Faculty Syllabus

HIST-1302 United States History II

Rick Spring


Credit Spring 2026

Section(s)

HIST-1302-049 (17160)
LEC MW 10:30am - 11:50am RRC RRC2 2330.15

HIST-1302-155 (17205)
LEC TuTh 1:10pm - 2:40pm WEI WEI1 B226

Course Requirements

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

  1. The material in American Stories is to be read and studied according to the attached schedule.
  2. Punctual and regular attendance is required. Any student accumulating three (3) or more UNEXCUSED absences MAY be dropped from this course. This is at the discretion of the instructor.
  3. The quality and quantity of the work done by the student determines his/her final grade.

Readings

TEXTBOOK:  ISBN-13: 978-0-13-473996-0 H.W. Brands et al, American Stories Volume 2: Since 1865 (4th Edition) must be purchased from ACC Bookstore or online.

Course Subjects

COURSE DESCRIPTION: A survey of the social, economic, cultural, and intellectual history of the United States from the Civil War/Reconstruction era to the present. United States History II examines industrialization, immigration, world wars, the Great Depression, Cold War and post-Cold War eras. Themes that may be addressed in United States History II include: American culture, religion, civil and human rights, technological change, economic change, immigration and migration, urbanization and suburbanization, the expansion of the federal government, and the study of U.S. foreign policy.

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

  1.  

COMMON COURSE OBJECTIVES: After completing History 1301 the student should be able to:

  1. Describe how Anglo-American settlement of the west impacted the lives of women, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans and African Americans.
  2. Identify the major industries in the 19th century American West.
  3. Explain the rise of the major industries in the 19th century United States.
  4. Describe the effects of 19th century industrialization on labor unions, women and minorities.
  5. Describe the social effects of urbanization on the 19th century United States.
  6. Explain the major events of Gilded Age politics.
  7. Describe the rise of the American overseas empire by 1900.
  8. Identify the main political, social, intellectual and economic effects of Progressivism on American society.
  9. Compare and contrast the “Square Deal,” the “New Nationalism” and the “New Freedom” programs.
  10. Explain the background of and U.S. participation in World War I.
  11. Describe how World War I transformed the roles of women, African Americans and Hispanic Americans.
  12. Explain how the 1920’s changed American society politically, socially and economically.
  13. Identify the major writers of the 1920’s.
  14. Describe the causes and results of the Great Depression.
  15. Identify the changes in American politics and society brought about by the New Deal.
  16. Explain the effects of American foreign policy in the 1920’s and 1930’s and the coming of World War II.
  17. Describe the social, economic and political effects of World War II on American society.
  18. Evaluate the major causes and effects of the Cold War on America from 1945 to 1960.
  19. Describe the key events of the 1950’s and their effects on American society with special emphasis on McCarthy and civil rights.
  20. Compare and contrast the “New Frontier” and “Great Society” programs.
  21. Examine the American involvement in Vietnam and the effect of that war on American society.
  22. Describe the Republican Resurgence and the effects of Watergate.
  23. Evaluate the effects of the 1980’s on American society.
  24. Describe the effects of the end of the Cold War in 1989.

Spring 2026 Syllabus

 

INSTRUCTOR:  Rick Spring                                                                      DAYS:  MW

EMAIL:  rick.spring@austincc.edu                                                          TIME:  10:30 AM - 11:50 AM                     

PHONE:  mobile 805 816-1314                                                                  START:  01/20/26

SYNONYM:  17160                                                                                        END:  05/17/26

CAMPUS:  RRC                                                                                                BUILDING:  RRC2

ROOM:  2330.15

COURSE DESCRIPTION: A survey of the social, economic, cultural, and intellectual history of the United States from the Civil War/Reconstruction era to the present. United States History II examines industrialization, immigration, world wars, the Great Depression, Cold War and post-Cold War eras. Themes that may be addressed in United States History II include: American culture, religion, civil and human rights, technological change, economic change, immigration and migration, urbanization and suburbanization, the expansion of the federal government, and the study of U.S. foreign policy.

COURSE RATIONALE: The Texas legislature requires students to take 6 hours of American history to graduate from an institution of higher learning in Texas. This course helps fulfill that requirement. Students taking History 1302 can expect to improve their reading and writing competencies, critical thinking skills, research skills, etc., all of which help students better succeed in life outside academia.

