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AMH 2041 (Sections U01-U12)—Origins of American Civilization

Florida International University
Fall Semester, 2010

Dr. Jeremy Rowan

Office: DM 399
Office Phone: (305) 348-4791
Office Hours: 2:00-4:00 MW
E-mail: rowanj@fiu.edu

Teaching Assistants:

Mr. Jeffrey Austin

E-mail: jaust003@fiu.edu
Office: DM 392
Office Hours: 12:00-1:00 MW

Ms. Lisa Howe

E-mail: lisa.howe@fiu.edu
Office: DM 392
Office Hours: 12:00-2:00 W

Ms. Loraine de la Fe

E-mail: ldel002@fiu.edu
Office: DM 392
Office Hours: 12:00-1:00 MW

Mr. Adam Silva

E-mail: AdamMSilvia@yahoo.com
Office: DM 392
Office Hours: 10:00-11:00 MW

Course Description:
This course examines key developments in the origins and nature of Early America, including
political, social, cultural, and economic developments from the 15th century to the Civil War and
Reconstruction. Written work meets the state Gordon Rule requirement.

Course Objectives:
The primary objective of this course is to familiarize students with the historical events and
movements that constitute the development of EarlyAmerica and the early history of the United
States to 1877. The course will also focus on the impact these events and movements had on
society and how ordinary people have played significant roles in shaping history. Secondary
objectives are to introduce students to historical criticism, to develop writing skills, and to
encourage critical thinking.
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Course Methods:
The course is primarily conducted through lectures, class discussion, collaborative activities, and
power-point presentations. Students must keep well-organized notes from the lectures, have all
written assignments handed in on time, and complete all reading assignments by the due dates.
Students will be held responsible for both the lecture material and all reading assignments.

Turnitin:
All students must register for this course on Turnitin.com. It is mandatory. The class number is
3356106 and the password is Jefferson. We use Turnitin for multiple reasons: to grade your
essays; as an anti-plagiarism device, a gradebook, and finally as an efficient method for
contacting the class via e-mail. When you register, please provide an e-mail address that you
check and use often.

Discussion Sections:
All students MUST attend the lectures every Monday and Wednesday in GL 100
between 11:00-11:50 AM. During these lectures, attendance will be monitered and in-class
quizzes given through the i<clicker system. Each Friday, students ARE REQUIRED to attend
a discussion group session led by your section TA. It is imperative that you attend the section
that you registered for. The discussion sections will primarily be used for answering (and
asking) questions from the primary source readings. But, the session will also be an opportunity
for students to discuss the lectures, prepare for exams, and peer review each others’ drafts.
Remember, discussion/in-class assignments constitute 15% of the course grade.

Here are the list of sections, times, and room numbers for the Friday discussion sections:

Section 01—11:00-11:50 Room GC 271B Austin

Section 02—11:00-11:50 Room GC 274 Howe
Section 03—11:00-11:50 Room GC 278A De la Fe
Section 04—11:00-11:50 Room GC 275B Silva
Section 05—12:00-12:50 Room GC 278A De la Fe
Section 06—12:00-12:50 Room GC 278B Austin
Section 07—12:00-12:50 Room GC 286 Howe
Section 08—12:00-12:50 Room GC 288 Silva
Section 09—1:00-1:50 Room GC 278A De la Fe
Section 10—1:00-1:50 Room GC 278B Austin
Section 11—1:00-1:50 Room GC 286 Howe
Section 12—1:00-1:50 Room GC 288 Silva

Required Readings:

America: A Concise History, Volume 1: To 1877. (4th Edition) by James Henretta and David
Brody (Bedford/ St. Martins) ISBN # 0-312-48542-5

Reading the American Past, Volume 1: To 1877. (4th Edition) Edited by Michael Johnson
(Bedford/St. Martins) ISBN # 0-312-45967-X
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The life of Olaudah Equiano, or, Gustavus Vassa, the African. (Courier Dover Publications)
ISBN# 0-486-40661-X

i<clicker. A vailable at the FIU Bookstore

Emerson’s “Self-reliance” (online at googlebooks)

Criteria for Evaluation:

2 Essay Exams—each worth 20% of the final course grade
2 Research Papers—each worth 20% of the course grade
Discussion Sections: in-class writing assignments, peer reviews, class participation—all worth
15% of the final grade
i<clicker in-class lecture quizzes—worth 5% of the course grade

Each exam will cover the material since the previous exam. STUDENTS ARE TO BRING A
BLUE EXAMINATION BOOKLET TO CLASS ON THE EXAM DATES. BLUE BOOKS
ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN THE CAMPUS BOOKSTORE.

