United States History I Syllabus for 2021-2022
Return to Syllabus List

Instructor Information

Phone

Office Location

Office Hours

Course Information

COVID-19 Protocols

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Student Service Center office 112. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

The Tutoring for Success policy applies to any student whose grade or performance in the course falls below a departmentally determined minimum threshold. In either of those cases, the instructor will direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. Under this policy, the instructor will follow specific departmental guidelines governing the use, duration, and grade component of the tutoring need.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

HIST-1301-001 United States History I

Prerequisites

Course Description

A survey of the social, political, economic, cultural and intellectual history of the United States from the pre-Columbian era to the Civil War/Reconstruction period. United States History I includes the study of pre-Columbian, colonial, revolutionary, early national, slavery and sectionalism, and the Civil War/Reconstruction eras. Themes that may be addressed in United States History I include: American settlement and diversity, American culture, religion, civil and human rights, technological change, economic change, immigration and migration, and creation of the federal government.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Dual Credit Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty: An American History. W.W. Norton and Company, Inc., New York, 2014.

Bruno Leon, editor: Opposing Viewpoints in American History Volume I: from Colonial Times to Reconstruction.Green Haven Press, San Diego CA, 1996.

Supplies

A binder (with 10 dividers, one for each period and a section for writing), notebook paper or a spiral, blue or black pens, pencils, highlighters.

Student Performance

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1.  Create an argument through the use of historical evidence.

2.  analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources.

3.  analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, cultural, and global forces on this period in United States history.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

To the mature young adults which are members of this class I apologize for the insult imposed upon you by this section of the syllabus. 
Prohibited behavior includes, but is not limited to the following:

1. No cell phones during class. If there is an emergency, let me know and accommodations can be made.

2. Be respectful of the instructor and other students

3. Be present and responsible for your learning, you determine your success in this class.

The instructor reserves the right to assign seating if necessary to preserve order. Contrary to what you are probably now thinking, it is not my intention to design a class which is a prison camp for college level students. I am in favor of having fun in class perhaps as much as anyone; however, it must not be at the expense of an environment conducive to learning.

Grading Criteria

Course requirements/grading:

Exams: there will be a minimum of 4 major examinations during the semester including a comprehensive final exam.  Exams will consist of multiple choice questions and short answers and cover readings, daily work, class discussion and the lectures and will count 100 points

Essays. There will be a minimum of 3 major essays that will be timed and written in class (either a Long Essay, 2 Short Answers, or  Document Based), for 100 points each. Also as an essay grade, you will write a paper that covers a historical ethical dilemma that will use two or more areas of your study at Tascosa High School to make connections and clarify the ethical dilemma, recognize connections to your personal values and rules, articulate the sources of your insights, and incorporate personal values, and consider different points of views in a reasoned response. 

Quizzes. There will be quizzes throughout each unit over 1 or two topics. The purpose of these quizzes will be to check for content knowledge.

Daily work/Homework Daily work will consist of any assignment that is completed in class. Although these assignments will not be graded, you will be expected to show me that you have completed the assignments in order to correct any test or re-do any assessment. The purpose of daily work is to learn the material that will be assessed. Homework will only be necessary of you do not complete the assigned task for the day. 

There will be no extra credit assignments. 

Makeup Exams, essays, quizzes, and assignments: There are no makeup exams (etc.) without prearrangement with the instructor. If a student misses an exam, they have 3 class days to make it up. After 3 days the student forfeits the ability to correct their test. All tests and retakes must be completed within the time the instructor allows.

Late work: Any work that is late will be accepted up to the day of the test without late deductions but will not be accepted after the test date. No alternate assignments will be given to make up zeros. 

Academic dishonesty:
Cheating in any form will not be tolerated. Some collaboration with other students on projects is acceptable; however, students must do their own work. Papers which bear a striking resemblance to the work of other students will not be accepted. If the instructor determines that a student is not responsible for his/her work, no credit will be given for the assignment. If a student is copying another's work for a different class, that assignment will be taken up by the instructor and given to the respective instructor.
 

