Course Description
American society, politics, thought, institutions, and economic
life from the first settlements to the end of the Civil War.
Athena Title
American History to 1865
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in HIST 2111, HIST 2111H
Non-Traditional Format
This course will be taught 95% or more online.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
- By the end of this course, students will be able to arrive at conclusions and think historically about why Europeans settled North America, what happened when European, African, and Native American worlds collided, how early Americans defined and understood the role of government, and how early American economic development shaped religion, culture, and politics. Historical thinking will be developed by gathering and weighing evidence, logical argument, and listening to counter argument.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to write stylistically appropriate papers and essays about early American history. Students will be able to analyze ideas and evidence, organize their thoughts, and revise and edit finished essays based on both primary source and secondary source analysis.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to identify how U.S. history has shaped diverse social and cultural identities towards race, ethnicity, and "multicultural" American identity, encouraging them to understand diverse worldviews and experiences.
Topical Outline
- 1. The Why and Wherefore of History. The First Americans.
- 2. Competition for Empire Begins. The First Colonies.
- 3. Later Seventeenth Century Settlements. The Critical Period of Early American History.
- 4. Provincial Society and Culture. The Economics and Government of Empire.
- 5. The Causes of Resistance. A People's War.
- 6. The Glories and Perils of Republicanism. Founding the Federal System.
- 7. The Party Begins. The Age of Political Ideologies. Jeffersonian Politics in Peace and War.
- 8. The Transformation of American Society and Politics. Markets and Mobility.
- 9. The Second Party System. Reforms and Reactions.
- 10. The South as a Region. Slavery.
- 11. Gone West. The Internal Competition for Empire.
- 12. Sections and Crises. The Cutting of the Ties that Bound the Nation.
- 13. The War Comes. Impressions of War.
- 14. The Unfinished Revolution?
General Education Core
CORE V: Social Sciences
Institutional Competencies
Communication
The ability to effectively develop, express, and exchange ideas in written, oral, or visual form.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
Social Awareness & Responsibility
The capacity to understand the interdependence of people, communities, and self in a global society.