Writing and critical thinking are primary components of this class. Frequently, we will talk
about the expectations for writing in the field of history. We will analyze, for example, the style
and form of writing presented in your texts and in articles we read. Even if you do not plan to be
an historian, such awareness of disciplinary communication will be useful to you, no matter your
major or career.

To meet the state of Florida’s Gordon Rule writing requirements, you will complete a sequence
of writing assignments, ranging from informal in-class writings to essay exams and formal
essays. These assignments provide evidence of your reading and comprehension of the material;
they prepare you to participate in class discussion, and they also facilitate your understanding of
the readings. You will also complete essay exam questions on your two major exams, and write
two thesis-driven essays that synthesize main ideas from the course. I will provide you with
detailed assignment sheets for these essays. About a week before their due date, you’ll be asked
to bring a rough draft (hard copy) of your essay to class for peer review. You are then required
to upload your final draft to Turnitin.com. The essay will be graded online through turnitin.com.
Late writing assignments will be penalized a letter grade for every day that the paper is late.

Make-up Exams:
No make-up exams will be given except in cases of illness and/or emergency. A doctor’s note
must be presented upon the instructor’s request for a make-up exam to be given. If no note is
forthcoming, the instructor retains the right to refuse to administer a make-up exam. A doctor’s
or dental appointment which is a non-emergency, and which, therefore, can be reasonably
rescheduled, is not a valid excuse. Unexcused missed exams will receive an automatic grade of
0%.

Grading:
In the course, grading will follow the scale below:
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A = 100-94 %
A- = 93-90%
B+ = 89–86%
B = 85-83%
B- = 82-80%
C+ = 79–76%
C = 75-73%
C- = 72-70%
D+ = 69-66%
D = 65-63%
D+ = 62-60
F = 59% and below

Attendance Policy:
Students are required to attend both the lectures and the discussion group sessions. During the
Monday/Wednesday large lectures, attendance and participation will be monitored through the
i<clicker system. Also, your discussion leader (TA) will record attendance and participation
during the Friday discussion sessions. Regardless, listening to the lectures and participating in
class discussion sessions are essential to success in this course.

Academic Dishonesty Policy:

Cheating and Plagiarism
a. Cheating is defined as the attempt, successful or not, to give or obtain
information by illicit means in meeting any academic requirements including,
but not limited to, examinations;
b. Plagiarism is defined as the use, without proper acknowledgement, of the
ideas, phrases, sentences, or larger units of discourse from another writer or
speaker.

Students are expected to know and abide by the academic dishonesty policy as
outlined in the university handbook and catalogue.

Students are therefore warned: Cheating and/or plagiarism in are grounds for an
automatic grade of “F”.

Student Behavior:
All FIU University students are expected to behave according to the accepted norms that ensure
a climate wherein all can exercise their right to learn. Such norms are set forth in the
undergraduate catalogue. Please be sure that you have read and understood the section. No
faculty member will tolerate classroom behavior that violates these norms. Such behavior will
be grounds for withdrawal from the class, judicial proceedings, and/or failure of the course.

Class Schedule:

Week 1:
Monday, August 23—Course Introduction and Syllabus; Native American Societies
Reading: Henretta Ch. 1; Johnson # 2-2, 2-3, 2-4
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Wednesday, Aug 25—The Atlantic World: European Encounters, 1450-1550

Friday, Aug 27—Discussion Session: Johnson # 2-2, 2-3, 2-4

Week 2:
Monday, Aug 30— The Atlantic World (Cont.)
Reading: Henretta Ch. 2; Johnson # 3-1, 3-4, 3-5

Wednesday, Sept 1— European Settlement of North America: 1550-1700, Chesapeake

Friday, Sept 3— Discussion Session: Johnson # 3-1, 3-4, 3-5

Week 3:
Monday, Sept 6—NO CLASS (LABOR DAY)

