HIST-1301 United States History I

Jack Bucco

Credit Spring 2026

Section(s)

HIST-1301-014 (17063)
LEC TuTh 1:30pm - 2:50pm RVS RVSA 2210

HIST-1301-017 (17066)
LEC TuTh 12:00pm - 1:20pm RVS RVSA 2266

HIST-1301-019 (34132)
LEC MW 9:00am - 10:20am RVS RVSG 9109

HIST-1301-021 (34133)
LEC TuTh 9:00am - 10:20am RVS RVSA 2210

Course Requirements

COURSE SYLLABUS

AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

US History I (1301)

Section number 019/021/017/014 Synonym number 34132/34122/17066/17063

Dr. Jack A. Bucco

Spring 2026

Course: US History I

Office: RVS Room: 1141.1

Office Hours: Wed/Fri 7am to 9am

And by appointment

Phone: 512-223-6687

e-mail: jbucco@austincc.edu

Course Description

This course will acquaint the student with the basic facts of US history from 1492 to 1877 using various methods including the text book, lecture, manual/study guide, assigned readings, and audio-visual. Although the coverage of the material is comprehensive, there will be an emphasis on political, economic, military, and constitutional history.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance is mandatory. More than four absences will result in a full letter grade reduction. Exams will be based on both lecture notes and assigned readings. Classroom lectures are designed to complement the textbook, and missing class will significantly hinder your understanding of the material. Punctuality is essential; lateness will be counted as an absence. If you miss class, you are responsible for obtaining the lecture notes—please do not ask me for them, as I do not distribute them.

Be mindful of your attendance. Do not miss class for trivial reasons and then expect special accommodations for future absences due to serious circumstances. The attendance policy applies equally to all students at all times.

REQUIREMENTS

Required: US History: Manual/Study Guide: Author: Dr. Pat Bonner

Optional: Text: America Stories. H. W. Brands et al, Volume I (Any Edition).

Course Rational: Reference the URL of history http://www.austincc.edu/history

Course Perquisites: This is a note-taking intensive course. You must devote sufficient time to the class and have a desire to learn and to achieve to the best of your ability.

Course Methodology: This is primarily a lecture course with opportunity for student discussion.

ACADEMIC FREEDOM: The free exchange of information is vital to the pursuit of learning.

TESTING CENTER and POLICY: Please consult http://www.austin.austincc.edu/testctr

COURSE RATIONALE: This course provides the basic survey of U.S. History to 1877 and satisfies three semester hours of the Legislative Requirement in U.S. History.

GRADES

Exams I,II,III

Quizzes I,II,III,IV A = 90-100

B = 80-89

1st exam worth 20 percent C = 70-79

2nd and 3rd worth exams 25 percent D = 60-69

Quiz 1,2,3, and 4 worth 10 points F = below 60

CALCULATING GRADES

Suppose you get the following exam grades

EX: 1st exam 90

2nd exam 83

3rd exam 88

Four Quizzes----are worth 10% of your grade. I drop the lowest quiz grade.

1st 8.0 ------- means you received an 80 on the quiz

2nd 9.0 ------- means you received a 90 on the quiz

3rd 3.5-------- This quiz is dropped because it is the lowest!

4th 10.0------- means you received a 100

(90*.20) + (83 *.25) + (88* .25) + (80.0* .10) + (90.0*.10) + (100*.10) = 87.75

Grade B

Exams will consist of multiple choice, fill in the blanks, and essays.

I am here to help you. If you are having problems understanding the material, please come see me.

No Curves or Extra Credit. This is the History Department policy. Please don’t ask. No Make-ups or retakes for Quizzes. Please Don’t Ask.

Make up exams will only be given for extreme medical reasons only to the student taking the class and will require medical documentation.

Grade Score Card

Quiz 1

10%

Quiz 2

10%

Quiz 3

10%

Quiz 4

10%

Exam 1

20%

Exam 2

25%

Final

25%

Final Grade

Quizzes will be announced. There will be four quizzes. They help you study for the exams.

HOMEWORK/TEST PREPARATION: Taking good notes and answering/knowing the study guide questions is essential for success in the class. Read over your notes EVERY NIGHT 40-50 minutes and read the text. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE NOTES GIVEN IN CLASS AND THE ASSIGNED READING.

When you can answer all the identifications/fill-ins/essay questions in your study guide WITHOUT LOOKING at the answer you are ready to take the quiz/exam. If you can't answer the study guide identifications/fill-ins/essay questions without looking you are not ready to take the quiz/exam.

Cell Phones, Laptops, Smart Watches, Tablets, Air Buds, …: Are not allowed in the class. All electronic devices must be turned to “silent” and put where you cannot see them. Also please see class etiquette policy.

Students with Disabilities: Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office for Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this the three weeks before the start of the semester.

