Professor Anthony Anadio
Office: SS-53
Office phone: 442-5432
This course is about the emergence and development of the American nation. In it, we will analyze the contributions of the Chesapeake and New England regions, and how the developments of the colonial era led to the Revolutionary War, victory, and the U.S. Constitution. With that contextual foundation, we will examine how Americans saw themselves, others, and their country when they embarked upon the nineteenth century and the Industrial Revolution. As the American political system evolved, it shaped and was shaped by social, economic, artistic, and technological forces, which forged powerful alliances and intense conflicts. How those numerous social/political conflicts culminated with the Civil War will conclude our study. Leading up to 1861, the issues of freedom, slavery, abolition, women’s rights, religion, party politics, national expansion, the growth of cities, and the role of the arts and technology are important themes that are essential to understanding American history.
Throughout the period of this study, I will emphasize the role of ideas as a means of analyzing and connecting the people and events that make up the trajectory of history. In addition, I will teach you what history is; why we study it; how to think about it ( especially that); and why it is important in how we live our lives.
Grading: There are no exams for this course, but rather two papers – one 5-6 pages and one 9-10 pages. The due dates are October 15th and December 8th, respectively. A handout will provide you with specific details and requirements, as well as the consequences for plagiarism. Failure to hand in both papers will result in failure of the course. During part of our class on September 24th, I will conduct a writing seminar that should improve your writing skills – do not miss that class! The material needed for the assignments will come predominately from my lectures, then from the readings and images, then from research sources that are additionally necessary for the final paper, but please bear in mind that you will be expected to provide your own analysis, rather than a reiteration of course material. There is no extra credit.
When I hand back your paper, it will only contain your grade. All too often I have spent considerable time correcting and rewriting sections of students’ papers only to have my work ignored when their next paper is turned in. In lieu, I make the following offer: if you want to go over the writing and intellectual mechanics of your paper, you must come to my office and I will give you all of the one-to-one time necessary.
University at Albany policy on plagiarism: “Plagiarism is taking (which includes purchasing) the words and ideas of another and passing them off as one's own work. If in a formal paper a student quotes someone, that student must use quotation marks and give a citation. Paraphrased or borrowed ideas are to be identified by proper citations. Plagiarism will result, at the minimum, in a failing grade for the assignment."
(The subject of plagiarism will be explained in much fuller detail in my essay guideline handouts, and in class).
Requirements: Attendance is required, and please show up on time. Each day you will sign the attendance sheet next to your name. This list will be passed out at the beginning of class, and no one will be allowed to sign in after it has made the rounds (yet another reason to show up on time). If you miss the sheet, but attend class, it is an absence. If you have more than 3 unexcused absences, I will begin shaving points off of your final grade (it is my sole discretion how much). More than 5 unexcused absences and you will fail the course. If you are late for some legitimate reason, I might consider excusing you, but if you are absent for some legitimate reason, then you must bring some sort of documentation, or it will be unexcused. You will be allowed 2 excused absences, after that you will have to count them as unexcused. Only in the most extreme of circumstances will I make an exception, and again, it is my sole discretion. If you are ill and cannot attend class, you must send me an email before class is scheduled to begin. All absences that you request to be excused will require an email, or they will not be excused. If for some legitimate reason you have to leave class early, you must tell me before class begins. You must complete all assigned readings. You must turn off your cell phones, iPods, and similar electronic devices. I will not tolerate disruptions in class. If you must, please get something to drink and use the bathroom beforehand.
Email policy: You can email me anytime with your questions and/or concerns and if it is possible for me to respond briefly, I will do so. If your inquiry is complicated enough to require an essay-length response, then I will reply by asking you to email me your phone number and a good time to call. You can email your papers, but you must follow the instructions on the guidelines (handed out 3 weeks prior to paper due date).
Textbook: Maier, Smith, Keyssar, Kevles Inventing America: A History of the United States, Vol. 1 (2006 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.) ISBN: 0-39392675-3
There is also a website for the course, where you will find the syllabus, guidelines, images, and an email link to me, at https://www.albany.edu/faculty/anadio
I will announce in class what you should read and when you should read it, so if you should miss a class (which you shouldn’t), you are still responsible for what I have assigned.
Course schedule by date:
August 25th – Introduction
August 27th – What is the discipline of History, and why do we study it?
Slide section entitled “17th Century”
August 29th – The founding of Jamestown colony and the Chesapeake Bay, slides 1-16
September 1st – no class
September 3rd – Labor, economics, politics, and rebellion in the colony, slides 17-33
September 5th – The founding of Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colonies, slides 34-51
September 8th – Puritan life, slides 52-71
September 10th – European events and their impact on America, slides 72-89
September 12th – European events and their impact on America, slides 90-101
Slide section entitled “Colonies to 1763”
September 15th – Georgia, the Carolinas, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, slides 1-17
September 17th – New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire, slides 18-32
September 19th – The Consumer Revolution, slides 33-60
September 22nd – The French and Indian War, slides 61-85
September 24th – writing seminar
Slide section entitled “1763-1800”
September 26th – War aftermath, the Great Awakening, printing, slides 1-6
September 29th – no class
October 1st – no class
October 3rd – The Stamp Act, Parliamentary legislations, and reaction, slides 7-15
October 6th – Ideas, rebellion, and a Massacre, slides 16-23
October 8th – The Boston Tea Party, and the American Revolution, slides 24-30
October 10th – no class
October 13th – northern theater of the Revolution, slides 31-58
October 15th – Papers due, Southern theater of the Revolution, slides 59-75
October 17th – The Constitutional Convention, slides 76-81
October 20th – The Constitution, slides 82-84
October 22nd – The Presidential terms of George Washington, slides 85-96
October 24th – The Presidency of John Adams, slides 97-105
Slide section entitled “Early Republic to 1828”
October 27th – Thomas Jefferson’s first term, Chief Justice John Marshall, slides 1-5
October 29th – Louisiana Purchase, Jefferson’s second term, slides 6-22
October 31st – Architecture, James Madison’s first term, slides 23-43
November 3rd – Madison’s second term, The War of 1812, slides 44-53
November 5th – James Monroe, Era of Good Feelings, Panic, Compromise, slides 54-63
November 7th – John Q. Adams, the Erie Canal, Second Great Awakening, slides 64-81
November 10th – American art 17th to early 19th centuries, slides 82-132
Slide section entitled “Jackson to Civil War”
November 12th – Andrew Jackson’s first term, slides 1-8
November 14th – Jackson’s second term, slides 9-24
November 17th – Van Buren, the Whigs, Harrison, Tyler, Polk, slides 25-59
November 19th – Manifest Destiny, the Mexican-American War, publishing, slides 60-81
November 21st – Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Compromise of 1850, slides 82-89
November 24th – Franklin Pierce’s term, art, slides 90-126
November 26th – no class
November 28th – no class
December 1st – Kansas-Nebraska Act, slaves and slave owners, slides 127-143
December 3rd – Abolition, James Buchanan, Dred Scott, slides 144-154
December 5th – Harper’s Ferry, Abraham Lincoln, secession, Fort Sumter, slides 155-163
December 8th – Papers due
Dates and material are subject to change