Course Description
Welcome to HIST 212, American History through the Civil War. For the next fifteen weeks we will explore a variety of topics in the early history of the United States and its antecedent, the thirteen mainland colonies of British North America. With the understanding that we cannot achieve anything close to comprehensive coverage of every major development in the 258 years between the founding of Jamestown and the surrender of Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, we will proceed more or less chronologically. Along the way, we will read and discuss selections from more than one hundred of the era’s most interesting and important documents. Students will learn to use these documents as windows into a distant past, to understand what the documents can and cannot tell us about a world long-since vanished, and to draw meaningful lessons for our own time. In short, a core course such as this should convey basic knowledge of the people, places, events, and ideas that comprise the Early American historical narrative while at the same time giving students the ability to comprehend that narrative by introducing them to the historian’s craft.
I wish all of you the best of luck and look forward to a wonderful semester.
Required Reading
There are no books to purchase for HIST 212. All course readings will be provided. See course schedule.
Course Requirements and Grading
Exam #1 (in-class bluebook essay only) 20%
Exam #2 (in-class bluebook essay plus take-home essay) 40%
Two short papers (2 pp. each) plus final Civil War paper (4 pp.) 20%
Class participation 20%
93-100 = A 90-92 = A- 87-89 = B+ 83-86 = B 80-82 = B- 77-79 = C+
73-76 = C 70-72 = C- 67-69 = D+ 63-66 = D 60-62 = D- 59 and below = F
Regarding Academic Dishonesty
Rest assured that your instructor will follow all university guidelines regarding academic dishonesty. In short, cheating of any kind will result in an F for the course, along with possible suspension or expulsion from Ashland University. If you have questions about what constitutes plagiarism, please ask or visit the Writing Center webpage. For help with all writing-related questions, again, ask your instructor, or, if you need additional outside help, please do make an appointment with the Writing Center.
Student Disability Services
Students who require academic adjustments for this class should contact me to discuss reasonable accommodations. It is best (though not required) for the student to request such accommodations early in the semester. The student must present the proper paperwork from Disability Services to document the need for academic adjustments.
Random Things You Should Know
--I will not accept papers via e-mail.
--When papers or exams are returned to you at the end of a class period, please take them home and read my comments before inquiring about your grade. If, after having read these comments, you still do not understand why you received the grade you did, feel free to ask me about it via e-mail the next day, during my next scheduled office hours, or at an appointed time.
Note: When sending an e-mail to a professor, future employer, casual acquaintance, or any other human being who is neither a close friend nor a member of your immediate family, it is polite to address the e-mail’s recipient with a greeting ( “Dear…”) and then sign off with something like “Sincerely,” or “Best wishes,” or, in England, “Cheers,” etc. Do not compose professional e-mail correspondence as though you’re sending a text message. I will ignore any such student e-mail that arrives in my Inbox.
--If you have a question for me that you wish to have answered before the next morning, please make sure to send me an e-mail before 6:00 P.M. Any e-mail messages I receive after that time likely will go unanswered until the next day.
--Students should feel free to ask any and all questions except two: 1) “When do we get our tests back?” and 2) “I missed class yesterday. Did we do anything important?” Either question will result in an F for the course—or, at minimum, a professorial frown.
--Please do not begin rustling papers and packing up your belongings with five minutes remaining in class; it is distracting to other students, and there isn’t a spot on campus to which you cannot travel from any other spot on campus within ten minutes—that is, as long as you’re not walking and texting at the same time. On the other hand, I do not intend to hold you longer than the fifty-minute period, so do feel free to stop me if I’ve run over the allotted time.
--I demand politeness. It is impolite to send or receive text messages, check Facebook, or perform any of the other functions for which some students use their electronic devices during class time. If I catch you doing any of these things, I will call you on it, and I will consider your transgression when calculating your final grade.
(Tentative) Course Schedule and Readings
There are no books for purchase in HIST 212. You may access the assigned readings by clicking on the links below each item on the syllabus.
Week One
August 23 Course Introduction and Assessment
August 25 Early Virginia
George Percy, Observations Gathered out of a Discourse of the Plantation of theSouthern Colony in Virginiaby the English, 1606.