COURSE-LEVEL STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon completion of this course students will be able to:

  1. Use critical thinking in the analysis of historical facts
  2. Demonstrate civic awareness in the appraisal of historical contexts
  3. Demonstrate cultural awareness in the assessment of historical situations

COMMON COURSE OBJECTIVES: After completing History 1301 the student should be able to:

  1. Describe how Anglo-American settlement of the west impacted the lives of women, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans and African Americans.
  2. Identify the major industries in the 19th century American West.
  3. Explain the rise of the major industries in the 19th century United States.
  4. Describe the effects of 19th century industrialization on labor unions, women and minorities.
  5. Describe the social effects of urbanization on the 19th century United States.
  6. Explain the major events of Gilded Age politics.
  7. Describe the rise of the American overseas empire by 1900.
  8. Identify the main political, social, intellectual and economic effects of Progressivism on American society.
  9. Compare and contrast the “Square Deal,” the “New Nationalism” and the “New Freedom” programs.
  10. Explain the background of and U.S. participation in World War I.
  11. Describe how World War I transformed the roles of women, African Americans and Hispanic Americans.
  12. Explain how the 1920’s changed American society politically, socially and economically.
  13. Identify the major writers of the 1920’s.
  14. Describe the causes and results of the Great Depression.
  15. Identify the changes in American politics and society brought about by the New Deal.
  16. Explain the effects of American foreign policy in the 1920’s and 1930’s and the coming of World War II.
  17. Describe the social, economic and political effects of World War II on American society.
  18. Evaluate the major causes and effects of the Cold War on America from 1945 to 1960.
  19. Describe the key events of the 1950’s and their effects on American society with special emphasis on McCarthy and civil rights.
  20. Compare and contrast the “New Frontier” and “Great Society” programs.
  21. Examine the American involvement in Vietnam and the effect of that war on American society.
  22. Describe the Republican Resurgence and the effects of Watergate.
  23. Evaluate the effects of the 1980’s on American society.
  24. Describe the effects of the end of the Cold War in 1989.
  25. Evaluate the results of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on American politics and society.
  26. Describe the impact of the election of Barack Obama to the presidency in 2008.

TEXTBOOK:  ISBN-13: 978-0-13-473996-0 H.W. Brands et al, American Stories Volume 2: Since 1865 (4th Edition) must be purchased from ACC Bookstore or online.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

  1. The material in American Stories is to be read and studied according to the attached schedule.
  2. Punctual and regular attendance is required. Any student accumulating three (3) or more UNEXCUSED absences MAY be dropped from this course. This is at the discretion of the instructor.
  3. The quality and quantity of the work done by the student determines his/her final grade.

GRADING SYSTEM: A point system is used to calculate the grade. Attendance/Participation is 100 points possible, Assignments are 10 points each with a total possible of 50 points, Research Paper is 50 points possible, Book Review is 30 points possible, Unit Exams and Final are 90 points each for a total of 270 points possible. Total points possible are 500. For an A grade the points must fall within 450-500; B grade must fall within 400-449; C grade must fall within 350-399; D grade must fall within 300-349; F grade is 299 and below.

LATE WORK POLICY: All assignments and papers are due by their due date, if a student turns in an assignment or paper late the highest points possible will be 70% of the original points possible.

ATTENDANCE/CLASS PARTICIPATION: Regular and punctual class attendance is expected of all students. If attendance or compliance with other course policies is unsatisfactory, the instructor may withdraw students from the class. In situations in which classes are cancelled because of weather, pandemic, or other emergencies, the student is responsible for communicating with their instructor during the closure and completing any assignments or other activities designated by their instructor.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY: It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that their name is removed from the roll should they decide to withdraw from the class. The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should they feel it is necessary. If a student decides to withdraw, they should also verify that the withdrawal is submitted before the Final Withdrawal Date. Students are also strongly encouraged to retain a copy of the withdrawal from for their records.

Students are responsible for understanding the impact that withdrawal from a course may have on their financial aid, veterans’ benefits, and international student status. Per state law, students enrolling for the first time in Fall 2007 or later at any public Texas college or university may not withdraw (receive a “W”) from more than six courses during their undergraduate college education. Some exemptions for good cause could allow a student to withdraw from a course without having to count toward this limit. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor when making decisions about course selection, course loads, and course withdrawals.

Students who enroll for the third or subsequent time in a course taken since Fall 2002, may be charged a higher tuition rate for that course.

INCOMPLETES: An instructor may award a grade of “I” (Incomplete) if a student is unable to complete all the requirements for the course. An incomplete grade cannot be carried beyond the established date in the following semester. The completion date is determined by the instructor but may not be later than the final deadline for withdrawal in the subsequent semester.

An incomplete (grade of “I”) will only be given for extenuating circumstances. What constitutes “extenuating circumstances” is left to the instructor’s discretion. If a grade of “I” is given the remaining course work must be completed by a date set by the student and instructor. This date may not be later than two weeks prior to the end of the following semester. A grade of “I” also requires completion and submission of the Incomplete Grade Form, to be signed by the faculty member (and student if possible) and submitted to the department chair.

