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AMH 2041Origins of American Civilization FloridaInternationalUniversity Summer B Semester, 2011 Dr. Jeremy Rowan Office: DM 399 Office Phone: (305) 348-4791 Office Hours: 2:30-3:30 TR E-mail: rowanj@fiu.edu Teaching Assistants: Quinn Dauer E-mail: qdaue001@fiu.edu Office: DM 392 Office Hours: TR 9:45-10:45 Peter Ferdinando E-mail: pferd001@fiu.edu Office: DM 392 Office Hours: TR 9:00-10:00 Course Description: This course examines key developments in the origins and nature of Early America, including political, social, cultural, and economic developments from the beginnings of European colonization to the Civil War and Reconstruction. Written work meets the state Gordon Rule requirement. Course Objectives: The primary objective of this course is to familiarize students with the historical events and movements that constitute the development of EarlyAmerica and the history of the United States to 1877. The course will also focus on the impact these events and movements had on society and how ordinary people have played significant roles in shaping history. Secondary objectives are to introduce students to historical criticism, to develop writing skills, and to encourage critical thinking. Course Methods: The course is primarily conducted through lectures, class discussion, collaborative activities, and power-point presentations. Students must keep well-organized notes from the lectures, have all written assignments handed in on time, and complete all reading assignments by the due dates. Students will be held responsible for both the lecture material and all reading assignments. Turnitin: All students must register for this course on Turnitin.com. It is mandatory. The class number is 4090726and the password iswashington. We use Turnitin for multiple reasons: to grade your essays; as an anti-plagiarism device, a gradebook, and finally as an efficient method for

contacting the class via e-mail. When you register, please provide an e-mail address that you check and use often. Required Readings: America: A Concise History, Volume 1: To 1877. (4th Edition) by James Henretta and David Brody(Bedford/ St. Martins) ISBN # 0-312-48542-5 Reading the American Past, Volume 1: To 1877. (4th Edition) Edited by Michael Johnson (Bedford/St. Martins) ISBN # 0-312-45967-X The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. (2nd Edition) Edited by Robert J. Allison (Bedford/St. Martins) ISBN # 0-312-444203-3 Criteria for Evaluation: 2 Essay Examseach worth 20% of the final course grade 2 Research Paperseach worth 20% of the course grade Discussion Sections: in-class writing assignments, peer reviews, class participationall worth 20% of the final grade Each exam will cover the material since the previous exam. STUDENTS ARE TO BRING A BLUE EXAMINATION BOOKLET TO CLASS ON THE EXAM DATES. BLUE BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN THE CAMPUS BOOKSTORE. Writing and critical thinking are primary components of this class. Frequently, we will talk about the expectations for writing in the field of history. We will analyze, for example, the style and form of writing presented in your texts and in articles we read. Even if you do not plan to be an historian, such awareness of disciplinary communication will be useful to you, no matter your major or career. To meet the state of Floridas Gordon Rule writing requirements, you will complete a sequence of writing assignments, ranging from informal in-class writings to essay exams and formal essays. These assignments provide evidence of your reading and comprehension of the material; they prepare you to participate in class discussion, and they also facilitate your understanding of the readings. You will also complete essay exam questions on your two major exams, and write two thesis-driven essays that synthesize main ideas from the course. I will provide you with detailed assignment sheets for these essays. About a week before their due date, youll be asked to bring a rough draft (hard copy) of your essay to class for peer review. You are then required to upload your final draft to Turnitin.com. The essay will be graded online through turnitin.com. Late writing assignments will be penalized a letter grade for every day that the paper is late. Make-up Exams: No make-up exams will be given except in cases of illness and/or emergency. A doctors note must be presented upon the instructors request for a make-up exam to be given. If no note is forthcoming, the instructor retains the right to refuse to administer a make-up exam. A doctors or dental appointment which is a non-emergency, and which, therefore, can be reasonably

