History 112I - U.S. History, 1865 to the Present

Spring 2005

 

Professor: Russell M. Tremayne

Office: Aspen 128B

Phone: 732-6885

Email: rtremayne@csi.edu

 

Course Description:  Investigates significant developments from the Civil War to the present.

 

An emphasis will be placed on tracing the development of the American political system, economic institutions, and U.S. culture during the Gilded Age, the Progressive Era, the world wars, and post WWII America.  The purpose of this course is to enhance critical thinking skills and student understanding of the human condition.  It is designed specifically to satisfy the CSI Mission, the criteria for General Education, the Social Science Department goals, and the History Program goals listed below.

 

CSI Mission Statement

 

The College of Southern Idaho, a comprehensive community college, provides educational, social and cultural opportunities for a diverse population of Southern Idaho.  In this rapidly changing world, CSI encourages our students to lead enriched, productive and responsible lives.

 

 

General Education Criteria

 

Provide a broad-based survey of a discipline and show the interconnectedness of knowledge.

Develop a discerning individual.

Practice critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Promote awareness of social and cultural diversity in order to appreciate the commonality of mankind.

Foster the balance between individual needs and the demands of society.

Reinforce reading, writing, speaking, and/or quantitative skills.

Encourage and inspire life-long learning.

Encourage creativity.

 

 

Social Science & Education Department Goals

 

A.  Understanding

1.  Understand important facts, concepts and theories of Social Science and Education subjects.

2.  Acquire techniques and methods used to gain new knowledge in the disciplines.

B.  Interpreting

            3.  Develop ability to distinguish between fact and opinion.

            4.  Use evaluation, analysis and synthesis to interpret and solve problems.

C.  Applying

            5.  Use different perspectives from the social sciences and education to make better-informed

                 decisions.

            6.  Acquire an informed understanding of various cultures.

            7.  Prepare to transfer to a university.

 

History Program Goals

 

1.  Examine central themes of United States History and various cultures in Western Civilization and Latin

     America.

2.  Use reading, lecture-discussion, and supplementary material to understand and interpret the past.

3.  Demonstrate an understanding of the past by writing interpretive essays.

4.  Explore different perspectives about the past.

5.  Acquire an appreciation of the historical process which will encourage a lifelong study of the past.

 

 

Required Books:        A People and a Nation. V II, M.B. Norton, 2005.

                                    Forging the American Character. V II, John Wilson, 2003.

 

 

Grades:           Reading Reviews, 100 points each = 400 points

 

Letter grades are calculated on a standard scale:

                        90% and above = A

                        80% - 89%        = B

                        70% - 79%        = C

                        60% - 69%        = D

                        Below 60%       = F

 

 

Honesty Policy

 

The CSI Honesty Policy, explained on pages 15-16 of the College Catalog applies to this class.  Students must produce original work.  Although the professor encourages the honor system, any cheating or plagiarism will result in failure for the class.

 

 

Course Requirements

 

Students must complete all of the readings, prepare four 3-5 page review essays, and meet with the professor three times.

 

 

Outcomes Assessment

 

Objective: Enhance critical thinking skills, examine historical developments in early U.S. history, and further understanding of the human condition.

 

The CSI, Education, and Social Science goals listed above are also course objectives.  Essay exams will be the primary tool used to assess student progress and development.  More specifically, mid-term and final exams will assess student command of facts and concepts, measure their ability to distinguish fact from opinion, and test their skill using analysis and synthesis.  Essays reinforce reading and writing skills, encourage life-long learning and creativity, and make students draw reasonable inferences from observations.  Reading tests examine a student’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills.  They force students to use analysis to break a whole idea into its component parts and use synthesis to bring component parts together into a concept.

Class and Reading Schedule

 

Week One - Introduction to U.S. History.  Read Chapter 17, Norton.  Read Foner “Reconstruction.”

 

Week Two - Read 18, Norton. Read Davis, “Ten Gallon Hero.”

 

Week Three - Read Chapter 19, Norton.  Read Marsh, “Suburban Men and Masculine Domesticity.”

 

Week Four - Chapter 20, Norton. Stock, “Rural Radicals.”

 

Paper I Due Week 4

 

Week Five - Read Chapter 21, Norton.  Read Tuchman, “The First Anti-Imperialists.”

 

Week Six - Read Chapter 22, Norton. Halberstan, “Citizen Ford.”

 

Week Seven - Read Chapter 23, Norton. Vought, “Woodrow Wilson.”

 

Week Eight - Read 24 Norton. Perry, “Women in Politics.”

 

Paper II Due Week 8

 

Week Nine - Read Chapter 25, Norton.  Read Manchester, “Depression.”

 

Week Ten - Read 26 Norton. Leuchtenburg, “The New Deal.”

 

Week Eleven - Read Chapter 27, Norton. Read Alperovitz, “The Bomb.”

 

Week Twelve - Read 28 Norton. Read Evans, “Crack in the Mold.”

 

Paper III Due Week 12

 

Week Thirteen - Read Chapter 29, Norton. Oates, "Trumpets of Conscience."

 

Week Fourteen - Read 30 Norton. Buzzanco, “With One Hand Tied Behind Their Back.”

 

Week Fifteen - Read Chapter 31, Norton. Read Gordon, “The American Environment.”

 

Week Sixteen - Read Chapter 32, Norton.  Schlesinger, “E Pluribus Unum.”

 

Paper IV Due Week 16