The
United States Since 1865
Syllabus
and Survival Guide
History
271 – Fall 2024 – GE Title V Requirement
113
Nordhoff Hall
Tuesday-Thursday
1:00 – 2:15 pm
History, as nearly no one seems to know, is not
merely something
to be read. And it does not refer merely, or even
principally, to the
past. On the contrary, the great force of history
comes from the fact
that we carry it within us, are unconsciously controlled
by it in
many ways, and history is literally present
in all that we do. It could
scarcely be otherwise, since it is to history that
we owe our frames
of reference, our identities, and our aspirations.
– JAMES BALDWIN
Instructor
Dr. Thomas W. Devine
Campus
Office: 624
Sierra Tower (818) 677-3550
Office Hours: Tuesdays and
Thursdays, 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm. If you are not free to meet during regular office
hours, I am glad to set up an appointment with you (in person or on Zoom) at some
mutually convenient time.
Email: twd@pacbell.net
[I
prefer that you contact me through this email address and not through
the Canvas message function.]
Spirit of the Course
As someone who believes an informed
citizenry is vital to sustaining the health of a democracy, I hope that by
studying the unfolding of American history since the Civil War, you will leave
this course a more informed citizen than when you entered. Far too many aspects
our contemporary culture – particularly new technologies – enable people to
remain perpetually entertained and distracted, but also keep them docile and
easily manipulated. We are urged to consume mindlessly and actively discouraged
from developing our minds or engaging in any form of critical reasoning. By
virtue of living in such a culture, many of you have never “learned how to
learn.” As a result, people around the world see Americans as astonishingly
ignorant and, worse still, as being proud of their ignorance. In particular,
Americans seem to know virtually nothing of their own history. This is not only
embarrassing but perhaps even dangerous, for as the British author George
Orwell reminds us in his novel1984, those who have no knowledge of the
past are not only powerless, they inevitably are dominated by those who do
possess such knowledge – something to think about as we begin the semester.
As
someone who understands and appreciates that many students’ experiences in high
school History classes may not have been the best, I have specifically designed
this course for the non-History major in an effort to persuade you that a
History course, if well taught, can actually provide you with valuable skills
and prepare you for a career in numerous fields that are unrelated to the
discipline of History per se. Accordingly, I will not be inundating you
with lists of facts, asking you to memorize random names and dates, or
expecting you to mindlessly copy down text from Powerpoint slides and
regurgitate it on exams. Most of the time, I’ll be asking you questions, or,
more precisely, trying to get you to think critically by using logic
and evidence to solve problems and make judgments. I will ask
you why you believe something is so and challenge you to convince me
that you’re right by making an argument based on evidence (and
not on your opinion or your “feelings”). This kind of thinking can be hard
work, which explains why most people never bother with it, but as college
students, you should consider giving it a try. Don’t just sit there passively;
try to engage your mind and answer the questions – if not out loud (some of us
are more shy than others) then at least in your own head. A few of you may
someday take jobs in which you will need to do some critical thinking and
problem solving. In this course, I will give you the opportunity to learn and
practice these skills.
As
someone who laments the low level of political and social discourse in our
society, I will emphasize in this class ideas, not ideology.
Today, far too many Americans are, in the words of H. L. Mencken, “often wrong,
but never in doubt.” Rather than passionately adhere to a dogmatic “progressive”
or “conservative” political creed, one needs to exercise one’s brain and think
independently. Being “passionate” achieves little if you don’t know
anything. American politicians, some have argued,
will say anything because they assume American voters
don’t know anything. I would urge you to join me in proving them
wrong. In this class, we will try to do the serious thinking that those in
power – both progressives and conservatives – understandably do their best to
discourage, lest the average person become too inquisitive or informed and
stray from the pre-determined “party line.”
Required Reading
You do not need to purchase any
books for this course. All required reading will be available through the links
on this syllabus or through the course Canvas page.
You
access the readings on the syllabus by entering the password when
prompted to do so.
Grading & Requirements
Quizzes (5 total – each worth 5 points) --25 points
#1 – September 10
#2 – October 3
#3 – October 17
#4 – November 12
#5 – November 26 [1pm-1:25pm]
First Exam [September 26] --20 points
Second Exam [October 29] --25 points
Third Exam [December 17] --30 points
(12:45-2:45)
Calculating
Your Grade
The
grade reported on Canvas is usually incorrect because it does not account for
the fact that the assignments in this course are weighted. Test 2, for example,
is weighted heavier than Test 1, and all of the Tests are weighted heavier than
each Quiz. The score you receive on each assignment is the percentage of points
you earned out of the total available. So, for example, an “85” on Test One
earns you .85 x 20 points (17 points); a “75” on a quiz earns you .75 x 5
points (3.75 points). To calculate your course grade, add together the number
of points you earned on each of the eight assignments and divide by the total
points available (100).
Grading
Scale
A = 93-100
A- = 90-92
B+
= 87-89
B = 83-86
B- = 80-82
C+
= 77-79
C = 73-76
C- = 70-72
D+
= 67-69
D = 63-66
D- = 60-62
F = below 60
Explanation of Requirements
Quizzes
There will be five 20-question
quizzes based on lecture material and short reading assignments. A missed quiz
will count as a zero unless you arrange with me to schedule a make-up.
Exams
Each of the three exams will consist
of 50 multiple choice questions based on the material covered in class and from
any of the assigned readings. I will post study questions and lecture notes on
the web syllabus. Going over these questions and notes is the best way to
prepare yourself for the exam. If your exam scores improve significantly over the course of the semester, I will award your
improvement if you are hovering between two grades – that is, raise you from a
“C” to a “C+.”