Students may request an Incomplete from their faculty member if they believe circumstances warrant. The faculty member will determine whether the Incomplete is appropriate to award or not. The following processes must be followed when awarding a student an “I” grade.

    1. Prior to the end of the semester in which the “I” is to be awarded, the student must meet with the instructor to determine the assignments and exams that must be completed prior to the deadline date. This meeting can occur virtually or in person. The instructor should complete the Report of Incomplete Grade Form.
    2. The faculty member will complete the form, including all requirements to complete the course and the due date, sign (by typing in name) and then email it to the student. The student will then complete his/her section, sigh (by typing in name), and return the completed form to the faculty member to complete the agreement. A copy of the fully completed form can then be emailed by the faculty member to the student and the department chair for each grade of Incomplete that the faculty member submits at the end of the semester.
    3. The student must complete all remaining work by the date specified on the form above. This date is determined by the instructor in collaboration with the student, but it may not be later than the final withdrawal deadline in the subsequent semester.
    4. Students will retain access to the course Blackboard page through the subsequent semester in order to submit work and complete the course. Students will be able to log on to Blackboard and have access to the course action materials, assignments, and grades from the course and semester in which the Incomplete was awarded.
    5. When the student completes the required work by the Incomplete deadline, the instructor will submit and electronic Grade Change form to change the student’s performance grace from an “I” to the earned grade of A, B, C, D, or F.

If an Incomplete is not resolved by the deadline, the grade automatically converts to an “F”. Approval to carry an Incomplete for longer that the following semester or session deadline is not frequently granted.

UNIT EXAMS: The two unit exams and one final exam consist of short answers and essay questions covering the textbook material and classroom exposition as highlighted by the learning objective issued for each chapter. MISSED EXAMS may be reschedule with the instructor’s permission. Students must communicate prior to the exam date regarding missing an exam.

ANALYTICAL BOOK REVIEW: Pick from the following books:

    1. Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer, by James L. Swanson, ISBN: 0-06-051849-9
    2. The President Has Been Shot!: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy, by James L. Swanson, ISBN: 10-9780545490078
    3. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, ISBN: 0060935464
    4. The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, ISBN: 0143039431
    5. The Vietnam War: An Intimate History, by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns, ISBN: 10-1984897748

Rationale: This analytical book review will critically examine an important scholarly book covering some aspect of United States History since 1877 thru 2020. The purpose of this review is twofold: first, to acquaint the student with a classic volume of historical scholarship and second, to allow the student to think critically about an important facet of American history and then to organize thoughts in clear, cogent prose. You should not view this simply as a hurdle which you must overcome in order to earn a grade of “A” or “B” in this course, but rather approach it as an opportunity to expand your creativity in thinking and writing, two very important aspects of any individual’s necessary life skills. Therefore, be advised that I consider this a VERY important aspect of this course and your reviews will be read and graded CAREFULLY.

Form: Each book review will be approximately 4 PAGES double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 point font. The main objective is this analytical book review should be to comprehensively cover the three sections of the following book report outline:

Part I: This is a brief outline of the content of the book. In the space of one or two paragraphs you should be able to convey the parameters of the book’s contents. DO NOT simply reproduce the book’s table of contents.

Part II: Here is the place for a careful summary of the author’s thesis. The thesis is the primary idea the author is trying to prove and convince the reader to accept. You must first identify the thesis and then show how the author either substantiates or fails to substantiate this thesis. This will undoubtedly take you a page or two to do a good job.

Part III: This is the most important part of your book review. Here is where you describe your reaction to the book. Some of the questions you must answer include: Do you agree or disagree with the book’s conclusions? Why? Did the book support or contradict what you read in your textbook on the same subject? (You MUST quote some of the relevant passages from both books.) Did you detect any biases on the part of the author? What was the author’s background and why did he or she write the book? How in your opinion could the book have been improved? You must be specific and keep in mind there are NO perfect books. Did you enjoy reading the book? Why or why not? Would you recommend it to others?

Grading: The book review will be graded as with any other exam and research paper with 50 points possible.

Due Dates: The analytical book review is due at Mid-semester.

 

RESEARCH PAPER: Pick from the following approved topics.

      • Wounded Knee Massacre
      • Kent State University Shooting
      • Woodstock Music Festival
      • Free Speech Movement
      • Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
      • Assassination of John F. Kennedy
      • The Moon Landing

The research paper will be required in order to receive the highest points possible. The student must pick a topic approved by the instructor from the above list. The research paper is a 5 PAGE double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 point font research paper. The format will be MLA, and requires a bibliography, in addition to the 5 pages. The topic should be a part of the period, 1609 to 1877, and have an argument or be persuasive. Details will be handed out in class.

