History 152:American Society Since 1877

Spring Quarter 2003Prof. J. Wu

Ohio Union 224Office:261 Dulles

Office Hours:M 3:30-4:30, W 3-4 and by appointmentPhone:292-9331

Lectures:T, Th 1:30-2:48Email:wu.287@osu.edu

Discussion Section Leaders:

Michael Alaridcontact info and office hours:TBA

Brian Hairstoncontact info and office hours:TBA

Course Description and Objective:

This course explores the social, political, cultural, and economic developments of the United States since the end of Reconstruction. Lectures, discussions, and course assignments will focus on the diversity of the American peoples and their competing beliefs regarding the nation's culture, government, and identity. Topicsinclude: immigration and regulation of national borders; racial identity and conflict; the growth of the economy and class formation; urbanization and social reform; the evolution and diversity of family structures; changes in gender roles and sexual norms; and the interplay between America's domestic and international policies.

This course is designed to develop the following skills:

1.To develop the ability to assess and think critically about historical issues and how people interpret those issues;

2.To gain a basic factual knowledge of this historical period

3.To develop skills in analyzing historical data and reaching informed conclusions about those data.

This course will satisfy a GEC requirement.

Readings:

The following books will be available for purchase at SBX.Except for item 3, the books also are on reserve at the main library.

1.John Mack Faragher, et al., Out of Many: A History of the American People.Be sure to purchase volume 2.

2.After the Fact, vol. 2, 4th edition

3.J. Wu, comp., Retrieving the American Past: A Customized U.S. History Reader 

(Important: Retrieving the American Past or RTAP is a customized reader. I have chosen certain essays and documents from a variety of possibilities. The selections are published in a unique version of the reader prepared especially for your class. Make sure you purchase the correct version! Each reader has a sticker on the front cover with the name of the instructor who compiled the version and the academic quarter in which it will be used. The same information is also printed on the first page. Do not use a version prepared by another instructor and do not use a version prepared for a quarter other than the one in which you are taking the course.)

4.Anzia Yezierska, Bread Givers

5.John Okada, No-No Boy

6.Anne Moody, Coming of Age in Mississippi

Enrollment:

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.

Assignments and Expectations:

If you have a disability requiring special arrangements for completing assignments, please let your Discussion Section Leader and the instructor know as soon as possible.

1.2 midterms (15% each) and 1 final exam (15%).Each exam mainly focuses on the materials covered in that particular section of the course.However, the secondmidterm and the final also will contain questions relating to materials covered in the previous sections.The exams will consist of short-answer identification as well as essay questions.

If for any family or medical reason, you find it absolutely necessary to miss an examination, you must contact your DSL and the course instructor before the examination and have our consent to your absence if you wish to take a make-up exam.If unforeseen circumstances prevent you from contacting us before the exam, you must contact us within one week of the scheduled exam and present documentation to support your request for a make-up exam.

2.3 critical response papers (2-3 pages in length) to Bread Givers, No-No Boy and Coming of Age in Mississippi (10% each).Write brief essays that analyze these life narratives for their relevance to the historical themes that are addressed in this class.

Late papers will be docked 1/3 of a grade for each day that it is late.All work presented in class or turned in must be a student's own.Plagiarism or any other form of academic misconduct will be dealt with in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the University's Committee on Academic Misconduct and will seriously affect a student's grade.

3.Attendance and participation (15%).Attendance in both the lectures and the discussion sections are required.Your DSL will provide more specific guidelines regarding your course participation.Remember, the success of this course depends upon your willingness to complete the assignments before class and being prepared to engage in discussion.

4.In-class (surprise) quizzes (10%).There will be periodic quizzes, given during the scheduled lecture times, covering the materials in the reading and the lectures.The quizzes will consist of identification as well as interpretative questions.



Class Schedule:

April 1:Introduction: America at the End of Reconstruction

The lectures will be available online at this website:

www.history.ohio-state.edu/people/wu.287/152lectures2003

For username, enter:Hist152

The first password will be:Turner

The password will change periodically and will be announced in lectures.

April 2:Discussion Section

April 3: The Trans-Mississippi West

Out of Many, ch. 18.

April 4:Discussion

RTAP: Greenwald, "Native Americans and the Closing of the Frontier"

April 8:The Incorporation of America

Out of Many, ch. 19.

April 9:Discussion

April 10:Nation and Empire

Out of Many, ch. 20.

April 11:Discussion

RTAP: Hahn/Hogan/Brucken, "The Debate Over Annexing the Philippines, 1898-1900"

April 15:Urban America and Progressive Reform

Out of Many, ch. 21.

April 16:Discussion

After the Fact, ch. 8

April 17:The "New" Immigrants from the "Old World"

April 18:Discussion

Anzia Yezierska, Bread Givers

April 22:View:Journey to America

Yezierska Papers due

April 23:Review

April 24:Midterm

April 25:No Discussion

April 29:World War I:Over There and Over Here

Out of Many, ch. 22.

April 30:Discussion

After the Fact, ch. 10.

May 1:The 1920s

Out of Many, ch. 23

May 2:RTAP:Rupp, "The First Sexual Revolution"

May 6:The Depression and the New Deal

Out of Many, ch. 24.

May 7:After the Fact, ch. 11

May 8: World War II - Race and War

Out of Many, ch. 25, begin

View: Days of Waiting

May 9:Discussion

John Okada, No-No Boy

Recommended:RTAP:Benedict, "The Expulsion and Relocation of Japanese Americans in World War II"

May 13:The Home Front

Out of Many, ch. 25, conclude

View: Rosie the Riveter

Okada Papers due

May 14:Review

May 15:Midterm

May 16:No Discussion

May 20:The Cold War

Out of Many, ch. 26

View:Excerpts from Atomic Cafe

May 21:Discussion

May 22:America at Mid-Century

Out of Many, ch. 27

May 23:Discussion

RTAP:Rupp, "The Feminine Mystique and the Organization Man"

May 27:The Civil Rights Movement

Out of Many, ch. 28.

May 28:Discussion, begin Anne Moody, Coming of Age in Mississippi

May 29:View:Eyes on the Prize

May 30:Discussion conclude Coming of Age in Mississippi

Moody Papers due

June 3:War Abroad, War at Home

Out of Many, ch. 29

June 4:Discussion

After the Fact, Ch. 15

Senior Finals Due

June 5:The Counter-Revolution

Out of Many, ch. 30

June 6:Review

June 12:Final Exam Due at 1:30

Back to Courses