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, particularly in the wake of the attack of September 11, 2001 and with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the effects of Hurricane Katrina, the economic collapse of 2008 and the beginnings of the Obama Adminstration 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, February 2. 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, March 9. Final papers will be submitted on
Thursday, April 15.
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.
WEDNESDAY MEETINGS
The fourth hour for this class is scheduled for Wednesday, 12-12:50 PM.
We will not meet on all Wednesdays. We definitely will meet, as listed on the schedule, on
the first Wednesday, the first few Wednesdays in February, and the last few Wednesdays
of the semester. In between, Wednesday meetings will be called as needed for catching up
or to replace regularly scheduled classes that may have to be postponed for any reason. James West Davidson, et. al., Nation of Nations: A Concise Narrative of the American
Republic, 6th edition, Volume Two (text).
William K. Storey, Writing History, 2nd edition.
Upton Sinclair, The Jungle.
Robert S. McElvaine, ed., Down and Out in the Great Depression.
Anne Moody, Coming of Age in Mississippi.
Date Tu Jan 12
Audio (Woody Guthrie) Tu Jan 19 READING: Text, pp. 507-535; W Jan 20 READING: Text, pp. 536-567;
Th Jan 21 Audio: "Sweet Rosie O'Grady" (1896) READING: Text, 568-593;
Tu Jan 26 READING: IF NOT ALREADY READ: Sinclair, The Jungle, pp. 190-344 (chaps. 20-31).
W Jan 27 READING: Text, pp. 595-602.
READING: Text, 496-508; 606-607; Tu Feb 2 READING: Text, pp. 602-606, 607-611.
Music of the Gay Nineties: W Feb 3 READING: Text, pp. 634-659.
READING: Text, 611-631; 660-667; Th Feb 11 READING: Text, 667-689. Tu Feb 16 READING: Text, 638-641, 699-701;
READING: Text, pp. 690-699, 701-714.
Th Feb 18 READING: Text, pp. 714-721, 729-733;
Tu Feb 23 READING: Text, 733-759;
McElvaine, pp. 49-154.
W Feb 24 READING: Text, pp. 722-729;
McElvaine, pp. 155-229. Th Feb 25 Tuesday, March 2 - NO CLASS MEETING AT 10 AM, BUT: , READING: Text, pp. 760-792.
Tu Mar 23 Audio: "Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive" (1945) READING: Text, pp. 792-814.
W Mar 24 READING: Text, pp. 814-846;
Tu Mar 30 Audio: The Rolling Stones (1965) READING: Text, pp. 848-856, 873-885;
Coming of Age in Mississippi, pp. 121-258.
READING: Text, pp. 857-873;
READING: Text, pp. 886-900.
Tu Apr 6 READING: Text, pp. 900-903.
(Evaluations will be conducted today)
Tu Apr 13 READING: Text, pp. 903-940.
READING: Text, pp. 941-965.
Audio: U2 (1987) additional reading to be handed out.
W Apr 21 Audio: Red Hot Chili Peppers (1999) READING: Text, 992-1004;
Th Apr 22 READING: To be determined.
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)
NOTE: The first regular course meeting will not take place until Tuesday, January 19.
USE
THE FIRST WEEK WHEN WE DO NOT HAVE CLASSES TO READ Upton Sinclair, The Jungle.
Audio (Simon & Garfunkel)
Audio (John Mellencamp)
Audio (Buffy Sainte-Marie)
Audio: Stephen Foster, "Oh! Susanna"(1848)
Storey, Writing History, pp. 1-23.
Audio: "Banks of Marble"
IF NOT ALREADY READ: Sinclair, The Jungle, pp. 7-93 (chaps. 1-8).
IF NOT ALREADY READ: 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)
Audio: "The Flying Trapeze" (1868)
Audio: "Old Time Religion"
Audio: "Swing Low Sweet Chariot"
Audio: "Nobody Knows the Trouble I Seen"
Storey, Writing History, pp. 25-59.
.
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)
Th Feb 4
Storey, Writing History, pp. 61-105.
Link to sample Test
W Feb 10 The Birth of What Nation?
Audio: "Over There"
Audio: "How Ya Gonna Keep Em Down on the Farm?"
additional reading to be assigned.
W Feb 17
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)
Audio: Dooley Wilson (1943)
Th Mar 4
Audio: Andrews Sisters, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" (1941)
Audio: Mills Brothers, "Paper Doll," (1943)
SPRING BREAK!!
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;
Storey, Writing History, pp. 107-111.
Audio: Buffalo Springfield (1967)
Audio: Jefferson Airplane (1967)
W Mar 31
Audio: "We Shall Overcome"
Audio: Bob Dylan (1962)
Audio: "Here's to the State of Mississippi" (1964)
Coming of Age in Mississippi, pp. 261-384.
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)
Tuesday, April 13, 7:00 PM: FILM: Network (1976) - SH-211
W Apr 14 
Audio: Marvin Gaye (1970)
Audio: Helen Reddy (1972)
Audio: The Eagles(1977)
Audio: The Village People (1978)
Th Apr 15 
Audio: Madonna (1984)
Audio: Michael Jackson (1984)
Audio: Bruce Springsteen (1984)
Tu Apr 20 
Audio: Alanis Morissette (1995)
Audio: Meredith Brooks (1997)
READING: Text, 966-992;
Audio: Blackeyed Peas (2003)
additional reading to be handed out.
