This course seeks to provide students with a broad overview of the development of the
United states from the end of the Reconstruction period through the industrialization of the
late nineteenth century, the Populist and Progressive reform eras, World War I, the prosperity
and depression of the 1920s and '30s, World War II, the Cold War, the age of domestic
affluence and international power of the 50s and 60s, the attempts to come to grips with an
age of limits in the 70s, the refusal to do so in the 80s, through the post-Cold War 90s and into the new millennium.
Particular
attention will be paid to the effects of industrialization, immigration, and urbanization on
American society, values, and politics. The roles of women, African-Americans and other
minorities, and working people will be stressed along with the more traditional political,
diplomatic, economic, and intellectual events. The role of popular culture in reflecting the
society's values and attitudes will be discussed. The development of American liberalism in
this century and its decline in the years after the sixties will be examined, and the relations
between the United States and the outside world will be studied. Finally, an assessment of
what the history of the United States indicates about the state of the nation today and in the
future will be undertaken.
Attendance at all classes and films is expected. Severe penalties will be imposed for
excessive absences. Assignments must be handed in on time.
Class meetings will usually combine lecture and discussion. On occasion, the class
will divide into smaller groups for more discussion.
Tests
There will be two tests in the course, in addition to a final exam.
Paper
A paper of approximately 6 to 8 typed pages, on a topic to be selected by the student
and approved by the instructor, is also required. Paper topics must be submitted for approval
by Tuesday, January 30. Papers involve thinking and re-thinking, as
well as research. The purpose of this assignment is to improve the student's skills at critical
thinking, analysis, writing, research, and interpretation, as well as gaining deeper knowledge
about a particular historical topic. It is expected that the paper will be done with great care
and much revision. At least three sources outside the assigned readings should be consulted.
First drafts of papers will be due on Tuesday, February 27. Final papers will be submitted on
Thursday, April 19.
Discussions
The purpose of this course is to allow us to interact with the American past (and to see
ways in which the past is related to the present). The objective is not simply to memorize
"material," but to think and talk about why things happened as they did and what they mean.
It is therefore expected that students will attend all classes. (It is difficult to interact with
American history if one is not present when it is being discussed.) It is also expected that
reading assignments will be completed before the class meeting for which they are assigned.
There is no one "right" way of interpreting history. A diversity of viewpoints is welcomed in
class discussions. Students should bring up in class any questions they have from the
readings, films, and other class materials.
Students will be evaluated on the basis of the tests, the final exam, the paper, and
participation in class discussions.
Millsaps College is an academic community dedicated to the
pursuit of scholarly inquiry and intellectual growth. The
foundation of this community is a spirit of personal honesty and
mutual trust. Through their Honor Code, the students of Millsaps
College affirm their adherence to these basic ethical principles.
An Honor Code is not simply a set of rules and procedures
governing students' academic conduct. It is an opportunity to
put personal responsibility and integrity into action. When
students agree to abide by an Honor Code, they liberate
themselves to pursue their academic goals in an atmosphere of
mutual confidence and respect.
The success of the Code depends on the support of each member of
the community. Students and faculty alike commit themselves in
their work to the principles of academic honesty. When they
become aware of infractions, both students and faculty are
obligated to report them to the Honor Council, which is
responsible for enforcement.
The pledge signed by all students upon entering the College is as
follows:
As a Millsaps College student, I hereby affirm that I
understand the Honor Code and am aware of its implications
and of my responsibility to the Code. In the interests of
expanding the atmosphere of respect and trust in the
College, I promise to uphold the Honor Code and I will not
tolerate dishonest behavior in myself or in others.
Each examination, quiz, or other assignment that is to be graded
will carry the written pledge: "I hereby certify that I have
neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this assignment.
(Signature)" The abbreviation "Pledged" followed by the
student's signature has the same meaning and may be acceptable on
assignments other than final examinations.
It is the responsibility of students and faculty to report
offenses to the Honor Code Council in the form of a written
report. This account must be signed, the accusation explained in
as much detail as possible, and submitted to the Dean of the
College.
James West Davidson, et. al., Nation of Nations: A Concise Narrative of the American
Republic, 2nd edition, Volume Two (text).
Upton Sinclair, The Jungle.
Robert S. McElvaine, ed., Down and Out in the Great Depression.
Anne Moody, Coming of Age in Mississippi.
NOTE: Some Wednesday Noon classes may be added if we fall behind.
Date Tu Jan 16 Th Jan 18 READING: Text, pp. 535-553.
Tu Jan 23 READING: Text, pp. 466-492;
Th Jan 25 Audio: "Sweet Rosie O'Grady" (1896) READING: Text, 492-524;
Tu Jan 30 READING: Sinclair, The Jungle, pp. 190-344 (chaps. 20-31).
Th Feb 1 READING: Text, pp. 554-562.
READING: Text, 525-535; 573-575.
Th Feb 8 READING: Text, pp. 562-573.
