Sometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government of others? Or have we found angels in the form of kings to govern him? Let history answer this question.

 Thomas Jefferson

The first principle of a free society is an untrammeled flow of words in an open forum.

Adlai Stevenson

Rogers State University at Claremore

Dr. Paul B. Hatley

Office Auditorium Basement ("The Bunker") 116

Hours by appointment: (918) 343-7682; phatley@rsu.edu

Feel free to contact me through e-mail, over the telephone, or visit my office

SYLLABUS

US History Since 1877

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This survey course will examine selected themes in the history of the United States beginning with the end of Reconstruction and ending with the Vietnam Era. Specifically, we will be interested in questions such as the following: What was the nature and what were the causes of basic economic, social, and political change? The primary goal of this course is to provide the student with an appreciation of the historical roots of the present-day political, economic, and social situation in the United States. Believe it or not, studying history can be interesting and entertaining! The United States is a product of history; to understand it we must understand its history, thus the past continues to have relevance for us.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Primarily, this course will acquaint you with some of the major components of United States history since 1877 such as the New South, Jim Crow Laws, American Globalism, Management/Labor relations, the World Wars, the New Deal, the Cold War, and the Civil Rights Movement. Because this is a survey course, we cannot possibly cover all there is to know about US history from 1877, but serious and consistent effort will provide you with a solid foundation upon which further, more in depth study can be made. In keeping with Rogers State University’s mission, this course is designed to help foster critical thinking skills among all students so that they are better prepared to handle the challenges they will face as university graduates.

EXAMINATIONS: There are three examinations in this course. Each examination comprises 30% of your course grade; the Map Exercise comprises 10%. No exam is comprehensive, that is, only material covered since the previous exam is included in the subsequent exam. You will never see true-false, multiple-choice, matching, or fill-in-the-blank formats; examinations, written in booklets called Bluebooks (obtained at the Bookstore), are short answer and essay and are based on information provided BOTH in the lectures and in the assigned readings. Because I do not lecture from the textbook, merely reading the text will not supply sufficient information to answer the essay portion of the examinations. I must stress that students are expected to produce university-level work. Essays must demonstrate a command of the historical material, in other words, they are coherent, reasonably well organized, and answer the questions posed. Therefore, success in this course depends BOTH upon regular class attendance and faithful study of the lecture and reading material. NOTE: Make-up exams will be given only if the student can provide evidence of extenuating circumstances.

Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation, Vol. II, 5^th Edition.

Folsom, Burton W., Jr. The Myth of the Robber Barons.

Chang, Iris. The Rape of Nanking.

Moore, Harold G. We Were Soldiers Once…and Young.

All texts and Blue Books should be available at RSU’s Barnes & Noble College Bookstore

GRADING: Letter-grade values are as follows: 

Your final course grade will be determined by figuring each exam at thirty percent and the Map Exercise at 10 percent. I do not curve grades.

STUDY SESSIONS: Sessions are held a few days prior to each exam by the instructor on an evening and time determined by a majority of class members. Students are also encouraged to subscribe to the List Serv so that they can pose questions, relevant to this course, to the instructor and/or other class members.

ATTENDANCE: Absolutely required. Missing classes will certainly hurt performances on the various examinations and written assignments. Students are expected to take notes during class, participate in discussions, and ask questions if something in the discussion is unclear. Students who miss class should obtain class notes, handouts, and/or assignments from other class members.

ADA ACCOMMODATIONS: Anyone who may require an accommodation under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (1993) should contact the instructor as early as possible at the beginning of the course. You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the Office of Student Relations located on the Claremore Campus.

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT: Rogers State University regulations require that I inform you that plagiarism is representing someone else's ideas or work as your own ideas or work. To avoid plagiarism when using someone else's data, arguments, designs, words, ideas, projects, et cetera, you must make it clear that the work originated with someone else by citing the source. Students are expected to follow university policies as put forth in the institution's Student Code of Responsibilities and Conduct. In accordance with Title 12 of the Student Code (page 11), instances of alleged academic misconduct will follow the policies and procedures as described in Title 12. As a general rule, Faculty at Rogers State University have the responsibility of enforcing the academic code. Therefore, if academic misconduct is suspected I will submit a letter of alleged academic misconduct to the Office of Student Affairs.

NON-ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT: In order to maintain an effective learning environment, students are expected to comply fully with the Student Code. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. It is the responsibility of each student to read and become familiar with the policies of the Student Code.