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HISTORY 17A:
The American People, 1492-1820
M,W,F 10-10:50;
additional one-hour discussion required.
CAMPBELL HALL THEATER
Prof. A. M. Plane
Office Hours: W 11-12, 1-2 or by appointment
4215 HSSB
ph: 893-2713
email: plane@humanitas.ucsb.edu
Teaching Assistants:
Jennifer Baker baker@umail.ucsb.edu
April Haynes arose@umail.ucsb.edu
Travis Smith trsmith@umail.ucsb.edu
Matt Sutton masutton@umail.ucsb.edu
Greg Whitesides jgw@umail.ucsb.edu
Rick Wolf Rwolf057@aol.com
This class examines
the history of early America from the 1500s to the 1820s--a period that
completely transformed the North American continent. European powers
(Spain, France, Britain, and others) competed for control of the rich
resources of North America, displacing Native American peoples and creating
a "New World" of colonial societies composed of Europeans,
Africans, and Indians. By 1763, Britain emerged as the most vital imperial
power on the continent. But then, in a dramatic turnabout, much of British
America rebelled, forming the new country of the United States. By the
early 1800s, this new nation would come to promote unprecedented ideals
(democracy, liberty, religious toleration and a free market economy).
Yet, putting these ideals into practice would be quite a different matter.
By the 1820s, the United States of America began to expand to the Pacific,
and yet, the young nation was riven by internal tensions that would
ultimately threaten the union.
Lectures and readings
aim to connect students to life in early American communities, looking
at the diverse individuals and many cultures of early America. Throughout,
we will focus on understanding relations of power in these colonial
societies--who got it, who lost it, and why. We will look at many different
levels of society and explore social, economic, political and cultural
changes, including the texture of everyday life for the various peoples
of early America.
Students are expected
to attend all lectures and to participate in the required discussion
sections. Section will help you to hone your skills in critical thinking,
writing, and crafting an argument from evidence. These are among the
most important things you will take away from this class. Your section
leader will also lead discussion of the readings, pose questions about
the lectures, and evaluate your work.
HONORS SECTION:
There is a five-unit Honors course offered in conjunction with this
class, History 17AH, meeting Mondays, 1-2:50, HSSB 4044. Students in
the course attend regular lectures and the weekly two-hour section.
Honors students complete all required work for 17A as well as some additional
work. Enrollment in the honors class is limited. Interested students
should go to the organizational meeting Monday, Sept. 24, at 1 pm. All
questions about eligibility for and admission to the honors section
should be directed to lead TA, Matt Sutton. This section is open to
students in UCSB's Honors program, and, if space allows, to other honors
eligible students by permission. ALL INTERESTED STUDENTS SHOULD ATTEND
A REGULAR SECTION UNTIL THE 17AH CLASS LIST HAS BEEN FINALIZED.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
There are four textbooks for this class as well as a primary document
reader. All texts are available for purchase at the bookstore, and the
reader can be ordered from the Alternative Copy Shop in Isla Vista.
I have put copies of each of the required texts on reserve at the RBR
in Davidson Library, but they are so integral to our work this quarter
that you should plan on buying your own copy of each of these required
readings. All exams and writing assignments are based on the materials
in these texts, as well as other information presented in class.
James L. Roark,
et al., The American Promise: A History of the United States, Compact
Edition (New York: Bedford/St. Martin's Press, 1999).
Edmund S. Morgan,
The Puritan Dilemma: The Story of John
Winthrop, 2nd. Ed. (New York: Longman, 1999).
Charles W. Akers,
Abigail Adams: An American Woman, 2nd. Ed.
(New York: Longman, 2000).
Douglas R. Egerton,
Gabriel's Rebellion: The Virginia Slave Conspiracies of 1800 and
1802 (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1993).
Course Packet, History 17A
--The Alternative Copy Shop, 6556 Pardall Rd., Isla Vista.
GRADING:
Your grade depends upon your participation in the class and completion
of the written work and examination.
The first paper
is due Monday, October 15, at the beginning of class. The second paper
is due Friday, November 16, at the beginning of class.
NB: Because this is a writing intensive class, you MUST complete the
papers with a passing grade in order to earn credit for this class,
irrespective of your grade based on section participation and the exams.
20% participation:
attendance at all class meetings, contributing to discussion, completion
of homework, in-class work, quizzes
20% paper #1
30% paper #2
30% final exam
If you have concerns about the grading of a particular assignment, try
to resolve them first with the TA.