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/jamestown-browse?id=J1002
John Rolfe to Sir Thomas Dale, 1614
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/jamestown-browse?id=J1047
August 27 Early New England
John Calvin, Letter to the King, from Institutes of the Christian Religion, 1536
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/calvin-onclergy.html
Dedham Covenant, 1636
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=2261
The Examination of Mrs. Ann Hutchinson, 1637
http://www.constitution.org/primarysources/hutchinson.html
Week Two
August 30 Cavaliers and Rebels
Bacon’s Manifesto, 1676
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/history/archive/resources/documents/ch04_04.htm
William Berkeley’s Declaration and Remonstrance, 1676
http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/D/1651-1700/bacon_rebel/berke.htm
Bacon’s Declaration in the Name of the People, 1676
http://www.constitution.org/bcp/baconpeo.htm
Robert Beverley on Bacon’s Rebellion, 1704[5]
http://www.vlib.us/amdocs/texts/beverley.html
September 1 Puritans and Indians
Increase Mather, A Brief History of the War with the Indians in New England…
http://www.nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/amerbegin/power/text7/IndiansMather.pdf
Edward Randolph’s Description of King Philip’s War, 1685
http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/bdorsey1/41docs/45-ran.html
September 3 Conquest and Quakers: The Restoration Middle Colonies
Excerpts from George Fox’s Writings
http://www.qis.net/~daruma/g-fox-1.html
Edward Burrough, A Declaration of the Sad and Great Persecution of the People of God, Called Quakers, in New England, for the Worshipping of God, 1661 (read pp. 3-16 only)
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1023&context=etas
Week Three
September 6 Dominion of Witches
Commission of Sir Edmund Andros for the Dominion of New England, April 7, 1688
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/17th_century/mass06.asp
Cotton Mather, Memorable Providences Relating to Witchcrafts and Possessions, 1689
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/asa_math.htm
September 8 British Constitution
Sir Robert Filmer, Patriarcha, or the Natural Right of Kings, 1680, Ch. 1, no. 1; Ch. 2, nos. 16-18; Ch. 3, no. 1
http://www.constitution.org/eng/patriarcha.htm
Algernon Sidney, Discourses Concerning Government, 1698, Ch. 1, Sec. 1, 5 and 10; Ch. 2, Sec. 3 and 16
http://www.constitution.org/as/dcg_000.htm
September 10 Stono
“Report from William Bull re: Stono Rebellion”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1h311t.html
“A Commons House of Assembly Committee Report, in a Message to the Governor’s Council, November 29, 1739”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1h312t.html
Week Four
September 13 Quintessential American? Benjamin Franklin and the Enlightenment
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Chapter One:
“Dear son…known to be the author.”
“This bookish inclination…determined to endeavor at improvement.”
Chapter Three:
“Sir William Keith…friendly manner imaginable.”
Chapter Five:
“When we came to the Channel…passed by his administration.”
Chapter Six:
“Before I enter upon my public appearance…determined to preserve it.”
Chapter Seven: All
Chapter Eight: All
Chapter Ten: “In 1739 arrived among us…lasted to his death.”
http://www.earlyamerica.com/lives/franklin/chapt1/
September 15 Great Awakening
George Whitefield, “The Eternity of Hell-Torments”
http://www.reformedsermonarchives.com/whit33.htm
September 17 Albany Plan and Great War for Empire
Albany Plan of Union, 1754
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=666
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Chapter 12: All
http://www.earlyamerica.com/lives/franklin/chapt12/
Benjamin Franklin, A Narrative of the Late Massacres…(1764)
“On Wednesday, the 14th of December, 1763…the Sense those People have had of such Actions.”
http://www.historycarper.com/resources/twobf3/massacre.htm
Week Five
September 20 Taxation without Representation
Virginia Resolves of 1765
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=2442
Richard Bland, “An Inquiry into the Rights of the British Colonies,” 1766
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=2423
John Dickinson, Letter Two from Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer (1767)
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=25
September 22 Corruption and Conspiracy
September 24 Crisis
Resolves of the New York Sons of Liberty, December 15, 1773
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=2421
Boston Port Act, March 31, 1774
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=2367
Thomas Jefferson, A Summary View of the Rights of British America (1774)
Week Six
September 27 Independence
Edmund Burke, On Conciliation with the Colonies, March 22, 1775
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=2368
Paul Revere, Memorandum on Events of April 18, 1775
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=874
British Account of Bunker Hill, June 22, 1775
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=870
Olive Branch Petition, July 5, 1775
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=2411
Proclamation, by the King, for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition, August 23, 1775
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=875
Resolves and Recommendations of Congress, May 10 and 15, 1776
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=2419
Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=1
September 29 Leftovers/Review
October 1 Exam #1
Week Seven
October 4 Revolutionary War
Memorandum on Meeting between Lord Howe and American Commissioners, September 11, 1776
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=891
George Washington to General Charles Lee, November 30, 1776
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=2379
Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, December 19, 1776
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=2444
Fredericka Charlotte Louise, The Defeat and Surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, 1777
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=872
The French Alliance, February 6, 1778
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=2433
Benedict Arnold, Letter to the Inhabitants of America, October 7, 1780
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=885
Royal Gazette, “Our Last Will and Testament,” January 31, 1781
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=901
Cornwallis to Clinton, October 20, 1781
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=2371
October 6 Confederation and Peace
Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union
http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/milestones/articles/text.html
The Definitive Treaty of Peace, 1783
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/paris.asp
October 8 Constitution and Ratification
Constitution of the United States, 1787
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=2
Elbridge Gerry’s Objections, October 18, 1787
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=1752
Brutus I, October 18, 1787
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=849
Week Eight
October 11 Constitution and Ratification
Federalist 10 (Madison), November 22, 1787
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=8
Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, December 20, 1787
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=306
Virginia Ratifies, June 25, 1788
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=1806
New York Ratifies, July 26, 1788
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=1823
Bill of Rights, 1791
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=272
October 13 Alexander Hamilton: American Prime Minister?
