Faculty

HIST-1301 United States History I

Megan McGregor

Credit Fall 2025

Section(s)

HIST-1301-017 (21720)
LEC TuTh 1:30pm - 2:50pm CYP CYP5 2231

HIST-1301-065 (21755)
LEC TuTh 10:30am - 11:50am CYP CYP1 1114

HIST-1301-066 (21756)
LEC TuTh 12:00pm - 1:20pm CYP CYP5 2231

Course Requirements

Course Description: This course is a survey course of United States History from Colonization to Reconstruction. As a survey we will touch on numerous topics but with limited depth. This course is based on lectures, textbook and web readings.

Grading System:

Unit ID Exams (4 @ 50 points) 200

Mid-Term Essay 100

Final Essay 100

Project (total) 200

Discussions 100

Primary Source Assignments 100

Total 800

Grading Scale:

720-800 points A

640 – 719 points B

560 – 639 points C

480 – 559 points D

479 – below F

Attendance/Class Participation:

Regular and punctual class attendance is expected of all students, whether in person or online. If attendance or compliance with other course policies is unsatisfactory, the instructor may withdraw students from the class.

Withdrawal Policy:

It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the roll should s/he decide to withdraw from the class. The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should s/he feel it is necessary. If a student decides to withdraw s/he 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 form for their records. LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW: NOVEMBER 21, 2024.

Readings

Required Textbook:America: A Narrative History, Brief 13th edition, Volume 2 by David Emory Shi

Additional Readings: Will be provided by the professor and will be available on Blackboard

Course Subjects

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

Program-Level Student Learning Outcomes: upon completion of the A.A. degree in History students will be able to:

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

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 context

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 the European background of New World colonization and identify motives of those who migrated to the western hemisphere.
2. Explain the diversity of English speaking colonies of North America.
3. Describe the societies that evolved in the English colonies of North America, together with the development of unfree labor systems.

4. Explain the economic and political relationships between the English colonies and the Mother Country.
5. Describe the economic, religious and political developments in eighteenth century Colonial America.
6. Identify the wars fought by English colonists in North America and evaluate the impact of those wars, particularly the French and Indian War.
7. Trace the growing alienation of the colonies from Great Britain, which ended with the decision to declare independence.
8. Describe the course of the American Revolution to the winning of Independence, including the significant campaigns and the diplomatic maneuvers that helped gain victory.
9. Explain the impact of the American Revolution on American society and politics and the problems that arose after independence.
10. Describe the restructuring of the Republic at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the fight for the ratification of the Constitution.
11. Trace the rise and development of political parties during the 1790s, including the contributing domestic and foreign policy differences and the attempted suppression of the Republicans by the High Federalists.
12. Describe the key events and developments of the Jefferson and Madison administrations, including the attempts to avoid war with Britain, together with the outcomes of the War of 1812.
13. Describe the territorial expansion and economic developments after the War of 1812.
14. Trace the social, economic and political developments of the Jacksonian Era which democratized the United States and transformed the party system.
15. Identify the religious developments and reform movements of the Antebellum Era.
16. Describe the territorial and internal expansion of the United States during the 1830s and 1840s, including the war with Mexico.
17. Trace the expansion of slavery in the early nineteenth century and explain the effects of that expansion.
18. Describe the African American experience under slavery.
19. Explain the events from the Compromise of 1850 to the election of 1860 that led to the disruption of the union.
20. Trace the course of the Civil War from secession to Appomattox, paying particular attention to the social, economic and political effects of the conflict.
21. Describe the reconstruction of the South and explain its failure.
22. Identify the major problems of the Grant administration and evaluate his handling of those