Mount San Jacinto College

History 112: U.S. History Since 1865 (0567)

Spring 2018 Syllabus

Instructor: Dr. O’Neill

Email: ​moneill@banning.k12.ca.us
Phone: 951 922-0285 ext. 5214
Class Location: Pass Campus, Room 302
Meeting Times: MW 4:30-5:45
Office Hours​:​ by appointment only.

History 112 is a survey course exploring political- social- economic- and intellectual developments in the
United States from the end of the Civil War to the current period

Course Objectives:
1. Identify persons, events, major developments, and institutions that have shaped US history in
the period covered by the course.
2. Analyze and assess the importance of the causes and origins of major historical developments.
3. Compare and contrast developments in U.S. History with similar developments in other
countries and in the US in other time periods.
4. Research, organize and develop an analysis of a major topic or problem in U.S. History
5. Analyze the ways in which historical developments affect the rights, responsibilities, and choices
of modern US citizens.
6. Infer causality in independent analysis of historical documents.
7. Synthesize independent interpretations of historical data, documents, or events when
presented with a question not handled in class.

Required Texts​:
Brinkley, ​American History, ​ Vol 2, 13th or 14th ed. (14th preferred) ISBN: ​9780077379490
Marcus, ​America Firsthand​, Vol II, 9​th​ ed. ISBN: ​2900312656415
Additional documents as assigned.

Please note the the readings from Marcus are specifically listed in the course outline. If you choose to
obtain a different addition, please ensure that the listed readings are printed in the edition you purchase.

Bringing Books to Class:

Please bring any primary document handouts to class each day as we will refer to them during class
discussions. You will not normally need to bring ​American History to class as this constitutes your at
home, background reading.

Classroom Environment:
This course is intended to be interactive and foster class discussion and debate. Please come to class
ready to share your ideas about the course material and be willing to listen and consider opinions that
are different than your own. If you are equipped with an open-minded attitude and treat your peers
with patience and courtesy, we can create a positive learning environment. Disruptive behavior (such as
in-class cell phone usage and text messaging, use of laptop computer for anything besides note-taking,
talking while someone else is speaking, sleeping, and personal attacks) will not be tolerated. You are
asked to place the classroom in proper order before leaving at the end of a class.

Please note that the college does not permit eating, drinking, or smoking within the classroom before,
during or after the class session.

Grading:
Assignment Points Possible
Exams 45%
Quizzes 10%
Term Paper 15%
Classwork and small projects 30%

Grade Scale
Points Grade
100.0-90.0% A
89.9-800% B
79.9-70.0% C
69.9-60.0% D
59.9-0% F

Keys to Course Success:

One thing to keep in mind during this course is that history does not equal the past. History is not the
memorization and regurgitation of a series of facts, names of rulers, and specific dates. Rather, history
is an interpretation and representation of the past that is supported by primary and secondary sources.
It is important to remember that history books and class lectures will often provide different
interpretations of the past using different evidence.

Learning history therefore, requires critical thinking when completing assigned readings. Use chapter
and lecture outline to help guide your reading. Consider the historical significance of major events and
people discussed. After finishing the reading for each chapter or primary source, try to write down a
summary of what you read in your own words and list any questions/problems you have. This may help
you internalize and clarify what you have read and help you prepare for class discussions and exams.

People however learn in a variety of ways. Some students may find making outlines, flashcards,
timelines, and verbally articulating information, and/or studying as a group are effective methods of
learning. Take ownership over your oven process of learning by discovering what technique works best
for you. Explore the topics you are interested in by utilize library resources or web queries. The more
actively you engage with the material and themes in this course, the more successful you will be.

Note-taking: ​Taking notes is a vital component of gaining mastery over the course material. It allows
you to make sense of the large themes of history, the specific details of an event or a person’s life, and
how they fit into the larger story. Therefore it is important to use your own words when taking notes.
Try to avoid simply copying directly out of a book or writing down the lecture verbatim. Frame your
notes using language that seems the most familiar and comfortable to you.

History 112 Syllabus – Spring 2018 - Dr. O’Neill - 2

Staying Organized: ​Chapter lectures are often accompanied by lecture questions, chapter overviews,
and additional primary document readings. It is easy to get overwhelmed by extra handouts and papers.
Keeping a well organized Google Drive will be essential when when you are preparing for exams.

Class Requirements:
Attendance: ​Attending class is mandatory. Excessive absences may result in being dropped for the
course, or in an “F” as your final grade.

Participation: Student must be prepared to discuss and interpret the required reading each day in class.
Students are encouraged to communicate their ideas and regarding the assigned readings and class
lectures. However, these ideas and questions should be well informed and constructively contribute to
the direction of class discussions. A portion of your grade is based on your participation. Students who
regularly attend class and actively participate may expect to earn most if not all of the available points.
Alternatively, students who are frequently absent or engage in unproductive behaviors such as cell
phone use during class time should expect this to be reflect in their participation grade.

Term Paper:​ One term paper will be assigned this semester. You must choose a topic from US history
between 1877-1991. The paper must be 5-8 pages typed. You must use a minimum of six sources. Be
sure to format your paper using an appropriate style guide such as MLA. This paper should be turned in
through blackboard.

Quizzes: 10 short (5 minute) in-class quizzes will be assigned. Each quiz will consist of a question about a
specific historical term or concept. For each quizz, a list of four concepts will be provided in advance.
Student may bring a half page of notes to help them with specific historical evidence. If used, the notes
must be tuned in with the quiz.

Exams:​ There will be a midterm exam and a final given during the semester. Both exams will consist of
two essay/short answer questions and 55 multiple choice questions stressing both historical knowledge
and critical thinking skills.

