Faculty Syllabus
HIST-1302 United States History II
Georgia Xydes
Credit Spring 2026
Section(s)
HIST-1302-015 (28805)
LEC TuTh 11:50am - 1:10pm SAC SAC1 1315
HIST-1302-025 (28809)
LEC TuTh 1:25pm - 2:45pm SAC SAC1 1315
Course Requirements
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is a study of the history of the United States from 1870 to the present(For further detail see History Dept. http://www.austincc.edu/history) This course provides a basic survey of U.S. History after 1870 and satisfies three semester hours of the Legislative Requirement in U.S. History to graduate from a public institution of higher learning in Texas. While intended primarily as a lecture course meeting twice weekly, we will devote a substantial amount of class time to discussion, conflicting interpretations, and questions. This class offers students opportunities to pursue historical topics of individual interest and enhance their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. See HYPERLINK http://www.austincc.edu/history for additional information on course objectives.
History is not just memorizing data, facts, names, and dates. It is more about knowing and understanding the past and its impact on the present: what happened, who was involved, what motivated the participants, why events happened, and the consequences of these events. In order to be successful in this course it is necessary to know the who, what, when, and where, but I focus much more on the why and the how—the connections between people and events. In class and on my study guides I emphasize a greater understanding of our past rather than just the facts.
TEXTBOOK: American Stories, H.W. Brands, etc, Pearson Press. Volume 2. On-line edition, paid for when registered for course. Note that if you sign up for a trial copy, it will disappear in two weeks when that time is finished. If you desire a paper copy instead, one is available from the publisher, Rental copies are also available. Any earlier editions are perfectly acceptable, almost identical in text, and much cheaper on Amazon or at Half Price Books if you can find one. Do NOT buy any Value Edition or shorter version--too much left out. For those students aiming at an A, an additional non-fiction book of the student’s choice from this time period is required. It is NOT required to pass the course—but IS required for an A.
CONTACT INFORMATION; Professor Georgia Xydes. I am always available immediately before class. If this time is not suitable, please email me to arrange an alternate time. I check my email daily and should respond within 24 hours if not sooner. Email=gxydes@austincc.edu. A Blackboard Collaborate meeting can be arranged at alternate times.
Blackboard is used for communication in this course, and students are responsible for checking for messages regularly. Please be sure you have reliable internet connections. Blackboard is located at: https;//acconline.austincc.edu. All course materials, grades, and important announcements will be on Blackboard. For security purposes, ACC requires you to use your ACC email account and not your personal email. All course materials are also posted on Blackboard for your convenience.
COURSE COMPLETION DEADLINE & WITHDRAWALS; May 11, 2026. No work will be accepted after this date. Withdrawal deadline is April 25, 2026.. I do not withdraw students for academic reasons—you must complete the simple form to withdraw yourself. The most important factor for success in this course is attendance. If you arrive late, leave early, or make frequent trips to the restrooms, you disrupt the class and infringe on the rights of other students. You are expected to arrive on time and attend the entire class. Students who disrupt the class by violating class policies or by interfering with the respectful exchange of ideas, chronic tardiness or early departure will be withdrawn from the class. In consultation with their counselor, I will withdraw Dual Credit students myself. Withdrawal does not affect your grade point average but may have financial aid or academic consequences.
COURSE PREREQUISITES: There are no course prerequisites but students must be TSI compliant in Reading and Writing. It is expected that students have the ability to read and write on a college level. In order to achieve success in this course, students must devote roughly 8-10 hours per week, be good time managers, work to the best of their ability, attend class and meet deadlines.
LEGAL NOTICE: All course materials including syllabus, study questions, and exam questions are copyrighted material. Copying or posting all or part of these materials on line to Facebook, Quizlet, or other site is a violation of copyright and is expressly forbidden.
STUDENT PRIVACY: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act protects confidentiality of educational records. Grades or student progress cannot be given over the phone, through a fellow student, or by e-mail in this course or to anyone other than the student. My classroom is a welcoming space for any and all students. The free and respectful exchange of ideas is central to learning and to ensure the rights of others. Students who disrupt or disregard other students or the instructor will be withdrawn from the course.
ELECTRONICS: Cellphones, smartwatches, and other electronic devices must be turned to “silent” mode and stored out of sight in a purse or backpack. Use of laptops or computers is not permitted. Research concludes that they hinder rather that help learning, and also proves that writing out notes imprints information in the brain. Electronics can serve as useful tools, but more often are distractions. Due to abuse of laptops in previous courses, I no longer allow them.
