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American History Since 1877 Spring 2015

Course Number: 1378
Dr. T. Tillery
559 Agnes Arnold Hall
Office Hours: Office Hours: 1:30-2:30 pm M-W or by appointment.
713-743-3097
ttillery@mail.uh.edu
Teaching Assistants for History 1378
Mr. Ezell Wilson
Office Hours: Wednesday 2:30-4pm and by appointment
Email Address: jacare722000@yahoo.com
Office: 455 Agnes Arnold Hall
Ms. Ela Miljkovic
Office Hours: Monday 2:30-4 pm and by appointment.
Email Address: emiljkovic@uh.edu
Office: 455 Agnes Arnold Hall
*** Professor and Teaching Assistants can also be contacted via mail Blackboard
Learn***
While we will be in our offices at the indicated times, it is a good idea to email or let
us know when you are coming.
Required Texts: David E. Shi and George Brown Tindall, America: A Narrative
History, Volume 2
-:
-http://ebook4cn.com/%E7%BE%8E%E5%9B%BD%E5%8F
%B2%E5%A5%97%E8%A3%85%E5%85%B14%E5%86%8C/
Lectures and Readings: The course will examine the major themes and issues in
America since l877 using lectures and readings from America: A Narrative History,
Volume 2, films and information from Nortons Blackboard Learn chapter reviews.
Readings and lectures will be used to construct the examinations and quizzes.
Students should begin reading the chapter assignments and additional information
placed on Blackboard.
Discussion: While the course is lecture driven the instructor welcomes pertinent
questions and exchanges on the topics under discussion.
Course Objectives:
1. To satisfy the CORE requirements for American history covering the social,
economic, cultural and political history of the United States since the end of the Civil
War.
3. To gain a better understanding how historians use facts to explain the impact of
causation in creating the America we know today.
4. To look at the impact of history on society and individuals over the period.
5. Looking at events in the past through historical observation, historical analysis,
and historical experience to understand what is meant by the Ordeal of Change.

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Attendance: While it is impossible to monitor attendanceit is mandatory. If you
cannot meet the class, dates and times for the lectures, exams and quizzes, you
should withdraw. Extra-credit quizzes cannot be made up.
Examinations: There will be three major examinations for History 1378. The exam
dates are tentatively scheduled for February 18th, April 1st, and May 4th. Each
examination will be worth 100 points. The format for the examinations will be
multiple-choice, identification, short answer and essay. There will be five popquizzes during the semester covering information from the previous lectures. Each
quiz counts toward extra-credit and worth five points each for a total of 25 points.
Students who do not take the quiz or is absent on that day cannot make up a pop
quiz.
Essays for the examination portion of the test will be written in bluebooks provided
by the history department. Students must use pens for the essays. Scantrons will
be provided for other question forms (no. 2 pencils must be used for the scantrons).
Students grades may be changed only in cases of incorrect computation of the
score or a Teaching Assistants error in grading. Students are expected to pick up
their examinations when we return them at the end of class. Students who are not
there can pick up their exams during the TAs office hours. Once the exams are
returned students have a window of two weeks to contact the Teaching Assistant for
reevaluation or mistakes in computation. After the two week period Teaching
Assistants will not revisit exams.
Formal Essay: To satisfy the State required assessment of the Social Responsibility
Core Outcome there will be a short paper of 3-5 (double-spaced) typed pages. I will
post a separate document detailing the specifics for this paper separately. The
paper is worth 25 points. I will discuss this in further detail at the beginning of the
semester.
Grading: The final grades are computed using the three major exams (100 points
each) and the formal essay (25 points) for a maximum of 325 points. As mentioned
above all extra credit points will be added to the students total points from the
major exams and paper.
Other important information-This a university and certain rules of decorum apply:
1. Punctuality is required. On rare occasions students who need to arrive late should
sit quietly in the back of the auditorium. A teaching assistant will be located in the
back during class. If they notice a student who is habitually late they will be warned
and if the behavior persists and will be withdrawn from the class.
2. Unless you have a medical problem you are expected to remain in class until it is
dismissed at 5:15pm. Students, who habitually disrupt classes, unless medically
required, will be identified and dropped from the course. I would rather you simply
not attend.

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3. Students cannot schedule examinations, tests, or appointments with other
professors during our scheduled time. If students are caught doing this they will not
be allowed to take extra-credit quizzes and any exam scheduled for that day.
4. Students are not allowed to use phones during class. Students caught texting or
surfing the internet will be withdrawn from the class. The use of computers/laptops
and smart books are solely to take notes. This is a courtesy, not a right.
5. Students with disabilities should meet with their TA to fill out the necessary
papers and determine if taking exams at the Center for Students with Disabilities is
necessary.
Topics & Readings:
***The instructor will post additional information on Blackboard to help students
master the individual topics and chapter readings.
Chapter 17-Reconstruction
Chapter 18- Reconstruction: North and South
Chapter 19-The South and the West Transformed
Chapter 20- Big Business and Organized Labor
Chapter 21- The Emergence of Urban America
Chapter 22- Gilded Age Politics and Agrarian Revolt
Chapter 23- An American Empire
Chapter 24- The Progressive Era
Chapter 25- America and the Great War
Chapter 26- The Modern Temper
Chapter 27-Republican Resurgence and Decline
Chapter 28- New Dear America
Chapter 29- From Isolation to Global War
Chapter 30- The Second World War
Chapter 31- The Fair Deal and Containment
Chapter 32- Through the Picture Window: Society and Culture, l945-1960
Chapter 33- Conflict and Deadlock: The Eisenhower Years
Chapter 34- New Frontiers: Politics and Social Change in the l960s

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Chapter 35- Rebellion and Reaction in the l960s and 1970s
Chapter 36- A Conservative Insurgency
Chapter 37- Triumph and Tragedy