History 2112 America Since 1890 Kennesaw State University Spring Semester 2012 TTh 6:30 PM- 7:45

5 PM (CRN# 10172) Social Science Bldg. Room 2034 Instructor: Dr. William C. Nicholson Office: Social Science Bldg, # 4121 Office Hours: By appointment Telephones: 770-423-6294 (History & Philosophy Department) 404-765-1516 (Woodward Academy) E-mail: wnichol5@kennesaw.edu Textbooks: George Brown Tindall and David E. Shi. America: A Narrative History. (Brief 8th Edition - Vol. 2). W. W. Norton & Company, 2010. Loewen, James W. Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong. 2nd ed. Touchstone Press, 2010. EACH STUDENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR READING AND ABIDING BY THE TERMS OF THIS SYLLABUS. PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO MY ATTENDANCE POLICY TO AVOID SIGNIFICANT GRADE REDUCTIONS AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER. Course Objectives: The main objective of this course is to present a broad overview of American history from the late 19th century to the present. This goal will be accomplished by utilizing a textbook (which gives a general narrative account of American history) and a supplemental reader (which gives alternative viewpoints of familiar themes and events in American history). Traditional political, military, and diplomatic history will provide a general framework within which a number of social, cultural, and urban themes will also be explored. Due to the time period covered, lectures by necessity will be rather general in scope. Lectures will be enhanced and supplemented, however, by outside readings, class discussions and video excerpts which will provide more in-depth coverage and analysis of specific historical themes and events. It is crucial, therefore, that the assigned reading will be completed before class. Tests: There will be FOUR, non-cumulative tests given during the semester. These tests will consist of 80 objective-type questions (multiple choice, true-false, etc.). Video and Loewen Book Responses: In addition to tests, each student will complete question sets on SEVEN videos we watch throughout the semester as well as question sets on THREE of the four chapters we will read in the Loewen book. These may be submitted online through Georgia View Vista as blog posts or turned in as handwritten responses in class. All video responses must be submitted by the end of the class in which we view the video, either electronically via a blog post or in handwritten form. All

2 Loewen chapter responses must be submitted BEFORE the class period we are scheduled to discuss that chapter, either electronically or handed in at the beginning of class in handwritten form. No late responses will be accepted. Final Exam: For those students who have taken all four tests during the semester and are satisfied with their overall grade, the final take-home comprehensive exam essay is OPTIONAL. For those who missed one of the four scheduled tests the final exam essay is mandatory. For those who want to replace a low test grade, they may opt to take the final exam in hopes of raising their overall grade. Class Participation: Students are strongly encouraged to participate actively in class. Student participation in class discussions makes for a far more interesting and lively class and enhances one's grasp of the material and its nuances. BUT PLEASE DO NOT TALK WHILE OTHERS ARE TALKING. This is just common courtesy. Class participation and attendance will be taken into consideration at the end of the course in determining borderline grades. ALSO, PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE OF ME AND YOUR PEERS BY TURNING OFF ALL CELL PHONES/PAGERS AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS. FAILURE TO ABIDE BY THESE REQUESTS MAY RESULT IN YOUR EXPULSION FROM CLASS. Attendance: Attendance is regulated by the Universitys policy found in the University catalog. Students should recognize that classroom interaction, both among peers and between instructor and student, provides the best forum for learning and intellectual development in general. Therefore, regular class attendance is required and will be used in determining final grades in borderline cases. To be counted present for a class, students must be in class for more than half the class period. If you leave before the halfway point, you will be marked absent. Each student will be allowed FOUR absences during the semester without penalty. For every absence over four, one point will be deducted from a students final grade. There are NO excused absences (no doctors notes or work excuses accepted). For students who achieve perfect attendance, however, TWO points will be added to their final average. Plagiarism and Cheating: No student shall receive, attempt to receive, knowingly give or attempt to give unauthorized assistance in the preparation of any work required to be submitted for credit (including examinations, laboratory reports, essays, themes, term papers, etc.). Unless specifically authorized, the presence and/or use of electronic devices during an examination, quiz, or other class assignment is considered cheating. Engaging in any behavior which a professor prohibits as academic misconduct in the syllabus or in class discussion is cheating. When direct quotations are used, they should be indicated, and when the ideas, theories, data, figures, graphs, programs, electronic based information or illustrations of someone other than the student are incorporated into a paper or used in a project, they should be duly acknowledged. No student may submit the same, or substantially the same, paper or other assignment for credit in more than one class without the prior permission of the current professor(s).