Wednesday, Sept 8— European Colonialism: New England

Reading: Johnson # 4-1, 4-3, 4-5

Friday, Sept 10—Discussion Session: Johnson # 4-1, 4-3, 4-5

Week 4:
Monday, Sept 13— British Imperial Expansion, 1660-1750
Reading: Henretta Ch. 3; The life of Olaudah Equiano

Wednesday, Sept 15—Slavery and 18th century Colonial Society

Friday, Sept 17—Discussion Session: The life of Olaudah Equiano

Week 5:
Monday, Sept 20— British Imperial Crisis, 1754-1763
Reading: Henretta Ch. 4; Johnson

Wednesday, Sept 22—Origins of the American Revolution (War of American Independence)

Reading: Henretta Ch. 5

Friday, Sept 24—Discussion Session: Essay 1 Rough Draft Due (Peer Review)

Week 6:
Monday, Sept 27—Origins (Cont.)
Reading: Henretta Ch. 6 and “The Declaration of Independence” (Henretta
D1--D-3) Johnson 7-1; 7-2; 7-3;

Wednesday, Sept 29 —The War for American Independence: 1776-1783; Essay 1 Due
(upload to turnitin.com before midnight)
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Friday, Oct 1—Discussion Session: Johnson 7-1; 7-2; 7-3; “The Declaration of Independence”

Week 7:
Monday, Oct 4 —The War (Cont.); Building a Republic
Reading: Henretta Ch. 6 and “The Articles of Confederation; The Constitution
(Henretta, D4-D26; Johnson 8-3; 8-4

Wednesday, Oct 6—Building a Republic (Cont.)

Friday, Oct. 8—Discussion: Johnson 8-3; 8-4; and “The Articles and The Constitution”
Midterm Exam Review

Week 8:
Monday, Oct 11—Midterm Exam

Wednesday, Oct 13—Politics and Society in the New Republic, 1787-1820

Reading: Henretta Ch. 7; Johnson 9-4; 9-5; 10-4

Friday, Oct 15—Discussion: Johnson 9-4; 9-5; 10-4

Week 9:
Monday, Oct 18— Politics and Society in the New Republic (cont.); Republican Culture
Reading: Henretta Ch. 8; Johnson 10-2; 10-5; 11-4

Wednesday, Oct 20—Republican Culture

Friday, Oct 22—Discussion: Johnson 10-2; 10-5; 11-4

Week 10:
Monday, Oct 25—Industrial Revolution and Economic transformation
Reading: Henretta Ch. 9

Wednesday, Oct 27—Jacksonian Democracy and Popular Politics

Reading: Henretta Ch. 10

Friday, Oct 29—Discussion Session: Essay 2 Rough Draft (peer review)

Week 11:
Monday, Nov 1—Religion and Reform
Reading: Henretta Ch. 11; Emerson’s “Self-reliance” (online at googlebooks)

Wednesday, Nov 3—Religion and Reform (Cont.); Essay 2 Due (upload to turnitin.com)

Friday, Nov 5— Discussion: Emerson’s “Self-reliance”

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Week 12:
Monday, Nov 8—Southern Society: 1820-1860
Reading: Reading: Henretta Ch. 12; Johnson 13-3; 13-4; 13-5

Wednesday, Nov 10— NO CLASS (VETERANS DAY)

Friday, Nov 12—Discussion Session: Johnson 13-3; 13-4; 13-5

Week 13:
Monday, Nov 15—The Impending Crisis, 1844-1861
Reading: Henretta Ch. 13; Johnson 14-2; 14-3; 15-1; 15-3

Wednesday, Nov 17—The Impending Crisis (cont.)

Friday, Nov 19—Discussion Session: Johnson 14-2; 14-3; 15-1; 15-3

Week 14:
Monday, Nov 22—The Civil War, 1861-1865
Reading: Henretta Ch. 14

Wednesday, Nov 24— The Civil War (cont.)

Friday, Nov 26— NO CLASS (THANKSGIVING)

Week 15:
Monday, Nov 29—Reconstruction: 1863-1877
Reading: Henretta Ch. 15; Johnson 16-2; 16-5

Wednesday, Dec 1— Reconstruction (cont.)

Friday, Dec 3—Discussion Session: Final Exam Review

Week 16:

Wednesday, Dec 8 9:45-11:45 AM—Final Exam—GL 100

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