Guidelines for Written Assignments:​ Please ensure that all assignments are:
● Typed
● Spell checked and proofread for grammatical errors
● Labeled with your names, course and date

Late/Make-up Policy: Late work is not accepted. I do not reschedule exams or accept late work unless
there are extenuating circumstances (e.g. health reasons, bereavement, etc). Please notify me in
advance via email or voicemail if you cannot attend an exam and have a legitimate excuse. Please bear
in mind that avoidable and foreseeable scheduling conflicts (e.g. a family vacation) would not be
considered legitimate. Pending my approval, we will make appropriate arrangements.

Contact Information: ​Since I will be contacting students via email regarding assignments, primary
source readings, and other information, please make sure you are using your district email account.

History 112 Syllabus – Spring 2018 - Dr. O’Neill - 3

Using Canvas
Canvas is a Web-based course management system designed to allow students and faculty to use online
materials to enhance the learning process. This means, students can access their grades, read
announcements, participate in discussion forums, and download the course syllabus and other handouts
online.

Students can access Canvas through ​http://msjc.instructure.com​. Please familiarize yourself with
Canvas by the end of the first week of class.

Academic Honesty Policy:

Students are expected to submit their own work for all assignments, in-class activities and exams. Any
attempt to plagiarize materials will lead to an F on that assignment or exam. A second incident of
plagiarism will result in an F for the entire course.

Plagiarism is defined as:

● Verbatim copying without proper acknowledgments
● Paraphrasing without proper acknowledgement
● Putting together a “patchwork” paper from diverse sources, without proper acknowledgement
of those sources
● Unacknowledged appropriation of information or of someone else’s ideas

Cases of plagiarism and cheating will be reported to an administrator and may lead to further
disciplinary action. Avoid plagiarism by citing your sources on thought papers and research papers.
Consult with me regarding proper citation etiquette, and reference the citation guidelines if you have
any questions.

Americans with Disabilities Act Statement

Mt. San Jacinto College abides by the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that prohibits federal and state agencies or programs from discriminating
against qualified individuals with disabilities. If you have a documented disability that limits a major life
activity which may have some impact on your work in this class and for which you may require
accommodations, please contact a counselor at Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS). DSPS is
in the following locations: SJC – Room 112 or MVC – Room 201 or call 1(800) 624-3361 ext 1440 to verify
your disability and arrange for accommodations.

Academic Support:
Make an appointment with me to receive help with study strategies, note taking, test preparation,
history career options, and other academic questions.

In addition, the Writing Center, located in Room 135 of the Learning Resource Center on the Menifee
Valley Campus and in the Learning Resource Center in the Library on the San Jacinto Campus, provides
assistance for students who need help with prewriting strategies, organization strategies, and/or
content development.

History 112 Syllabus – Spring 2018 - Dr. O’Neill - 4

The Writing Center staff will help you generate ideas when you don’t know where to start, help you
focus your topic when you take on a subject too large, help you add supporting examples and details to
relevant to your assignment’s purpose, help you revise your work for consistency and tone, help you
pinpoint consistent grammatical errors, and help you correctly format documentation.

Please keep in mind that the Writing Center staff will not write your assignment for you, guess at a
possible grade for your work, or discuss an existing grade. Consult with the instructor for grading
information. Please bring the instructor’s assignment, a copy of your work in progress, and the
appropriate textbook.

Course Outline
Please complete reading assignments before attending class. This will make lecture and class
discussions more meaningful and beneficial. Please note the following schedule is subject to change.

January 17
The West

January 22
The West
Brinkley 16

January 24
Industrialization
Brinkley 17
Quiz #1

January 29
Industrialization
Marcus “Knights of Labor” and “Industrial Workers of the World” 61-65

January 31
Urbanization
Brinkley 18
Quiz #2

February 5 February 7
Populism and Imperialism
Brinkley 19

February 12
Populism and Progressivism
Brinkley 20

History 112 Syllabus – Spring 2018 - Dr. O’Neill - 5

February 14
Populism and Progressivism
Quiz #3

February 21
Progressivism and WWI
Brinkley 21
Marcus “Conditions at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company” 88-93

February 26
WWI
Quiz #4

February 28
The New Era
Brinkley 22
Quiz #5

March 5*
The New Era
Marcus “In defense of the Bible” and “An odd eulogy for William Jennings Bryan” 150-162

March 7*
Marcus “Harlem Renaissance” 163-170

March 12
Review

March 14
Exam

March 26
The Great Depression
Brinkley 23

March 28
The Great Depression
Marcus “On the Road during the Great Depression” 186-188

April 2
The New Deal
Brinkley 24

History 112 Syllabus – Spring 2018 - Dr. O’Neill - 6

April 4
The New Deal
Quiz #6

April 9 & April 11

Neutrality
Brinkley 25

April 16
WWII
Brinkley 26
Quiz #7

April 18
WWII
Marcus “Rosie the Riveter” 216-221
Paper due

April 23
The Cold War
Brinkley 27
Quiz #8

April 25
The 1950’s
Brinkley 28

April 30
The 1950’s
Marcus “Blacklisted” 230-236

May 2
Civil Rights
Brinkley 29

May 7
Civil Rights
Quiz #9

May 9
Activism and conservatism
Brinkley 30

History 112 Syllabus – Spring 2018 - Dr. O’Neill - 7

May 14
The Reagan Revolutions and 21st Century Politics
Marcus, “Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama” 345-347
Quiz #10

May 16
Review

May 21: 4:30-6:30

Exam

History 112 Syllabus – Spring 2018 - Dr. O’Neill - 8