Student Privacy: The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). In compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), this course protects the confidentiality of your educational records. Your grades, attendance, and other personally identifiable information will not be shared with anyone—including parents, spouses, or other third parties—without your written consent, except as permitted by law. You have the right to inspect and request corrections to your records by following the procedures outlined in the college’s FERPA policy.

Scholastic Dishonesty: What happens if a student gets caught cheating or plagiarizing? Any form of scholastic dishonesty by the student will automatically earn the student an F for the course. “Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, research or self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper.”

Withdrawal Policy and Incompletes: If you have less than a 55 average after the first three quizzes and first exam you are subject to withdrawal from the course by the instructor. This is at the discretion of the instructor. You may also withdraw yourself. Please check the ACC calendar for the last day of withdrawal. Incompletes are rarely given and only will be given by extreme medical reasons verified by a physician. In addition, the student must have completed 70% of the course with an average of 70 or above for an incomplete to be given and the incomplete must be completed within four weeks of the end of the course.

Dates for Exams and Quizzes: You will be given at least a week in advance when the exam/quizzes are going to be. I am under the assumption you are looking over you notes from class lectures and doing the study guide work problems every night.

Tutoring Labs: http://www.austincc.edu/support-and-services/tutoring-and-academic-help/learning-lab-services. This is an excellent resource if a student needs help with the course. Also, Learning Lab policies and times can be found here.

History Department Web-Site: There are many links to English grammar usage sites, as well as sites which can help with topics in the study of history. Check out web resources for instructors and students. Also, the leaning lab tutoring hours of the History Department Instructional Associates can be found here. http://www.austincc.edu/history/

Building Regulations: ACC regulations prohibit smoking, eating, and drinking in the classroom. No tobacco products or e-cigarettes allowed.

Campus Carry of Concealed Handguns: The Austin Community College District concealed handgun policy ensures compliance with Section 411.2031 of the Texas Government Code (also known as the Campus Carry Law), while maintaining ACC’s commitment to provide a safe environment for its students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Individuals who are licensed to carry (LTC) may do so on campus premises except in locations and at activities prohibited by state or federal law, or the college’s concealed handgun policy.

It is the responsibility of license holders to comply with the College’s policy and to conceal their handguns at all times.

Handbook of Operating Procedures Concealed Carry Policy
(https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-EwSafm0XzVS2NGMXAxeEtPeTg/view)

US History I Outline

Chapter I New World Encounters

Chapter II England’s Colonial Experiments: The Seventeen Century

Chapter III Putting Down the Roots: Families in an Atlantic Empire

Chapter IV Frontiers of Empire: Eighteenth-Century America

Exam I 20 percent

Chapter V The American Revolution: From Gentry Protest to Popular Revolt, 1763-1783

Chapter VI The Republican Experiment

Chapter VII Democracy in Distress: The Violence of Party Politics, 1788-1800

Chapter VIII Jeffersonian Ascendancy: Theory and Practice of Government

Chapter IX Nation Building and Nationalism

Exam II 25 percent

Chapter X The Triumph of White Men’s Democracy

Chapter XI The Pursuit of Perfection

Chapter XII An Age of Expansionism

Chapter XIII Masters and Slaves

Chapter XIV The Sectional Crisis

Chapter XV Secession and the Civil War

Chapter XVI The Agony of Reconstruction

Exam III 25 percent

The outline could change upon discretion of the instructor!

Common Course Objectives

Explain how Ice Age hunters may have crossed the Bering Straits and began settling North America.
Describe the economic, political, social, and religious factors of the Spanish colonial system, as well as the impact of this system on the Native Peoples.
Discuss the early English attempts at planting colonies, including the work of Sir Humphrey Gilbert and Sir Walter Raleigh.
Discuss the various problems involved in the settlement of Virginia.
Describe the diversity of the settlements of the Middle Colonies.
Discuss the similarities and differences between the settlement of the Carolinas and the settlement of the Chesapeake.
Discuss the reasons for the growth of slavery and the slave trade in the English colonies of North America.
Discuss the different conditions for slaves in the American colonies and the factors that contributed the construction of a distinctive and lasting African-American culture.
Assess the reasons behind the phenomenal population growth of the colonies.
Explain the differences and importance of Scots-Irish and German settlement.
Describe the influence of the Great Awakening on American Religion.
Discuss reasons for colonial economic expansion and patterns of settlement.

