History 141 - United States to 1877

 

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Syllabus

Reading Assignments: All readings are to be done for the day following the one on which they appear on the syllabus.  The books are available at the URI bookstore or online; all documents are or will be posted on this web site.

 

Class 1:  European Encounter with America – Saturday, September 11, 2004

In-Class Film:  Founding Fathers: Rebels With A Cause

Assigned Reading:              A People and A Nation chapters 1 and 2 (page 1 – 57)

                                                The American Revolution, p. 1-88            

Documents:          Privileges and Prerogatives Granted . . . to Christopher Columbus (1492)

 Mayflower Compact

 

Class 2:  Colonial America – Saturday, September 18, 2004

In-Class Film: Founding Fathers: Taking Liberties

Assigned Reading:              A People and A Nation chapter 3 (page 59-87))

                                                The American Revolution, p. 89-166  

                                Documents:          Charter of Connecticut Colony

Declarations of the Stamp Act Congress (October 19, 1765)

Declaratory Act (March 18, 1766)

Resolves of Parliament February 9,1769

 

Class 3:  Guest Lecture – Saturday, September 25, 2004

In-Class Film: Founding Fathers: You Say You Want A Revolution?

Assigned Reading:              A People and A Nation chapter 4 (page 87 - 115)

                                                                White Over Black,  Chapters 12 and 13

Documents:          Boston Massacre-- An Anonymous Patriot Account

                               Common Sense (Excerpt)

 

Class 4:  American Revolution – Saturday, October 2, 2004

In-Class Film: Founding Fathers: A Healthy Constitution

Assigned Reading:              White Over Black,  Chapters 14, 15, and 16

Documents:          Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

                               Letter: George Washington to Martha Washington

 

October 9, 2004 - FIRST SHORT PAPER DUE (see web site for more information)

Note that this is not a class date - this is a day you have off for Columbus Day Weekend.  You must submit your paper by email as a Microsoft Word attachment.  If you cannot, you must hand in your paper on Saturday, October 2 (the week before).

 

Class 5:  Creating an American Republic – Saturday, October 16, 2004

In-Class Film: Founding Brothers: Volume 1

Assigned Reading:              A People and A Nation chapter 5 and 6 (page 115 - 167)

                                                Battle Cry of Freedom, intro and p. 1-46, 78-144  

Documents:          Federalist No. 10

                                Federalist No. 51

The Constitution

Constitutional Amendments

 

Class 6:  American Foreign Policy– Saturday, October 23, 2004

In-Class Film: Founding Brothers: Volume 2

Assigned Reading:              A People and A Nation chapter 7 and 8 (page 167 - 217)

                                                Battle Cry of Freedom, intro and p. 145-210  

Documents:          Washington Farewell Address

                                Alien and Sedition Acts

                                A Treaty with Tripoli

 

Class 7:  Age of Jackson – Saturday, October 30, 2004

MIDTERM QUIZ (Two Identifications)

In-Class Film: Andrew Jackson Biography

Assigned Reading:              A People and A Nation chapter 9 and 10 (page 217 - 277)

                                                Battle Cry of Freedom, p. 211-275  

Documents:          Andrew Jackson's Bank Veto (1832)

                               Andrew Jackson's Case for the Removal Act, December 8 1830

                               General Scott to the Cherokee Nation

                               Alexis de Tocqueville: Social Condition of Anglo-Americans

                               Alexis de Tocqueville: The Real Advantages Which American Society Derives from                                                               A Democratic Government

 

Class 8:  Slavery: the Divisive Issue – Saturday, November 6, 2004

SECOND SHORT PAPER DUE (see web site for more information)

In-Class Film: Founding Brothers: Volume 3

Assigned Reading:              A People and A Nation chapter 11 and 12 (page 277 - 331)

                                                Battle Cry of Freedom, p. 276-338

Documents:          Jefferson’s views on African Americans and Slavery

Postmaster's Report on Seizure of Abolition Mailings (1835)

Opinion of the Court in Dred Scott v. Stanford (1857)

Emancipation Proclamation

                                   

Class 9:  The Gathering Storm – Leading up to the Civil War – Saturday, November 13, 2004

QUESTION FOR FINAL PAPER DUE

In-Class Film: Founding Brothers: Volume 4

Assigned Reading:              A People and A Nation chapter 13 and 14 (page 331-387)

                                                Battle Cry of Freedom, p. 490-510, 626-665

Documents:          Editorials on the Caning of Sumner (May 1856)

                                Abraham Lincoln's "House Divided" Speech

                                Declarations of Causes of Seceding States   

                                Jefferson Davis Farewell to United States Senate

 

Class 10:  The Civil War – Saturday, November 20, 2004

In-Class Film: Abraham Lincoln: Preserving the Union

Assigned Reading:              A People and A Nation chapter 15 and 16 (page 387-456)

                                                The Killer Angels, whole book (quick read)

Documents:          Gettysburg Address

                                Lincoln First Inaugural

                                Lincoln Second Inaugural

 

Class 11:  War and Reconstruction – Saturday, December 4, 2004

FINAL PAPER DUE (see web site for more information)

In-Class Film: Glory (you may choose to stay longer after class - about one hour - to finish the movie)

Assigned Reading:              A People and A Nation chapter 15 and 16 (page 387-456)

                                                Battle Cry of Freedom, p. 751 through end (including epilogue)

Documents:          Three Months Among the Reconstructionists (Atlantic Monthly, February 1866).

 

Class 12:  The United States and the 20th Century – Saturday, December 11, 2004

IN-CLASS FINAL (see web site for more information