Surviving History 271…
Attention
Freshmen…
Contrary to what you may have heard about
professors who teach large classes such as ours, I go out of my way to be
available for students on a one-on-one basis. So, if you need advice or help –
even if your problem is not directly related to this course – do not hesitate
to email me, visit during my regularly-scheduled office hours, or set up an
appointment for a Zoom conference. Students who make the effort to get to know
their professors end up benefiting far more from their college education than
those who don’t. Part of my job is to interact with you, and I’m happy to do
so.
Problems
If you are feeling overwhelmed, find
yourself falling behind, or are having any problems outside of class that are
adversely affecting your performance in class, be sure to let me know. Do
not wait until the end of the semester when it will be too late. I am more
than willing to work with you to insure you “survive,” but you need to tell me
that you are having difficulties. Schedule a Zoom chat or send an email as soon
as a problem arises and we can work something out. Also, if you are struggling
academically, I will gladly give you extra help.
No Textbook
Because I don’t like reading
textbooks any more than you do, and because they are ridiculously overpriced,
there is no textbook for this course. Instead, I will post lecture notes on the
web syllabus from each class that either repeat or develop further what was
said in class. Reading these notes immediately after class or before the next
class will help you better retain and understand the information. If you do not
attend class, you should read these notes carefully in order to pass the exams.
Academic
Honesty
Do
not cheat on the quizzes or tests. The University has already taken far too
much of your money, so you’re not “gaming” the system when you cheat; the only
one you’re cheating is yourself. More importantly, get in the habit of being
honest with others and with yourself. You will be a better person for having
done so.
Attendance
I
do not take attendance, so attending the classroom meetings is entirely
voluntary (that means that even though you’re paying a lot of money to go to
class, you don’t have to come if you don’t want to). I do not record the
lectures, so you will have to rely on the notes
and powerpoints posted on the web syllabus to prepare for the quizzes
and tests. You will need to take the three tests at the regularly
scheduled class time, so be sure to keep these times open in your calendar,
even if you do not regularly attend class.
Schedule of Topics & Assignments
Unit 2
Thurs. 1 Oct. “Raise Less Corn
and More Hell!” – The Populist Revolt
Tues. 3 Oct. “Gold Bugs and
Free Silver” – Economic Conflict and the Election of 1896
ECONOMIC
RELATIONSHIPS TO KEEP IN MIND
QUIZ #2 (ON
CANVAS) – Populism Lectures
Tues. 8 Oct. Imperial Ambitions?
– Motivations for American Expansionism at the Turn of the 20th Century
AMERICAN EXPANSIONISM POWERPOINT
Thurs. 10 Oct. “A
Splendid Little War” – The Spanish-American-Cuban Conflict
Tues. 15 Oct. The Four “D”s –
The Legacy of the Spanish-American War
Reading: Mark Twain, “Incident in the Philippines”
Albert Beveridge, “The March of
the Flag”
Thurs. 17 Oct. “The
Search for Order” – The Progressives’ Response to Industrialism
QUIZ #3 (ON
CANVAS) – The Spanish-American War
Tues. 22 Oct. “Reforming
Other People’s Bad Habits” – Implementing the Progressive Vision
Thurs. 24 Oct. Conclusion to Progressive Era
Tues. 29 Oct. TEST
#2
Thurs. 31 Oct. “Over
There” – The European Origins of the Great War
WORLD WAR I OVERSIMPLIFIED (PART ONE)
Tues. 5 Nov. “Over Here” – The U.S., the Great
War, and the Failed Peace
WORLD WAR I OVERSIMPLIFIED (PART TWO)
Thurs. 7 Nov. “From Harding to Hard
Times” – The Origins of the Great Depression, 1920-1940
ORIGINS OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION POWERPOINT
Tues. 12 Nov. “Tariffs, Taxes, and
the Great Depression” – Making the Depression Worse
QUIZ #4 (ON CANVAS)
– World War I
Thurs.
14 Nov. Origins of the Great
Depression – Conclusion
Tues.
19 Nov. “FDR and
the New Deal” – Solving the Problems the Depression Created
Thurs.
21 Nov. Establishing the Welfare
State: The Legacy of the New Deal
Tues.
26 Nov. “The Second World War” – Long Origins,
High Stakes
[No
face-to-face meeting in Nordhoff Hall. Instead, you may watch the pre-recorded
lecture below.]
WORLD WAR II PRE-RECORDED
LECTURE
WORLD WAR II PRE-RECORDED
LECTURE (Part 2)
WARLORDS:
HITLER vs STALIN [WWII LEADERS DOCUMENTARY]
QUIZ
#5 (ON CANVAS from 1pm-1:25 pm) – New Deal
Thurs.
28. Nov. THANKSGIVING (NO CLASS
MEETING)
Tues.
3 Dec. “Anxiety
and Anticommunism” – The Postwar World
Thurs.
5 Dec. “Affluence and Alienation
– American Culture during the Early Cold War
Tues.
10 Dec. Bonus Quiz – Four “A”s Lectures [Available on
Canvas between 6am and 11:59pm. Class meets as usual at 1pm.]
[This quiz is OPTIONAL. Your score on it will
replace the lowest score of the 5 quizzes you have already taken.
If your score on the Bonus Quiz is lower than
your lowest score on any of the other quizzes, I will not count it.
Taking the Bonus Quiz can only help raise your
grade. If you missed a quiz (and therefore have a zero), you
should definitely take the Bonus Quiz so that
you can replace the zero with a higher score.]