3 ADA Compliance: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Public Law 101-336, gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities. This statute guarantees equal opportunity for this protected group in the areas of public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services and telecommunications. Tardiness: Please be considerate of the instructor and other students by arriving to class on time and waiting until class is over before gathering up books and materials to leave. If you know you will be late or will have to leave early, please notify the instructor in advance if possible. Thank you. Grades: Student grades will be determined as follows: 4 Tests or 3 Tests and Final Exam Essay-------------80% (20% each) 10 Video/Loewen Responses-----------------------------20% (2% each) Withdrawal from the Course: Withdrawal before the midpoint of the semester (March 12th) entitles the student to receive the grade of "W" if performance up to that point has been satisfactory. A student doing failing work will receive the grade "WF" as well as students who withdraw after March 12th. Any exception must be approved by the Dean of Students. Make-Ups: THERE ARE NO TEST MAKE-UPS. If you are unable to attend class on the scheduled day for a test, THEN YOU WILL HAVE TO COMPLETE THE TAKEHOME COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM ESSAY AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER. Any deviation to this policy will be at the discretion of the instructor. Extra Credit Work: This instructor does NOT offer extra credit opportunities except in extreme cases with unusual extenuating circumstances so do not ask! Note: This syllabus is merely a guide to this course and is subject to change at the instructor's discretion.

4 HISTORY 2112 American History Since 1890 Date 1-10 Subject Intro./Course Overview America in the Late 19th Century: An Overview The New South The New West Red Eyes" Big Business Organized Labor Land of Opportunity Urbanization & Immigration Popular Culture/Education & Literature Gilded Age Politics & Agrarian Reform TEST 1 Text ----W.C. NICHOLSON

1-12 1-17

Tindall Ch. 19 Tindall Ch. 19 (cont) Loewen Ch. 4 Tindall Ch. 20 Tindall Ch. 20 (cont) Loewen Ch. 7 Tindall Ch. 21

1-19 1-24

1-26

1-31

Tindall Ch. 22

2-2

Tindall, Chs. 19-22 Loewen Chs 4,7 Tindall Ch. 23 Tindall Ch. 23 (cont) Tindall Ch. 24

2-7 2-9 2-14

The Course of Empire I The Course of Empire II Progressivism I Roosevelt/Taft Progressivism II Wilson Handicapped by History The Great War I The Great War II

2-16

Tindall Ch. 24 (cont) Loewen Ch. 1 Tindall Ch. 25 Tindall Ch. 25 (cont)

2-21 2-23

2-28

The Modern Temper /

Tindall Ch. 26

5 Republican Resurgence & Reform 3-1 TEST 2 Tindall Ch. 27 Tindall, Chs. 23-27 Loewen, Ch. 1 No Classes ] Tindall Ch. 28 Tindall Ch. 29 Tindall Ch. 30 Tindall Ch. 30 (cont) Tindall Ch. 31 Tindall Ch. 32

3/3 3/9 3-12 3-13 3-15 3-20 3-22 3-27 3-29

Spring Break Last Day to Withdraw New Deal America From Isolation To Global War The Second World War I The Second World War II Fair Deal & Containment Society & Culture, 1945-60 Video: The Fifties I TEST 3 Conflict & Deadlock: The Eisenhower Years Video: The Fifties II New Frontiers: Political/Social Change in the 1960s The Vietnam War "See No Evil" America in the 1970s Conservative Resurgence America in the 1980s America in the 1990s & Beyond Down the Memory Hole TEST 4 (Last Day of Class)

4-3 4-5

Tindall, Chs. 28-32 Tindall Ch. 33

4-10

Tindall Ch. 34

4-12

Tindall Chs.33-35 Loewen Ch. 9 Tindall Ch. 34-35 Tindall Ch. 36

4-17 4-19

4-24

Tindall Ch. 37 Loewen Ch. 10 Tindall, Chs. 33-37 Loewen, Chs. 9,10

4-26

6 Note: For students who wish to take a comprehensive final exam, the final exam essay question will be sent to all students via e-mail on April 27th and will be due by May 4th at 6pm. All essays must be submitted electronically as a Word document and NO LATE ESSAYS WILL BE ACCEPTEDNO EXCEPTIONS!!!!!!