – Christ

622 – Islam founded

1190 – Model Parliament formed

1324 – Mansa Musa

1407 – Zheng He

1453 – Constantinople taken over

1492 – Reconquista

1502 – First Africans in the New World

1517 – Martin Luther

1539 – De Soto

1619 – Jamestown

1626 – Angolans to Manhattan

1640 – Codification of slavery

1654 – Separation of church and state example

1664 – British takeover of New Amsterdam

1688 – Glorious Revolution

1690 – John Locke

1739 – Stono rebellion and First Great Awakening

1754-1763 – Seven Year’s War

1763 – Pontiac’s rebellion

1764 – Sugar Act

1765 – Stamp Act/Sons of Liberty formed

1773 – Boston Tea Party

1775 – Lord Dunmore’s Ethiopian Regiment

1776 – Declaration of Independence/Wealth of Nations/Common Sense

1783 – End of war

1789 – Ratification of U.S. Constitution/Beginning of French Revolution

1791 – Haitian Revolution begins

 

KEY CONCEPTS AND WORDS:

 

Imperialism

Colonialism

Mercantilism

Republic

Slavery

Liberty

Appropriate