Syllabus

Course:        United States History- Advanced
Instructor:    Michael Madden
Text:            THE AMERICANS--Reconstruction to the 21st Century; McDougal Littel

Course Description and Objectives:  This class will survey the United States from the Civil War to the modern days of 1990's.  We will focus on such themes as the emergence and development of America- Economically, politically, at peace and at war, through prosperity and depression, during the struggles for civil rights and into its future.  

We will focus as much on the past of common people-- men, women and children--as much on that of great leaders, as much on the forces of social change as political change, as much on continuity as on change itself.  The purpose of this course is to develop a coherent vision of the course of the social, political and economic history of the United States and to strengthen our awareness of ourselves as historical beings. 

Course Materials:
Text: McDougal Littel, THE AMERICANS
Pens (Black and Red)
Paper
3-Ring Binder (Notebook)
5 Dividers
Map Pencils

Evaluations:
During class there will be lecture, group learning practices, role play, formal/informal discussions and student presentations.

Major Grades:
Major grades will count twice and will consist of hourly exams, group presentations, research papers and student projects.  In the absence of papers, presentations and/or projects during a six week time period, there will normally be three major exams.  

Daily Grades:
Daily grades will count once and will be comprised of daily quizzes, map exercises and other assignments during or outside of class.  There will rarely be more than the minimum of six daily grades per reporting period, thus, incomplete assignments will lower averages substantially.  

Late Work/Make-up Work:
Late work will be marked down 30 points the first day late and 10 points every day after that.  In the event of an excused absence, one day will be allotted for every one day missed for the completion of make up work whether it be daily or major.  In the event of an unexcused absence there will be no opportunity afforded to make up the missed work.  

Paper:
You will required to write on 5-7 page historical essay based on library research.  Suggested topics will be distributed later in the course.  

Grades:
Your grade will be calculated as follows:  Hourly exams- count twice; Daily grades- count once; Paper- counts twice; Group or individual presentations- count twice.  Such considerations as good attendance, steady improvement on quizzes and exams and frequent meritorious contributions to class discussions may override actual cumulative scores and warrant a higher final six weeks average.  

Course Topics:

First Nine Weeks:  Reconstruction to the Origins of Progressivism

      
Second Nine Weeks: Progressivism to the Great Depression       

Third Nine Weeks: The New Deal to the Second World War          

    
Fourth Nine Weeks:   Post War prosperity to Reagan                                                         

-Education is man's going forward from cocksure ignorance to thoughtful uncertainty.

-Our earth is degenerate in these latter days; there are signs that the world is speedily coming to an end.  Bribery and corruption are common place; children no longer obey their parents; every many wants to write a book and the end of the world is evidently approaching.
                                                        (Assyrian Tablet, ca. 2800 B.C.)

- Those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it.

-Historical knowledge may not help you live the present better or predict the future, but you will certainly fail in such endeavors without it.