HISTORY 101-1, US History to 1877, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 11:30-12:20 FH 222A

Instructor: William K. Bolt [email protected]

Office Hours: Founders Hall, Room 202, Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00-10:00 and by appointment

Texts
Jill Lepore, These Truths: A History of the United States, Volume 1 (Inquiry Edition)
Richard Labunski, James Madison and the Struggle for the Bill of Rights

Class Organization
This class will introduce students to aspects of American History from the arrival of Europeans in North
America (late 1500s and early 1600s) through the Civil War and Reconstruction (1877). Over this time,
Europeans settled and populated North America and the United States won its independence from Great
Britain. The new nation then established many precedents that are with us today. The new nation, however,
then charted a course that culminated in a bloody civil war that required a painful healing process. This
course will focus on the political, social, cultural, and economic events that define the history of the United
States from the colonial period through Reconstruction (1587-1877).

Attendance and Class Etiquette

Your attendance in each class session is required. Multiple absences will lower your final grade. Continued
absences may result in a student being dropped from the course. Please arrive on time. A late arrival
disrupts the class. In class, please silence your phones. Also, please refrain from sending text messages
during class. Any student observed using a cell phone in class will be asked to leave and will be given an
absence for that class. All students are more than welcome to use a laptop during lectures. However, please
use your laptop to take notes and not to “update your status.” Students are also encouraged to ask questions
during class.

Book Review
Students will be required to write a review of Richard Lubanski’s James Madison and the Struggle for Bill
of Rights. They will address the main argument or thesis of the author. A guideline sheet for this text has
been attached at the end of the syllabus.

Exams
There will be three exams and a final exam. The exams can be comprised of any combination of essay,
identification, true or false, fill in the blank, and multiple-choice questions. Students should incorporate
material from class sessions and from the assigned text into their answers. An acceptable essay and short
answer response will contain specific facts and analysis. It will answer every part of the question. Under no
circumstances should a college level essay read like a text message. Please make sure you do not miss class
on the exam day. Students can take a makeup exam, but this forces the instructor to adjust his schedule. A
makeup exam is always much tougher than the original exam. If you have a prior commitment on the day
of an exam, please let the instructor know in advance so arrangements can be made.

Grades
Attendance 15%
First Exam 15%
Second Exam 15%
Third Exam 15%
Book Review 20%
Final Exam 20%

Plagiarism/Cheating
Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s work without attributing it to that author. Cheating is copying
another student’s work. If you are caught engaging in plagiarism or cheating it will result in a grade of “F”
for the course. Please do not plagiarize or cheat. It puts the instructor in a tough position and the rewards
are not worth the risks. On exam days students must keep their cell phones off of their desks.

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Disability/Illness
Students who need course adaptations or accommodations because of a documented disability should notify
me at the beginning of the semester.

Academic Support Network

The Tutoring Center is a free service provided to students. It is located in the Study Hall of the
Housing Office Building. Call 661-1675 for information. The FMU Writing Center offers tutoring
services and writing workshops. It is located in Founders Hall 114-C. Call 661-1528 for more
information.

Important Dates
September 13—First Exam
September 20—Turn in reviews of Labunski’s text
October 7—Second Exam
October 25—Third Exam due
November 10—Last day to drop the course
December 6—Final Exam

Schedule
August 21: Welcome and Introduction

August 23: Colonial America Part I

Read: Lepore, pp. 47—83

Augst 26: Colonial America Part II

Read: Lepore, pp. 85—119

August 28: Colonial America Part III

Read: Lepore, pp. 121—139

August 30: The American Revolution Part I

Read: Lepore, pp. 139—154

September 2: No Class

September 4: The American Revolution Part II

Read: Lepore, pp. 155—177

September 6: American Revolution Part III

Read: Lepore, pp. 49—56

September 9: Constitution Part I

Read: Lepore, pp. 179—191

September 11: Constitution Part II

Read: Lepore, pp. 192—211

September 13: First Exam

September 16: The Federalists Part I

Read: Lepore, pp. 217—239

September 18: The Federalists Part II

Read: Lepore, pp. 239—249

September 20: The Jeffersonians Part I

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Read: Lepore, pp. 251—264
Turn in reviews of Lubanski text