rescheduled, is not a valid excuse. Unexcused missed exams will receive an automatic grade of 0%. Grading: In the course, grading will follow the scale below: A = 100-94 % A- = 93-90% B+ = 8986% B = 85-83% B- = 82-80% C+ = 7976% C = 75-73% C- = 72-70% D+ = 69-66% D = 65-63% D+ = 62-60 F = 59% and below Attendance Policy: Students are required to attend class (both the lectures and the discussion group sessions). Attendance and participation will be monitored. Regardless, listening to the lectures and participating in class discussion sessions are essential to success in this course. Academic Dishonesty Policy: Cheating and Plagiarism a. Cheating is defined as the attempt, successful or not, to give or obtain information by illicit means in meeting any academic requirements including, but not limited to, examinations; b. Plagiarism is defined as the use, without proper acknowledgement, of the ideas, phrases, sentences, or larger units of discourse from another writer or speaker. Students are expected to know and abide by the academic dishonesty policy as outlined in the university handbook and catalogue. Students are therefore warned: Cheating and/or plagiarism in are grounds for an automatic grade of F. Student Behavior: All FIUUniversity students are expected to behave according to the accepted norms that ensure a climate wherein all can exercise their right to learn. Such norms are set forth in the undergraduate catalogue. Please be sure that you have read and understood the section. No faculty member will tolerate classroom behavior that violates these norms. Such behavior will be grounds for withdrawal from the class, judicial proceedings, and/or failure of the course.

Class Schedule:

Week 1: Tues, June 28Course Introduction and Syllabus; Native American Societies; The Atlantic World: European Encounters, 1450-1550 Reading: Henretta Ch. 1; Reading: Johnson # 2-2, 2-3, 2-4 Thurs, June 30The Atlantic World (cont.);European Settlement of North America: 1550-1700, Chesapeake Discussion:Johnson # 2-2, 2-3, 2-4 Reading: Henretta Ch. 2; Johnson # 3-1, 3-4, 3-5 Week 2: Tues, July 5Chesapeake (cont.); European Colonialism: New England Discussion:Johnson # 3-1, 3-4, 3-5 Reading: Johnson # 4-1, 4-3, 4-5 Thurs, July7New England (cont.); British Imperial Expansion, 1660-1750 Discussion:Johnson # 4-1, 4-3, 4-5 Reading:Henretta Ch. 3;The Life of OlaudahEquiano Week 3: Tues, July12Slavery and 18th century Colonial Society Discussion: The Life of OlaudahEquiano Reading: Henretta Ch. 4 Thurs, July 14British Imperial Crisis, 1754-1763 Discussion: Essay 1 Rough Draft Due (Peer Review) Reading: Henretta Ch. 5; The Declaration of Independence (Henretta D1--D3);Johnson 7-1; 7-2; 7-3; Week 4: Tues, July 19Essay 1 Due (Upload to Turnitin); Origins of the American Revolution; Discussion: Johnson 7-1; 7-2; 7-3; The Declaration of Independence Reading: Henretta Ch. 6; Johnson 8-3; 8-4

Thurs, July 21The War for American Independence: 1776-1783;Building a Republic: 1775-1789 Discussion: Johnson 8-3; 8-4; Midterm Exam Review Week 5: Tues, July 26Midterm Exam Reading:Henretta Ch. 7; Johnson 9-4; 9-5; 10-4 Thurs, July 28Politics and Society in the New Republic, 1787-1820; Republican Culture Discussion: Johnson 9-4; 9-5; 10-4 Reading: Henretta Ch. 8; Johnson 10-2; 10-5; 11-4 Week 6: Tues, Aug 2Industrial Revolution and Economic transformation;Jacksonian Democracy and Popular Politics Discussion:Johnson 10-2; 10-5; 11-4 Reading: Henretta Ch. 9 and 10 Thurs, Aug 4Southern Society: 1820-1860; The Impending Crisis, 1844-1861 Discussion: Essay 2 Rough Draft(peer review) Reading: Henretta Ch. 12 and 13; Johnson 13-3; 13-4; 13-5 Week 7: Tues, Aug 9Essay 2 Due (Upload to Turnitin);The Civil War, 1861-1865 Discussion:Johnson 13-3; 13-4; 13-5;; Final Exam Review Reading: Henretta Ch. 14; Johnson 14-2; 14-3; 15-1; 15-3 Thurs, Aug 11Final Exam