METHOD; The most important factor leading to success in this course is persistence. I had many students during covid who successfully shifted to self-paced distance learning and also a good number who just stopped doing the work and/or gave up. Time management and good study skills are vital in any college course. Consistently doing the reading, attending lectures, working through the study guide questions and preparing for exams usually leads to success. Reading and cramming at the last minute usually does not. In lectures I often present material not in your text that may appear on the exams. During the covid shift to on-line teaching, I created 108 You Tube videos of my entire lectures. Students will be using the Blackboard learning management system for material and communicating with the instructor. In the event of emergencies, students are responsible for communicating with their professor and completing any assignments or other activities designated by their professor. Class attendance is the single most important factor for success in this course and I take attendance each class. You have FOUR absences with no questions asked, but after the first four each additional absence will reduce your final score by one point. Arriving late or leaving early disrupts both the instructor and the class and MAY lead to the student being withdrawn from the class. Conversely, excellent attendance MAY be a factor in rounding a grade of---9 up to the next letter grade.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: The course is divided into four roughly equal units, each covering all or part of four chapters in the text. The text should be read and studied according to the attached schedule. There will be four exams of 100 points each, all counted equally and none cumulative except for a possible comparative question. Exams will generally have half multiple- choice questions, a short matching or similar section, and half written short answers with a longer question requiring about a 250 word answer. The four exams will be scheduled during class time on indicated days. 10 points of each exam will consist of locating places on a map. The make-ups for absences on test days will be available in the testing center for approximately two weeks following each exam. Grades are posted in the “My Grades” link in Blackboard.
GRADING: for an A—complete all four exams with an average of 90 or above AND write one analytical book review with a grade of EXCELLENT OR ACCEPTABLE.
For a B—complete all four exams with an average of 80 or above.
For a C—complete all four exams with an average of 70 or above.
For a D---a grade average between 60 and 70
For an F—failing to take all four exams or failing to maintain an average of 60 or above or any act of scholastic dishonesty.
For an I—a medical excuse certified by a physician submitted before April 1. All Incompletes must be completed within the first four weeks of the following semester. ACC requires a minimum of 50% of the course completed with a passing grade for an Incomplete.
UNIT EXAMS: It is much to your benefit to take the exam in class on the scheduled day. One reason is that I offer 3 extra credit points on in-class exams but none on make-up exams. Each unit exam covers only that part of the course: none are cumulative. Format is usually one-half multiple choice and on- half short answer with a short essay. 10 points of each test will consist of places to ID on a United States map. No make-ups will be offered on the final exam. You MUST be in class on the final test day.
MAKE-UP EXAMS: A make-up exam if you miss the original test for a DOCUMENTED SERIOUS ILLNESS or exceptional circumstance will be scheduled shortly after the in-class test date. It is your responsibility to take the test in the testing center during the time scheduled. There are no make-ups for make-up exams. Whatever grade you make on the make-up will be recorded.
Course Subjects
(Dates will be changed to reflect the upcoming semester)
HISTORY 1302 AMERICAN STORIES—E-BOOK, Volume 2
This schedule may be changed to reflect class interests or progress. Any changes will be posted on Blackboard Announcements and you are responsible for keeping up with any schedule changes.
DATE CONTENT TEXTBOOK READING
Jan 21 Introduction & “New South”? Chapter 16, all
23 Native Americans Chapter 17.2
30 The Last West Chapter 17.3—17.4—17.5
Feb. 4 Rise of Industry Chapter 18.1—18.2—18.3
6 Workers Respond Chapter 18.4—18.5
Submit optional (for A/B) non-fiction book title
11 The Immigrant Wave Chapter 19.1—19.3—19.4
13 Imperial America Chapter 21, all.
18 UNIT TEST I: (chapters 16,17,18,19,21)
20 Populists & Progressives Chapter 20.2—20.3; Ch.22.1—23.1—23.2
25 Teddy Roosevelt, Progressive Chapter 23.3—23.4—23.5
27 Woodrow Wilson & W.W.I Chapter 23.6—24.3—24.4—24.5—24.6
Mar.4 Roaring Twenties Chapter 25,
6 Conservative Response Chapter 25
11 The Dust Bowl Chapter 26.1
13 UNIT TEST 2; (chapters 20, 23, 24, 25)
18&20 Spring Break
25 FDR’s New Deal--Relief Chapter 26.2----26.3
27 The New Deal , Reform Chapter 26.4—26.5
Apr.1 World War II—Over There Chapter 27.1—27.2—27.3
3 World War II—Homefront Chapter 27.4—27.5
8 The Cold War Chapter 28, all
10 The Ambivalent 50’s Chapter 29.1—29.2
15 UNIT TEST III;(chapters 26,27,28,29)
17 Civil Rights Chapter 29.3—29.4
22 JFK & Conflicts Overseas Chapter 30.1—30.2
April 28= deadline to withdraw from class
24 LBJ and his Great Society Chapter 30.3
Submit Book Evaluation for A—NOT required to pass the course.
29 Vietnam Chapter 30.4—30.5
May 1 Nixon and Watergate Chapter 31.1—31.2—31.4
6 The Reagan Revolution Chapter 31.5—31.6
8 UNIT TEST 4 (chapters 30,31, 32
Office Hours
T Th 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM South Austin Campus, Third Floor Adjunct Office
NOTE Also 2:45 to 3:15Published: 11/23/2025 17:46:13