To understand the United States, you must first understand its origins. This course will focus primarily on the political framework established in the last forty years of the 18th century, though these events are only comprehensible by understanding the social context of the period. After the conclusion of the course each student should have an understanding of the many factors that influenced the life and political structures of the early republic, as well as in depth knowledge of some of the more significant people and concepts of the revolutionary period.
As an upper level class, this course will revolve around the readings, student inquiry and the class discussions. Your participation ultimately determines the class’ direction.
Required Books and supplies
Major Problems in the Era of the American Revolution, ed. Richard Brown ISBN 0-395-90344-0
The Making of the American Republic: 1763-1815, Paul A. Gilje ISBN: 0-13-183667-6
Representative Americans: The Revolutionary Generation, Norman K. Risjord ISBN: 9780742520752
Determining your grade:
Event Drama 25 pts
Mini Lecture 50
In-class activities
50
Midterm
100
Final
100
Research Paper &
Bibliography
100
450+ A
400-449 B
350-399 C
300-349 D
Under 300 F
There are no makeups for missed presentations or exams.
Late papers will lose one letter grade for every day late, starting with ˝
grade if submitted after the beginning of class on the date an assignment is
due.
This assignment aims to bring the past alive in a dramatic way! The class will be divided into “event groups” whose responsibility it will be to dramatize an important event in the history of the early American Republic. You will be graded not on the expense of the presentation (each group may spend no more than $20 for the assignment), but on these criteria:
Success at capturing the meaning of the event
Historical accuracy
Creativity
Group evaluation – each person must have a speaking role
Here are the “event groups”
#1 Lord Dunmore’s “Ethiopian Regiment”
#2 The Newburgh Conspiracy
#3 The Griswold-Lyon Fight
#4 The “XYZ” Affair
Each student will present to the rest of the class two (2) mini-lectures from those listed on the syllabus. Each presentation will last between 8 and 12 minutes and will be timed by a classmate. Presentations failing to fall within the time parameters will lose one letter grade for each minute outside the time limit. Each mini-lecture is worth 10%.
Each presentation must include the following:
1. a multimedia component (such as computer, video, web, audio, slide show, hands on activity, etc.)
2. to class: a handout relating to your presentation
3. to professor: a bibliography of least three books, not including the textbooks
4. NOT reading your presentation to the class – notes are acceptable but reading is not!
Each student will be randomly assigned one of the original thirteen states. Over the course of the semester you will do a number of research projects related to your state. During class discussions you might be called upon to discuss how the issue under discussion might relate to “your” state. You will report your findings to the class and write a short (2 page) paper for each of the following topics. Additional details will be disseminated as the projects are assigned.
#1 Demographic information
#2 Signer of the Declaration of Independence
#3 Revolutionary Constitution analysis
#4 Western Lands
#5 Federal Constitutional convention delegate biography
During the course of the semester each student will select a topic from the time period we cover, in which to conduct adequate research to independently author a twelve page (12) paper. Each student will also provide the rest of the class with a short summary of their findings during one of the final class sessions.
Paper requirements:
1. A proposed topic describing the direction of the paper including a clearly written thesis statement (due week 10)
2. A tentative outline (due week 12)
3. Final paper and in-class presentation
A. Each paper must include the use of at least two (2) different primary sources.
· Your paper must include photocopies of the primary source documents utilized
B. Each paper must be at least twelve (12) full pages and also include a bibliography.
C. Since this is a history paper, it must be formatted in MLA form. (Also known as Turabian) APA style is not appropriate and will not be accepted.
D. Use margins, fonts, sizing and footnotes as in Turabian.
E. Due dates for the paper will be randomly and evenly assigned amongst the three presentation dates – except for those choosing to volunteer to present and submit their paper on the first day of presentations.
Bibliography example (Times New Roman 12pt)
Jensen, Merrill. The Articles of Confederation; an Interpretation of the Social-Constitutional History of the American Revolution 1774-1781. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press, 1970.
[Indent all but first line][Alphabetize list by author’s last name] [Author name: Last, First].[Title (italicized)].[City of Publication], [State]: [Publisher], [Year].
Footnote Example (Times New Roman 10pt)
[1] Merrill Jensen, The Articles of Confederation; an Interpretation of the Social-Constitutional History of the American Revolution 1774-1781, Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press, 1970, 224.
[Indent first line only][Number of footnote][Author name], [Title (italicized)], [City of Publication], [State]: [Publisher], [Year], [Page of citation].
The university’s policy regarding unascribed work (plagiarism) is immediate failure from the course, and inclusion of this fact in your student record, which the school sends to any school to which you will send a transcript.
Protect yourself and recognize the work of others by properly attributing your ideas.
Each exam is a take home exam. The exam consists of a number of identifications, (including significant persons, concepts and events listed on the syllabus)
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