Thomas Jefferson, Memorandum on the Compromise of 1790
Alexander Hamilton, Notes on the Advantages of a National Bank, March 27, 1791
James Madison, “Government of the United States,” 1792
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=2496
Philip Freneau, “Rules for Changing a Limited Republican Government into an Unlimited Hereditary One,” June 4 and 7, 1792
October 15 Calamities: French Revolution, Neutrality and the Genet Affair
The Pacificus-Helvidius Debate, 1793
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=429
Week Nine
October 18 Fall Break
October 20 “By the Light of My Own Burning Effigies”: Jay’s Treaty and its Consequences
Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, September 6, 1795
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mtj:@field(DOCID+@lit(tj080088))
Alexander Hamilton’s “Camillus” Essays, 1795-96 http://oll.libertyfund.org/?option=com_staticxt&staticfile=show.php%3Ftitle=875&chapter=63946&layout=html&Itemid=27
Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, June 4, 1798
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=2491
Sedition Act, July 14, 1798
Virginia Resolution of 1798
http://www.constitution.org/cons/virg1798.htm
October 22 Federalism’s Abyss: The Revolution of 1800
Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1801
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=444
Fisher Ames, “Falkland, No. 2,” February 6, 1801http://oll.libertyfund.org/?option=com_staticxt&staticfile=show.php%3Ftitle=875&chapter=63995&layout=html&Itemid=27
Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, October 25, 1802
Week Ten
October 25 Jeffersonian Ascendancy: Robbers and Pirates
Thomas Jefferson to John C. Breckenridge, August 12, 1803
October 27 Failure and Vindication: The War of 1812
President Madison’s War Message, June 2, 1812
October 29 Revolution’s End? Foreign Policy and the Monroe Doctrine
Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, October 24, 1823
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mtj:@field(DOCID+@lit(jm040139))
Monroe Doctrine, December 2, 1823
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/monroe.asp
Week Eleven
November 1 Era of Not-So-Good Feelings
Debate in Congress over the Tallmadge Amendment to Missouri Enabling Bill, February 1819
Annals of Congress, 15th Congress, Second Session, 1169-1214
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage
November 3 Democracy and the Lurid Administration
John Quincy Adams, State of the Union Address, December 6, 1825
“Upon this first occasion of addressing the Legislature of the Union…welfare of your country.”
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=641
November 5 King Andrew: The Return of Parties
Andrew Jackson’s Case for the Removal Act, December 8, 1829
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/andrew.htm
Letter from Chief John Ross of the Cherokee, 1836
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6598/
Andrew Jackson, Bank Bill Veto, July 10, 1832
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=64
Henry Clay, Speech on President Jackson’s Veto, July 10, 1832
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=93
Week 12
November 8 King Andrew: Politics and Petticoats
South Carolina Ordinance of Nullification, November 24, 1832
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/ordnull.asp
Andrew Jackson, Proclamation Regarding Nullification, December 10, 1832
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=843
November 10 Slavery and the Federal Government
[David] Walker’s Appeal…to the Coloured Citizens of the World (1830)
Article IV, “Our Wretchedness in Consequence of the Colonizing Plan”
http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/walker/walker.html
William Lloyd Garrison, Editorial Regarding Walker’s Appeal, January 8, 1831
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=1431
The Confessions of Nat Turner…(1831)
http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/turner/turner.html
John C. Calhoun, Slavery a Positive Good, February 6, 1837
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=71
November 12 Manifest Destiny and Mexico
James K. Polk, Third Annual Message, December 7, 1847
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29488
Abraham Lincoln, Speech against the Mexican War, January 12, 1848
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=949
Week 13
November 15 Compromise and Fugitives
Henry Clay, Speech on Preserving the Union, 1850
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=487
John C. Calhoun, Speech against Clay’s Compromise Measures, 1850
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=2214
Compromise of 1850
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=431
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
http://www.nationalcenter.org/FugitiveSlaveAct.html
November 17 Kansas
Abraham Lincoln, Speech on the Repeal of the Missouri Compromise, October 16, 1854
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=51
November 19 Dred Scott
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=540
Week 14
November 22 Exam #2 (take-home essay also due as part of second exam)
November 24 Thanksgiving Break—No Class
November 26 Thanksgiving Break—No Class
Week 15
November 29 War and Emancipation
Two Papers Regarding the Justifying Causes of Secession
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=614
Constitution of the Confederate States of America, March 11, 1861
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=654
Alexander Stephens, Cornerstone Speech, March 21, 1861
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=76
Richmond Examiner, “We are Fighting for Independence, Not Slavery,” August 2, 1864
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=1483
Abraham Lincoln to Horace Greeley, August 22, 1862
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=1057
Final Emancipation Proclamation, January 1, 1863
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=33
Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=34
December 1 Turning Points
First Lieutenant Granville C. West, “Personal Recollections of the Chickamauga Campaign” (1913)
http://memory.loc.gov/service/gdc/scd0001/2006/20061219001pe/20061219001pe.pdf
William T. Sherman to James M. Calhoun, et al, September 12, 1864
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=1725
December 3 Meaning and Legacy
Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865
http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=35
Civil War paper (4 pp.) due
