HIS 109 - History of the U.S. from 1865

Course Description and Objectives:

Upon completion of this course you should be able to:

1. Read and evaluate historical resources critically; and
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the cultural, economic, literary, political, religious, and social values related to the period covered by this course.

TOPICAL OUTLINE

1. Reconstruction: 1865-1877
   • Reuniting the Nation
   • The Freedman's Transition and the Rise of Jim Crow
   • Southern Economic Readjustment
2. The West and the Closing of the Frontier

1. Rise of Industry and the City
2. Critics of Industrialism
3. Labor's Response
4. Emergence as a World Power
   • The Monroe Doctrine and Its Enforcement
   • Spanish American War
   • Pacific Area Involvement
   • European Involvement: World War I and the Treaty
5. The Age of Reform: 1880-1917
   • Reformers: Grangers, Populists and Progressives
   • Newspapers and Magazines and the Mukrakers and other Reformers in Print
   • Reform Politicians: T. Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson
   • Other Reformers: Sufferagettes, Probihitionists and Evolutionists

1. Prosperity and Depression
   • The Jazz Age: Social, Cultural and Intellectual
   • Business, Prosperity and Laissez Faire Government
   • The Party is Over: Economic Collapse of Europe and the United States
   • Attempted Solution: The New Deal
2. War and Cold War
   • Causes and Conflict
   • The Aftermath of Hiroshima
   • Crises of the Crucial Decades (1945-1963) in Europe and Asia

1. Crises and Problems of the Affluent Society
   • Peacetime Prosperity: Truman and Eisenhower
   • Civil Rights Movement: Kennedy and Johnson
   • War on Poverty
2. Economic Ups and Downs of the 70's and 80's
3. Self Discovery
   • Vietnam
   • Watergate
   • A New Political Order?: Republican Victories at the Polls
4. Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton Administrations

Sample Writing Assignment: Book Report

Option #1: Each student will be required to read one book of at least 200 pages on a subject pertaining to U.S. History after 1865. The following instructions should be followed for the written report: The report should be a minimum of 3 pages typed (double spaced) or 5 pages handwritten. The report should include the following points and in this order! Maximum length is 6 pages typed and 10 pages handwritten. Handwritten reports are not double spaced.

Book Report Points:

1. Purpose of the Author (Thesis)
2. Summary of Content
3. Types of Sources Used by Author
4. Writing Style of Author
5. Did he or she achieve his or her purpose and prove his or her thesis?
6. Author's conclusion
7. Your conclusion and an evaluation of how this book helped you to better understand the subject.

Option #2: Read a novel by a great American author of at least 200 pages. The author must have lived and wrote during the period of study. For 108, the author must be before 1865. For 109, Since 1865: If the author is mentioned in the textbook (Emerson, Sinclair, Fitzgerald, Thoreau, Hawthorne, etc.) it will be acceptable. Several acceptable authors are mentioned in another part or this syllabus. If in doubt, check with me. If the novel is chosen, the following points should be covered and in this order! Rules regarding length etc., are the same as for option #1.

1. Several paragraphs on the life of the author. Also tell why this author should be considered a great American author.
2. Summary of the story told in the book.
3. At least two or three short quotations which illustrate the writing style of the author.
4. A good analysis on how you benefited from reading the book.

IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR BOTH OPTIONS!

• Each report must headline each TOPIC.
• Also required is a TITLE page with your name, date, section, title of book, publisher, publication date, and # of pages.
• Papers turned in without title page will be returned, unread, ungraded, and will be counted late if this error is discovered by the instructor after the due date.

Posted May 17, 1996; Revised June 17, 2003
http://www.bluegrass.kctcs.edu/LCC/HIS