Description:

This survey course will emphasize developments and trends in American society from the 1870s to the late twentieth century. Topics will include the Reconstruction era, industrialization, immigration, reform movements, World Wars I and II, social and cultural trends, and foreign policy. 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 from 1877 to the present.
3. Use various types of history – biographical, political, diplomatic, constitutional, intellectual, social, and cultural – to provide a complex understanding of United States history from 1877 to the present.
4. Analyze a variety of historical materials and relate these materials to key issues covered in this course.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of American history at the survey level through tests, writing assignments, and projects.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. The Aftermath of Reconstruction
   A. Discuss the Compromise of 1877 in terms of the circumstances
preceding it, the elements that comprised it and its political, economic
and social consequences.
   B. Define the term "Jim Crow."
   C. Trace the results of the end of Reconstruction on black civil rights
and the emergence of "Jim Crow" laws at the turn of the century.
   D. Identify the meaning and manifestations of the "New South."

II. Industrialization and Its Impact
   A. Give examples of technological advancements and inventions that fed
the rapid industrial growth in the post-Reconstruction era.
   B. Explain the reasons for technological advancement, the volume of new
inventions, and rapid industrial growth in the late nineteenth century.
   C. Discuss the social, economic and political impact of rapid
industrialization on the United States within the context of international
markets.
   D. Identify the major industrial/business figures who led the
transformation of the United States from a rural/agrarian to an
urban/industrial nation.
   E. Describe the types of new business organizations that emerged and
their impact on the industries within which each operated.
   F. Portray working and living conditions for the industrial worker in
the late nineteenth century.
   G. Trace and explain the emergence of labor organizations in the
nineteenth century.
   H. Give examples of the major strikes in that period and their
consequences.
   I. Explain the rationale and techniques that business operators used to
defeat strikes and unionization efforts and the role that federal and state
governments played in assisting them.
   J. Discuss the reasons for the emergence of reform efforts in the late
nineteenth century.
   K. Describe the make-up, principles and practical manifestations of the
reform movements in the late nineteenth century.
   L. Explain the role of the federal and state governments in regulating
the economy in the late nineteenth century.

III. The Close of the Frontier
   A. Describe the events and conditions that produced the mining, cattle
and farming frontiers in the late nineteenth century.
   B. Describe the economic, social and political significance of each of
these frontiers.
   C. Describe the decline of each of the frontiers and the results.
   D. Describe the background to the conflict on the frontier between
white settlers and the U.S. Army and Native American populations in the
late nineteenth century.
   E. Explain the reasons for the decline of Native American peoples as
white settlement in the West increased.
   F. Describe Federal Indian legislation.

IV. Populism and the Progressive Era
   A. Enumerate the reasons for the Populist revolt in the South and
Midwest in the late nineteenth century.
   B. List and explain the social, political and economic reforms proposed
by activist farm-based groups.
   C. Analyze the reasons for the early successes and subsequent defeat of
the Populist Party.
   D. Explain the significance of the Populist movement within the context
of a nation undergoing a transition from primarily agrarian/rural to
urban/industrial.
   E. Identify the nineteenth-century roots of the Progressive movement
and the make-up of that movement’s proponents.
   F. Trace the evolution of Progressive thought.
   G. Identify the reforms that Progressives proposed at the local, state
and federal levels.
   H. Analyze the nature of Progressivism and its short- and long-term
social, economic and political impact.

V. Overseas Expansion and Intervention in Europe
   A. Identify and explain the causes of U.S. expansion overseas in the
late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
   B. Discuss the causes of the Spanish-American War and the significance
internationally for the United States.
   C. Describe the major military episodes during the war, the reasons for
the U.S. victory, the peace treaty that ended the conflict and the
short-term and long-term consequences of the United States’ defeat of
Spain.
   D. Identify the "new" foreign policy the United States practiced in the
wake of the Spanish- American War and its implication in the Caribbean, the
Far East and in the Pacific.
   E. Present an overview of the circumstances which led to war in Europe
in 1914.
   F. Enumerate and discuss the events that led to American entrance into
the First World War.
   G. Explain the elements of Wilsonian diplomacy and its significance in
the First World War and the negotiations for peace.
   H. Discuss the elements of the Treaty of Paris that ended the war.

VI. Between the Wars: 1919-1930s
   A. Trace the political trends in the 1920s in the Harding, Coolidge and
Hoover administrations.
   B. Explore the 1920s as a transition era.
   C. Identify the major events that best reflected the notions of a 
return to "normalcy" and a  revolution in "manners and morals."
   D. Explain the economic and social warning signs that foretold the
nation’s economic collapse.
   E. Identify the basic causes of the Great Depression.
   F. Relate the immediate impact of the collapse of the stock market in
1929 and the Hoover administration’s response to it.
   G. Evaluate the results of Hoover’s actions to cope with the economic
difficulty.
   H. Discuss the election of 1932 and the reasons for Franklin
Roosevelt’s victory in the presidential contest.
   I. Trace the political, economic and social policies that characterized
the first period of New Deal programs.
   J. Distinguish between the purpose of the initial New Deal programs and
the intent of legislation and presidential action that followed.
   K. Assess the success of the New Deal in terms of social and economic
conditions.
   L. Identify the long-term political, economic and social consequences
of New Deal politics.

VII. The Post-1945 Period
   A. Enumerate and explain the origins of the Cold War.
   B. Explain the Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations’ Cold War
politics and other foreign policy crises in each administration.
   C. Identify the common threads that run through these responses and the
unique features of each.
   D. Discuss the causes of the Korean War and the nature and significance
of the conflict as limited war.
   E. Trace the historical background of the conflict in Southeast Asia.
   F. Compare the policies that American presidents from Truman through
Nixon implemented to deal with the Vietnam situation.
   G. Analyze the United States’ failure militarily and politically in its
longest war.
   H. Discuss the social and political impact of American withdrawal from
the conflict in the 1970s and future foreign policy ramifications.
   I. Trace the major social, economic and political issues in the
post-1945 presidential administrations and the political programs that
resulted.
   J. Describe the Watergate scandal.
   K. Characterize the Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush domestic and foreign
policies.
   L. Discuss the major events and domestic and foreign policy trends of
the Clinton presidency.

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.