90-100 = A

80-89 = B

70-79 = C

60-69 = D

60-50 = F

   

Note: Your average for dual credit will be the same that it is in Skyward. The breakdown for assignments will be as follows:

Tests 100 points
Essays 100 points
Quizzes 25 points

 

Attendance

Amarillo College Attendance Policy:   Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class.

Instructor Attendance Policy.  This class will follow AISD's attendance policy. Over 10 minutes tardy counts as an absence (even with a pass).  Leaving class 10 minutes or more early counts as an absence.  

It is important to note the if a student is absent, the learning/class work that they miss must be made up within 3 days. The student should check the Canvas Homepage for a description of what was covered the day of their absence. 

Calendar

Tentative schedule and reading assignments:

Week 1

  • Reading:A World of Many Cultures and various primary sources from Opposing Viewpoints and Gilder Lehrman
  • Lecture: A New World

Week 2

Exam # 1

  • Reading: The Thirteen Colonies and the British Empire, 1607-1754  and various primary sources from Opposing Viewpoints and Gilder Lehrman
  • Lecture: Beginnings of English America: 1607-1660

Week 3

  • Reading: Colonial Society in the the Eighteenth Century  and various primary sources from Opposing Viewpoints and Gilder Lehrman
  • Lecture: Creating Anglo America, 1660-1750

EXAM #2

Week 4

Writing Assignment #1

  • Reading: Imperial Wars and Colonial Protest, 1754-1774  and various primary sources from Opposing Viewpoints and Gilder Lehrman
  • Lecture: Slavery, Freedom, and the Struggle for Empire to 1763

Week 5

  • Reading: The American Revolution and the Confederation, 1774-1787
  • Lecture: The American Revolution, 1763-1783 and The Revolution Within

Week 6

  • Reading: The Constitution and the New Republic, 1787-1800  and various primary sources from Opposing Viewpoints and Gilder Lehrman
  • Lecture: Founding a Nation, 1783-1789 

EXAM #2

Week 7

  • Reading: The Age of Jefferson, 1800-1816 and various primary sources from Opposing Viewpoints and Gilder Lehrman
  • Lecture: Securing the Republic, 1790-1815

Week 8

  • Reading:Nationalism and Economic Development, 1816-1848 and various primary sources from Opposing Viewpoints and Gilder Lehrman
  • Lecture: The Market Revolution, 1800-1840

Week 9

  • Reading: Sectionalism 1820-1860 and various primary sources from Opposing Viewpoints and Gilder Lehrman
  • Lecture: The Peculiar Institution

EXAM #3

Week 10

Writing Assignment

  • Reading: The Age of Jackson, 1824-1844 and various primary sources from Opposing Viewpoints and Gilder Lehrman
  • Lecture: Democracy in America, 1815-1840

Week 11

  • Reading: Society, Culture, And Reform, 1820-1860 and various primary sources from Opposing Viewpoints and Gilder Lehrman
  • Lecture: An Age of Reforrn, 1820-1840

EXAM #4

Week 12

  • Reading: Territorial and Economic Expansion, 1830-1860, The Union in Peril, 1848-1861, and and various primary sources from Opposing Viewpoints and Gilder Lehrman
  • Lecture: A House Divided, 1840-1861

Week 13 & 14

  • Reading: The Civil War, 1861-1865 and various primary sources from Opposing Viewpoints and Gilder Lehrman
  • Lecture: A New Birth of Freedom: The Civil War, 1861-1865

Week 15

  • Reading: Reconstruction, 1863-1877 and various primary sources from Opposing Viewpoints and Gilder Lehrman
  • Lecture: What is Freedom? Reconstruction, 1865-1877

EXAM #5

Week 16

Writing Assignment

SEMESTER FINAL – SEE THS FINAL SCHEDULE

Additional Information

The Instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus and/or calendar if necessary.

Syllabus Created on:

06/01/21 10:33 AM

Last Edited on:

08/16/21 9:46 AM