Description:

This survey course in U.S. history will emphasize developments and trends in American society from the early period of discovery and settlement through Reconstruction. Topics will include the Colonial era, the Revolutionary period, the Federalist era, the expansion of the Republic during the mid-19th century, and the Civil War and Reconstruction. The emphasis will be on analysis and interpretation of these developments. 3 hrs./wk. This course may be offered as a Learning Communities (LCOM) section, see current credit schedule for LCOM details.

Supplies: Refer to the instructor’s course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Prerequisites: NONE

Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Compare and contrast major figures and movements from the periods of American history under study.
2. Recognize the important developments and trends that shaped American society prior to 1877.
3. Use various types of history – biographical, political, diplomatic, constitutional, intellectual, social, and cultural – to provide a more complex understanding of United States history to 1877.
4. Analyze a variety of historical materials and relate these materials to key issues covered in the course.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of American history at this survey level through tests, writing assignments and projects.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. Colonial Origins and the New Republic
   A. Analyze and discuss the “clash of cultures” in the New World.
      1. Assess the contributions of pre-Columbian (1492) peoples in the
Western Hemisphere.
   B. Trace the journey made by black African slaves from western Africa
to the Caribbean and South America.
   C. Discuss the conquest of the Western Hemisphere by Europeans.

II. Comparison of the Three Major Colonizing Powers
   A. Analyze the rise of the Spanish colonial empire.
   B. Explain the founding of New France by France.
   C. Trace the layout of the British empire in North America.

III. Examples of Colonial Life and Development
   A. Explain the rise to prominence of the Southern colony of Virginia.
   B. Analyze the development of the Massachusetts Bay Colony as the
dominant New England colony.
   C. Discuss the role of Pennsylvania as a middle colony.

IV. The American Revolution
   A. Through careful reading and writing, analyze the Declaration of
Independence as an important document in 1776.
   B. Describe the alliance between the United States and France.
   C. Describe the major military clashes between the United States and
Great Britain between 1776 and 1783.

V. The Confederation Period
   A. Explain the importance of the Northwest Ordinances.
   B. Compare the United States Constitution to the Articles of
Confederation.
   C. Learn the parts and amendments of the U.S. Constitution.

VI. A Growing America
   A. Identify and explain the precedents developed during the Federalist
era (1789-1801).
   B. Describe the impact the Federalist era had on the three branches of
federal government: legislative, executive and judicial.
   C. Describe the foreign policy developed under the Federalists,
particularly with regard to Great Britain, France and Spain.

VII. The Republicans
   A. Describe the two-term presidency of Thomas Jefferson in terms of the
growth of a major political party and Jefferson’s domestic policies.
   B. List the accomplishments of the Republicans in foreign policy,
particularly Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase.
   C. Identify the causes, the key military events and treaty-making for
the War of 1812 under President James Madison.

VIII. The Development of Nationalism and Unity
   A. Identify the accomplishments of Secretary of State John Quincy
Adams: the Transcontinental Treaty, Florida Purchase treaty and Monroe
Doctrine.
   B. Describe the United States Supreme Court under John Marshall.

IX. Sectional Differences in the First Half of the Nineteenth Century
   A. Identify the components - and consequences - of the Missouri
Compromise in 1820.
   B. Describe the presidency of Andrew Jackson including the
nullification crisis with South Carolina, the forced removal of the
Cherokee Nation and the war between Jackson and the Second Bank of the
United States.

X. The Mid-Nineteenth Century Reform Era
   A. Specify the various types of reform: religion, utopian communities,
temperance, women’s rights, humanitarian rights, and abolitionism.

XI. Expansionism and Foreign Policy in the 1840s
   A. Explain how the Oregon question between the United States and Great
Britain was resolved.
   B. State the relationship between the annexation of Texas and the
outbreak of the Mexican-American War.
   C. Analyze the impact that the California Gold Rush in 1848 and the
Compromise of 1850 had on expansionist plans for the United States.

XII. The Decade of National Crises
   A. Explain how the Kansas-Nebraska Act created “bleeding Kansas” and
drastically altered the debate between “free” and “pro-slavery” forces.
   B. Describe how the Dred Scott case of 1857 provoked additional
controversy instead of calming the debate over the expansion of slavery.

XIII. The Civil War Period
   A. Analyze the conditions that eventually led to civil conflict in
1861.
   B. Identify the military turning points in the war.
   C. Describe the role of Abraham Lincoln as president and the
Emancipation Proclamation.

XIV. Reconstruction
   A. Describe the role of the assassination of President Lincoln and the
direct effect it had on the struggle between the executive and legislative
branches of the federal government.
   B. Trace the passage of the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments.
   C. Describe the influence “Radical Republicanism” had on the post-1865
South.
   D. Describe federal policy toward the freedmen.

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

Students should successfully complete a minimum of 60% of the
competencies indicated above on at least three major exams and other
written assignments at the instructor’s discretion during the
semester.

Caveats: NONE

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.