ADA: Any student needing special accommodation under ADA must complete the necessary forms in the Office of Student Services.

PRIVACY: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects confidentiality of educational records. Grade cannot be given over the phone, through a fellow student, or by e-mail in this course.

STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Austin Community College values academic integrity in the educational process. Acts of academic dishonesty/misconduct undermine the learning process, present a disadvantage to students who earn credit honestly, and subvert the academic mission of the institution. The potential of fraudulent credentials raise additional concerns for individuals and communities beyond campus who rely on institutions of higher learning to certify students’ academic achievements and expect to benefit from claimed knowledge and skills of their graduates.

“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 work. Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, research, or taken electronically or on paper; project, either individual or group; classroom presentations, and homework.” (ACC Student Handbook.) Anyone committing these acts in this course will receive the grade of “F” for the course.

USE OF GENERATED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE G.A.I: The use of G.A.I. is not permitted in this class. Any material used in your assignments, research projects, and literature reviews that is not your own is prohibited. G.A.I. is defined as not original material and therefore is not allowed. There are no exceptions.

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 three weeks before the start of the semester.” (ACC Student Handbook)

TESTING CENTER POLICY: Students using the Academic Testing Center (ATC) must govern themselves according to the Student Guide for Use of ACC Testing Centers and should read the entire guide before going to take the exam.

The Testing Centers will allow only limited in person testing and testing time will be limited to the standard class time, typically one and one-half hours. Specifically, only the following will be allowed in the Testing Centers:

  • Student Accessibility Services (SAS) Testing: All approved SAS testing
  • Assessments Tests: Institutionally approved assessment tests (e.g., TSIA or TABE)
  • Placement Tests (e.g., ALEKS)
  • Make-Up Exams (for students who missed the original test): Make-up testing is available for all lecture courses but will be limited to no more than 25% of students enrolled in each section for each of three tests.
  • Programs incorporating industry certification exams: Such programs (e.g., Microsoft, Adobe, etc.) may utilize the ACC Business Assessment Center for the industry certification exams (BACT) at HLC or RRC.

To request an exam one must have:

  • ACC Photo ID
  • Course Abbreviation (e.g., ENGL)
  • Course Number (e.g., 1301)
  • Course Synonym (e.g., 10123)
  • Course Section (e.g., 005)
  • Instructor’s Name

Do NOT bring cell phones to the Testing Center. Having your cell phone in the testing room, regardless of whether it is on or off, will revoke your testing privileges for the remainder of the semester. ACC Testing Center policies can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/testctr/

STUDENT AND INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES: ACC strives to provide exemplary support to its students and offers a broad variety of opportunities and services. Information on these campus services and resources is available at http://www.austincc.edu/students. A comprehensive array of student support services is available online at: https://www.austincc.edu/coronavirus/remote-student-support

For help setting up your ACCeID, ACC Gmail, or ACC Blackboard, see a Learning Lab Technician at any ACC Learning Lab.

STUDENT ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES: Austin Community College (ACC) is committed to providing a supportive, accessible, and inclusive learning environment for all students. Each campus offers support services for students with documented disabilities. Students with disabilities who need classroom, academic or other accommodations must request them through Student Accessibility Services (SAS).

Students are encouraged to request accommodations prior to the beginning of the semester, otherwise the provision of accommodations may be delayed. Students who have received accommodations from SAS for this course will provide the instructor with the legal documentation titled “Faculty Notification Letter” (FNL) through the Accessible Information Management (AIM) portal.

Until the instructor receives the FNL, accommodations should not be provided. Once the FNL is received, accommodations must be provided. Accommodations are not retroactive, so it is in the student’s best interest to request their accommodations as soon as possible prior to the beginning of the semester.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT: ACC offers academic support services on all of its campuses. These services, which include online tutoring, academic coaching, and supplemental instruction, are free to enrolled ACC students. Tutors are available in a variety of subjects ranging from accounting to pharmacology. Students may receive these services on both a drop-in and referral basis.

An online tutor request can be made here: https://de.austincc.edu/bbsupport/online-tutoring-request/

Additional tutoring information can be found here: austincc.edu/onlinetutoring

BUILDING REGULATIONS: RGC regulations prohibit smoking, eating, and drinking in the classroom. These regulations will be enforced in this course.

Office Hours

M W 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM Round Rock

NOTE or by appointment

Office Hours

M W 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM Round Rock

NOTE or by appointment

Published: 01/17/2026 11:30:56