SCHEDULE OF LECTURES:
THEME I: HISTORICAL
SOURCES
WEEK ONE: INVASION
OF AMERICA
READING: American Promise, ch. 1 and 2.
Morgan, pp. 1-28;
DOCUMENTS: Columbus Letter (attached to syllabus)
Mon., Sept. 24: The Significance of Early America
Wed., Sept. 26: Two American Civilizations
Fri., Sept. 28: Spanish Conquests
********************************************
WEEK TWO: ATLANTIC
BRIDGES
READING: American Promise, ch. 3
Morgan, pp. 29-101
DOCUMENTS: Unit II
Mon., Oct. 1: Fish, Furs, and Pirates
Wed., Oct. 3: Founding a colony: Death and Commerce
Fri., Oct. 5: New World Labor: Indenture or slavery?
********************************************
WEEK THREE: REGIONALISM AND COLONIAL DIVERSITY
READING: American Promise, ch. 4
Morgan, pp. 102-184.
DOCUMENTS: Unit III.
Mon., Oct. 8: Religion and Community in New England
Wed., Oct. 10: New England Grows Up
Fri., Oct. 12: Witches and what they tell us…
********************************************
WEEK FOUR: EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY SOCIETIES
READING: American Promise, ch. 5 (to p. 122)
Akers, pp. 1-17
DOCUMENTS: Unit IV
NB: PAPER #1 DUE AT BEGINNING OF CLASS MONDAY
Mon., Oct. 15: The Greater Caribbean
Wed., Oct. 17: Atlantic Slavery and Mercantilist policy
Fri., Oct. 19: Refining America: A Consumer Revolution
********************************************
THEME II: HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
WEEK FIVE: THE
BRITISH EMPIRE
READING: American Promise,
ch. 5 (pp. 122-end); ch. 6 (to p. 142)
Akers, pp. 19-34
DOCUMENTS: Unit V.
Mon., Oct. 22: The Great Awakening
Wed., Oct. 24: The Politics of Empire
Fri., Oct. 26: The Stamp Act Crisis
********************************************
WEEK SIX: CONSTRUCTING A REVOLUTION
READING: American Promise, ch. 6 (pp. 142-end), ch. 7
Akers, pp. 35-67
DOCUMENTS: Unit VI.
Mon., Oct. 29: Building a Tax Revolt
Wed., Oct. 31: Waging War
Fri., Nov. 2: The World Turned Upside Down
********************************************
WEEK SEVEN: THE EARLY REPUBLIC
READING: American Promise, ch. 8.
Akers, pp. 69-142.
Egerton, pp. 3-17.
DOCUMENTS: Unit VII
Mon., Nov. 5: The Paradoxes of War
Wed., Nov. 7: An End to Patriarchy?
Fri., Nov. 9: Confederation to Constitution
********************************************
THEME III: HISTORICAL MEMORY AND MEANING
WEEK EIGHT: BUILDING
A NATION
READING: American Promise, ch. 9.
Akers, pp. 143-199.
Egerton, pp. 18-33.
DOCUMENTS: Unit VIII
Mon., Nov. 12: UCSB HOLIDAY--NO CLASS
Wed., Nov. 14: Declarations of Independence
NB: PAPER #2 DUE AT BEGINNING OF CLASS FRIDAY
Fri., Nov. 16: A New Political System
********************************************
WEEK NINE: MYTH, MEMORY, AND NATIONAL IDENTITY
READING: American Promise, no assignment.
Akers, no assignment.
Egerton, pp. 34-115
DOCUMENTS: Unit IX.
NB: ALL SECTIONS EXCEPT HONORS CANCELLED THIS WEEK
Mon., Nov. 19: The Cult of Washington
Wed., Nov. 21: Rethinking Thanksgiving
Fri., Nov. 23: THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY--NO CLASS
********************************************
WEEK TEN: AN EXPANSIVE NATION
READING: ch. 10; ch. 11 (to p. 264);
Akers, pp. 201-219.
Egerton, pp. 119-178.
Review quarter.
DOCUMENTS: Unit X
Mon., Nov. 26: Pacific Expansion
Wed., Nov. 28: Tecumseh, Jackson, and the Creeks
Fri., Nov. 30: New Markets and Industry
********************************************
WEEK ELEVEN: SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS
READING: Review the quarter.
DOCUMENTS: Unit XI.
Mon., Dec. 3: Tocqueville's America
Wed., Dec. 5: Exam Review Session
FINAL EXAM:
Saturday, Dec. 8, 8-11 am, Campbell Hall Theater
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