Exam

Explain the deeply rooted historical factors that moved America toward independence from Britain.
Describe the theory and practice of mercantilism and the benefits and shortfalls.
Explain the British efforts to impose taxes and controls on the colonies
Explain how sustained agitation and resistance to the tea tax led to the Intolerable Acts and the outbreak of the war.
Describe how America moved from engaging in military hostilities with Britain even while proclaiming loyalty to declaring its independence.
Explain why some Americans remained loyal to Britain and what happened to them during and after the Revolution.
Explain how the British attempt to crush the Revolution quickly was foiled, especially by the Battle of Saratoga.
Describe the military and political obstacles Washington and his generals had to overcome before the final victory at Yorktown.
Describe the terms of the Treaty of Paris.
Describe the government of the Articles of Confederation and indicate its achievements and failures.
Describe the drawbacks of Independence.
Explain how Jefferson’s moderation and compromises turned the “Revolution of 1800” into a relatively smooth transition of party control from Federalists to Republicans.
Describe Jefferson’s basic foreign policy goals and how he attempted to achieve them.
Analyze the causes and effects of the Louisiana Purchase.
Describe and explain the growth of the “New Democracy” in the 1820s.
Analyze the significance of Jackson’s victory in 1828.
Describe the political innovations of the 1830s, including the rise of mass parties and indicate their major significance for American politics and society.
Explain the Tariff of Abominations.

Exam II

Explain the “Nullies in South Carolina” and the Tariff of 1828
Explain how Andrew Jackson responded.
Describe Jackson’s policies toward the southeastern Indian tribes and newly independent Texas.
Trace the rise of Lincoln as the leading exponent of the Republican doctrine of no expansion of slavery.
Analysis the complex election of 1860 in relation to the sectional crisis
Describe the movement toward secession, the formation of the Confederacy, and the failure of the last compromise effort.
Explain how the firing on Fort Sumter and Lincoln’s call for troops galvanized both sides for war.
Describe the crucial early struggle for the Border States and why it was important.
Indicate the strengths and weaknesses of both sides as they went to war.
Compare Lincoln’s and Davis’s political leadership during the war.
Analyze the economic and social consequences of the war for both sides.
Describe the failure of the North to gain its expected early victory in 1861.
Describe the military significance of the battles of Gettysburg in the East and Vicksburg in the West.
Describe the end of the war and list its final consequences.
Define the major problems facing the South and the nation after the Civil War.
Explain how the blunders of President Johnson and the white South opened the door to more radical congressional Reconstruction policies.
Explain the legacy of Reconstruction, and assess its successes and failures.

Final

Class Etiquette

No laptops or other electronic devices allowed. Only the text book, pen, paper, and the ability to think.
No eating in the class. Beverages are allowed.
Only one person at a time speaks and that is me. If you have any questions or concerns just raise your hand and I will address the question. If you yell out without raising your hand you will be given a warning. Second offense, you will be asked to leave the class. Third offense, you will be dropped from the class with an “F.” This rule also applies to talking to a colleague when the professor is lecturing also.
If you are doing class work for another class or any other type of activity I will subtract 30 points from your next exam grade. Not a quiz/mini grade but an exam grade. This also includes writing notes from a previous class. The only thing that you should be doing is taking notes from the lecture given that day.
If you are more than 8 minutes late for a quiz/mini exam you will not be allowed to take it and receive a zero as a grade. If you are more than 10 minutes late on exam day I will subject 15 points from your exam grade. I recommend coming two hours early on quiz and exam days.
Absolutely unequivocally no cell phone allowed. Put them away where they can not be seen. I don’t want to see them on your desk or anywhere else. If I see you on a cell phone I will have you leave the class. Second offense, I drop you a whole letter grade. Third offense, you will be dropped from the class with a grade of “F.” No exceptions.
Daydreaming is allowed but not recommended.
There are no exceptions to these rules so don’t ask.
Study your notes every night for 40-50 minutes with full concentration free from all distractions and you will do very well in this class.

For 98.8% of students these rules are not needed because they know and behave like professionals. Unfortunately, there are those few who just don’t get it so I must state theses rules in my syllabus.

ChatGPT

This course assumes that work submitted by students – all process work, drafts, brainstorming artifacts, final works – will be generated by the students themselves, working individually as directed by class assignment instructions. This policy indicates the following constitute violations of academic honesty: a student has another person/entity do the work of any substantive portion of a graded assignment for them, which includes purchasing work from a company, hiring a person or company to complete an assignment or exam, and/or using generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT).

In this course, every element of class assignments must be fully prepared by the student. The use of generative AI tools for any part of your work will be treated as plagiarism. If you have questions, please contact me.

All assignments should be fully prepared by the student. Developing strong competencies in the skills associated with this course, from student-based brainstorming to project development, will prepare you for success in your degree pathway and, ultimately, a competitive career. Therefore, the use of generative AI tools to complete any aspect of assignments for this course are not permitted and will be treated as plagiarism. If you have questions about what constitutes a violation of this statement, please contact me.

This course assumes that work submitted for a grade by students – all process work, drafts, brainstorming artifacts, final works – will be generated by the students themselves, working individually as directed by class assignment instructions. This policy indicates the following constitute violations of academic honesty: a student has another person/entity do the work of any substantive portion of a graded assignment for them, which includes purchasing work from a company, hiring a person or company to complete an assignment or exam, and/or using generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT).

Any violations of this policies will result in a final grade of F and possible school suspension according to the ACC student guide book.

Readings