Grimsley, U.S. History to 1877, Winter 2008

Contact Professor Grimsley (Please include HISTORY 151 in the subject line)
Office Phone: 614-292-1855 (I am seldom in the office, so email is by far the best way to reach me)

Overview

History 151, the first half of the American History sequence, covers the period from 1500 to 1877. The course is designed to acquaint students with the basic concepts, events, and interpretations of the American historical experience. The assumption upon which this and similar courses are built is that all educated persons should possess an understanding of the past that gave rise to our current society.

The course is constructed around three interwoven themes: 1) the collision of European, African, and Native American cultures; 2) the development of American political institutions and culture; 3) the question of whether the promise of equality in the American republic applies to all Americans or only a portion.

1. Acquire a perspective on attempts to understand the human experience and the factors that shape human activity.

2. Develop critical thinking through the study of diverse interpretations of historical events, and gain the ability to evaluate the worth of historical analogies when applied to contemporary affairs.

3. Apply critical thinking through historical analysis of secondary sources; that is to say, sources that interpret historical events based on study of primary (e.g., eyewitness) accounts and to illuminate larger patterns in the human past.

Required Textbooks:

Gary B. Nash et al., The American People, 5th Brief Edition. Volume 1.
Note: You are strongly encouraged to consult the highly useful online companion to this textbook.

Edmund S. Morgan, The Puritan Dilemma: The Story of John Winthrop, 3rd ed. (Please note that this book has a study guide in the back.)

Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself (Norton Critical Editions) )

All students must be officially enrolled in the course by the end of the second full week of the quarter. No requests to add the course will be approved by the department chair after that time. Enrolling officially and on time is solely the responsibility of each student.

If for any medical reason you find it absolutely necessary to miss an examination, you must contact me before the exam and get my consent to your absence if you wish to make up the exam. You must also provide sufficient documentation of the reason for your inability to attend: doctor's note, hospital papers, obituary notices in the case of a loved one, etc. If you do not produce this documentation, you will not be permitted to take a make-up examination. Make-up examinations are administered by the history department at certain scheduled times during the quarter. If you are permitted to take a make-up examination, it will be at one of those times. False excuses regarding an inability to take an examination, and/or false documentation, will be treated as academic misconduct and prosecuted accordingly.

Please do not be late for class. If you are late, do not use the door closest to the podium. And if you are more than two minutes late, please wait outside the rear door until 1:40 p.m. All students who have arrived late will be admitted at that time. If you are more than ten minutes late, please wait until the mid-class break, which usually takes place around 2:20 p.m.

Academic Misconduct

It is the responsibility of the Committee on Academic Misconduct to investigate or establish procedures for the investigation of all reported cases of student academic misconduct. The term academic misconduct includes all forms of student academic misconduct wherever committed; illustrated by, but not limited to, cases of plagiarism and dishonest practices in connection with examinations. Instructors shall report all instances of alleged academic misconduct to the committee (Faculty Rule 3335-5-487). For additional information, see the Code of Student Conduct.

Students are responsible for understanding what constitutes plagiarism. For a useful discussion, click here.

Students suspected of cheating or plagiarizing will be prosecuted through the university disciplinary system.

Disability Services

Students with disabilities that have been certified by the Office for Disability Services will be appropriately accommodated, and should inform the instructor as soon as possible of their needs. The Office for Disability Services is located in 150 Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil Avenue; telephone 292-3307, TDD 292-0901.

Students will take a two mid‑terms and a final exam. These requirements are weighted as follows:

FIRST MID‑TERM ‑ 25 percent
SECOND MID‑TERM ‑ 35 percent
FINAL EXAM ‑ 40 percent

Who Graded My Exam?

Once the quarter is underway and finally class roster has been received, a specific TA will be assigned to grade a specific third of the class throughout the quarter. A list of the TAs, their assignments, and their office hours will be posted as well. Please contact the appropriate TA directly with regard to questions concerning your exams. They have full authority to revisit grades and make any appropriate adjustments. Please follow the grade grievance procedure .

Grade Grievance Procedure

If your last name begins with:

A through Ham-, your grader is Tony Gass. 09 Dulles Hall
Email: gass.5@osu.edu Office hrs: Tues.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Ha- through Pat-, your grader is Di Luo. 322 Dulles Hall
Email: luo.74@osu.edu Office hrs: Mon., 3:30-4:30 p.m., Thurs., 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Pau-Z, your grader is Jason Perkins. 322 Dulles Hall
Email: perkins.222@osu.edu Office hrs: Tues., 10-12.

Week 1.

Thursday – I. Introduction to the Course
Thursday – II. The Politics of History

Week 2.

Tuesday – I. The European Invasion. Nash, ch. 1
Tuesday – II. The Southern Colonies. Nash, ch. 2

Thursday – I. The Puritans. Nash, ch. 2; Morgan, all
Thursday – II. The Puritans. Nash, ch. 2; Morgan, all

Week 3.

Tuesday – I. The Growth and Maturing of Colonial Society. Nash, chs. 2-4
Tuesday – II. Wars for Empire. Nash, ch. 4

Thursday – I. Origins of the American Revolution. Nash, ch. 5
Thursday – II Origins of the American Revolution. Nash, ch. 5

Week 4.

Tuesday – I. The American Revolution. Nash, ch. 6
Tuesday – II. The American Revolution. Nash, ch. 6

Thursday: First Midterm Examination (January 24) First Midterm Study Guide. (updated)

Week 5.

Tuesday – I. The Radicalism of the Revolution. Nash, ch. 6
Tuesday – II. The Radicalism of the Revolution. Nash, ch. 6

Thursday - I. Creating a Republic, 1783-1789. Nash, ch. 7
Thursday - II. Creating a Republic, 1790-1796. Nash, ch. 7, 8

Tuesday – I. Creating a Republic, 1796-1815. Nash, chs. 7, 8
Tuesday – II . Creating a Republic, 1796-1815. Nash, chs. 7, 8.

Thursday – I. The Early Republic, 1789-1800. Nash, ch. 8
Thursday – II. The Early Republic, 1800-1815. Nash, ch. 9

Week 7.

Tuesday - I. The Market Revolution. Nash, ch. 10.
Tuesday - II. The Market Revolution. Nash, ch. 10

Thursday. Second Midterm Examination (February 14) Second Midterm Study Guide. (not yet updated)

Week 8.

Tuesday – I. The Second Great Awakening. Nash, ch. 10
Tuesday – II. The Rise of the White Man's Democracy. Nash, ch. 10

Thursday – I. The Rise of the White Man's Democracy. Nash, ch. 11
Thursday – II. Slavery and the Old South. Nash, ch. 11; Douglass, all.

Week 9.

Tuesday – I.   African American Religion and Slave Resistance. Nash, ch. 11; Douglass, all.
Tuesday – II.  Antebellum Reform Movements. Nash, ch. 23

Thursday – I.   The Origins of the Civil War. Nash. ch. 13
Thursday – II. The Origins of the Civil War. Nash. ch. 14

Week 10.

Tuesday – I. The Civil War. Nash, ch. 15
Tuesday – II. The Emancipation Moment, ch. 15

Thursday - I. Reconstruction. Nash, ch. 16
Thursday - II. Reconstruction. Nash, ch. 16

Final Examination Study Guide (not yet updated)

Final Examination: Monday, March 10, 1:30 PM - 3:18 PM
(Please note: There are no longer separate final exams for graduating seniors.)