Music of the Gay Nineties: Tu Feb 13 READING: Text, pp. 594-601, 606-625.
READING: Text, 575-593; 626-632.
Th Feb 22 READING: Text, 633-655.
Tu Feb 27 READING: Text, 601-605, 668-670;
READING: Text, pp. 656-668, 670-686.
Tu Mar 6 READING: Text, pp. 687-711;
Tuesday, March 6, Th Mar 8 READING: Text, 712-726;
McElvaine, pp. 49-154.
Tu Mar 20 READING: Text, pp. 726-740;
McElvaine, pp. 155-229. READING: Text, pp. 741-769.
Tu Mar 27 Audio: "Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive" (1945) READING: Text, pp. 770-808.
Tu Apr 3 READING: Text, pp. 809-828, 833-836;
Th Apr 5 Audio: The Rolling Stones (1965) READING: Text, pp. 837-848, 856-866;
Coming of Age in Mississippi, pp. 121-258.
Tu Apr 10 READING: Text, pp. 828-833, 848-856;
Tuesday, April 10, 7:00 PM: Film: Easy Rider (1969) - SH-221
READING: Text, pp. 867-883.
Tu Apr 17 READING: Text, pp. 883-898.
READING: Text, pp. 898-922.
READING: Text, pp. 923-940.
Audio: U2 (1987) additional reading to be handed out.
First Test 100 points
Second Test 100 points
Paper 100 points
Final Exam 150 points
Discussion 50 points
TOTAL 500 points
(grade on a 100-point scale will be determined by dividing
each student's total points for the semester by 5)
or Has anything Changed between 1877 and 2001?
Audio (Woody Guthrie)
Audio (Simon & Garfunkel)
Audio (John Mellencamp)
Audio (Buffy Sainte-Marie)
Audio: Stephen Foster, "Oh! Susanna"(1848)
Audio: "Banks of Marble"
Sinclair, The Jungle, pp. 7-93 (chaps. 1-8).
Sinclair, The Jungle, pp. 94-190 (chaps. 9-19).
Audio: "We Have Fed You All a Thousand Years"
Audio: "The Preacher and the Slave" (Joe Hill) (1911)
LISTEN to Upton Sinclair describe conditions in the Chicago stockyards just before he wrote
The Jungle
Click Here and scroll down to and click on "Sinclair" (near the end of the page).
Audio: "The Flying Trapeze" (1868)
Audio: "Old Time Religion"
Audio: "Swing Low Sweet Chariot"
Audio: "Nobody Knows the Trouble I Seen"
Audio: A song popular at populist camp meetings
Audio: "Daisy Bell" (1892)
Audio: "Ta Ra Ra Boom De Ay!" (1891)
Audio: "The Band Played On" (1895)
Audio: Scott Joplin, "The Entertainer" (ca. 1902)
Audio: "Alexander's Ragtime Band" (1911)
Link to sample Test
Tu Feb 20
Audio: "Over There"
Audio: "How Ya Gonna Keep Em Down on the Farm?"
additional reading to be assigned.
Th Mar 1
Audio: "Ain't We Got Fun?" (1921)
Audio: "Charleston" (1925)
Audio: Bessie Smith (1929)
Audio: Billie Holliday (1933)
McElvaine, pp. xi-48.
Audio: "Happy Days Are Here Again" (1929, 1932)
Audio: "Pennies from Heaven" (1936)
Audio: "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" (1932)
Audio: "Remember My Forgotten Man" (1933)
Audio: "Over the Rainbow" (1939)
Th Mar 22
Audio: "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" (1941)
Audio: "As Time Goes By" (1943)
Audio: The Weavers, "Goodnight Irene" (1950)
Audio: Elvis Presley (1956)
Audio: Bill Haley & his Comets (1954)
Audio: Chuck Berry (1955)
Moody, Coming of Age in Miss., pp. 11-117.
Audio: Buffalo Springfield (1967)
Audio: Jefferson Airplane (1967)
Audio: "We Shall Overcome"
Audio: Bob Dylan (1962)
Audio: "Here's to the State of Mississippi" (ca. 1964)
Coming of Age in Mississippi, pp. 261-384.
Audio: The Byrds (1969)
Audio: "Ballad of the Green Berets" (1966)
Audio: Pete Seeger, "The Big Muddy" (1968)
Audio: Country Joe & the Fish (1969)
Audio: The Beatles (1970)
Audio: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1970)
Audio: John Lennon (1971)
Th Apr 19 
Audio: Marvin Gaye (1970)
Audio: Helen Reddy (1972)
Audio: The Eagles(1977)
Audio: The Village People (1978)
Tu Apr 24 
Audio: Madonna (1984)
Audio: Michael Jackson (1984)
Audio: Bruce Springsteen (1984)
Th Apr 26
Audio: Alanis Morissette (1995)
Audio: Meredith Brooks (1997)
READING: Text, 940-955;
(FINAL EXAM)