September 23: The Jeffersonians Part II

Read: Lepore, pp. 264—281

September 25: The Era of Good Feelings Part I

Read: Lepore, pp. 282—289

September 27: The Era of Good Feelings Part II

Read: Lepore, pp. 291—301

September 30: Jacksonian Democracy Part I

Read: Lepore, pp. 301—309

October 2: Jacksonian Democracy Part II

Read: Lepore, pp. 309—317

October 4: Jacksonian Democracy Part III

Read: Lepore, pp. 338—348

October 7: Second Exam

October 9: Whigs and Democrats Part I

Read: Lepore, pp. 349—359

October 11: Whigs and Democrats Part II

Read: Lepore, pp. 361—368

October 14: Whigs and Democrats Part III

Read: Lepore, pp. 374—384

October 16: Wild and Crazy in Antebellum America Part I

Read: Lepore, pp. 319—338

October 18: Wild and Crazy in Antebellum America Part II

Read: Lepore, pp. 369—374

October 21: The Donner Party Part I

October 23: The Donner Party Part II

October 25: Sectionalism Part I

Read: Lepore, pp. 384—396
Turn in Third Exam

October 28: No Class

October 30: Sectionalism Part II

Read: Lepore, pp. 396—407

November 1: Sectionalism Part III

Read: Lepore, pp. 409—424

November 4: No Class

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November 6: Civil War Part I
Read: Lepore, pp. 424—431

November 8: Civil War Part II

Read: Lepore, pp. 432—435

November 11: Civil War Part III

Read: Lepore, pp. 435—441

November 13: Civil War Part IV

Read: Lepore, pp. 441—453

November 15: The Lincoln Assassination

November 18: The Lincoln Assassination

November 20: Reconstruction Part I

Read: Lepore, pp. 459—466

November 22: Reconstruction Part II

Read: Lepore, pp. 466—474

November 25: Reconstruction Part III

Read: Lepore, pp. 474—482

November 27: No Class

November 29: No Class

December 2: Reconstruction Part IV

Read: Lepore. pp. 483—499
Review for Final Exam

December 6: Final Exam 11:45-1:45 in FH 222A

The dates and language contained herein are subject to change.

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HIS 101 MWF 8:30
Labunski Book Review Guidelines

James Madison and the Struggle for the Bill of Rights. By Richard Labunski (New York:
Oxford University Press, 2006).

This is a text on the beliefs and importance of some of the Founding Fathers. In this
book, Bernard Baily analyzes the hopes and dreams of some of the Founding Fathers
including Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. He discusses what they envisioned
for their new country and why this matters two hundred years later. As a requirement for
this course, you must write a review of Bailyn’s text. In completing this review, you will
have several goals to accomplish.

First: You must explain the subject of the book and the author’s central thesis or main
argument. This explanation should be as complete as possible. You should discuss the
key events the author discusses to prove his thesis.

Second: You must address the sources that the author uses. In order to do this, you
will have to examine some of his notes at the end of the book. You do not have to list
every source the author uses, but you should pay attention to sources the author seems to
rely on.

Third: You must evaluate how successfully the author has proven his point. Is the
author’s argument reasonable and logical? Is there an alternative explanation for the
actions of the characters mentioned and the evidence presented? How might a different
interpretation be arrived at? Does the author reveal a bias?

Fourth: You should render a judgment on the value of the book. Does the book advance
our understanding of the subject matter? Does it challenge any previous beliefs?

Fifth: You should explain why this book is important? Has the author made a
convincing case for this text being important? Has he told us anything that we might not
have already known? Why, in your or the author’s opinion, are we studying some events
that happened close to two hundred years ago? Does this book have any relevance to
contemporary America?

The final product should be between four and six double-spaced pages in length.
Students should use a twelve-point font. You should proofread your final product. A
series of grammatical mistakes or typographical errors will detract from your overall
grade. Use the present tense when discussing the author’s assertions and methodology.
(Example: “In this study, Labunski …” not “In this study, Labunski stated …”) You
should avoid using the first person in your review. Thus, you should refrain from
writing: “I believe that…” or “In this book I learned…”

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The title, author, and other pertinent information about the book should be placed at
the beginning of the review. If you quote from Labunski’s text, you must include the
page number.

All book reviews will be due at the beginning of class on September 20. It is
recommended you allow yourself plenty of time to complete this assignment. Waiting
until the night before to read the book and write a four-to-six-page review will make it
difficult to obtain a high grade. You should write a draft of your review, edit it, and then
apply those changes to your review. Late reviews will not receive full credit. Also,
running out of printer ink or computer problems are not acceptable excuses. When
writing your review, you should save your work every five to ten minutes. You should
save it in different locations or email it to yourself just in case your computer crashes or
you lose your jump/flash drive. Any form of cheating, plagiarism, or the use of
someone else’s work without proper attribution will not be tolerated and will result
in a failing grade for this course.

Students are encouraged to consult the Francis Marion University Writing Center
for assistance. The Writing Center is located in Founders Hall, Room 114C.