AH224
THE AMERICAN WEST
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Mark Van Rhyn
OFFICE: Room 102
OFFICE HOURS: 9:00-11:00 MWF
2:00- 3:00 MWF
11:00-12:45TR
and by appointment
GUIDED STUDY: Wednesday, Room 201
OFFICE PHONE: (318) 357- 3174 ext. 155
HOME PHONE: 354-1929
TEXTS: The American West
Historical Atlas of the American West
Does the Frontier Experience Make America Exceptional?
The History Student Writer’s Manual
PURPOSE OF THE COURSE:
This
course will examine both the nature and the concept of the American West. We
will look at why the nation grew, what promoted expansion and change, and how
the nation grew, including how the West impacted America and American culture.
While it will focus on the interactions of the peoples as the United States expanded west, this course will also discuss the mythology of the West and the
importance of the “frontier” to American national development. Integral to
that assessment will be the roles of minorities like African-Americans, Native
Americans, women, Chinese, and Japanese to the nation’s growth and expansion. Students
will also learn how to critically read history books, and how to prepare,
research, and write a history term paper.
By the end of the semester, you should be able to:
l identify the important elements of American expansion
l understand the influence of the frontier on national identity
l discuss the importance of American continental expansion
l critically read a history work for significance
l write a clear, properly researched and documented term paper
Quizzes: you will have six (6) quizzes in class on the reading materials for a given period. Each quiz is worth 10 points. The lowest will be dropped, leaving fifty (50) points combined.
Research paper: you will write a five page research paper on a
relevant American history subject of your choice. We will develop the process
as the semester progresses, with a finished paper due one week before the final
examination. The paper is worth 150 points.
Subject
matter: 5
points
Preliminary
bibliography: 5
points
Thesis
and outline: 10
points
First
draft: 30
points
Final draft: 100 points
Total possible number of points: 500.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS:Missed exams will be made up the second hour of the final exam session. Since they are hour exams, you can only miss one. If you miss two exams, you will not be able to make them up and will fail the class.
Research paper assignments are due on assigned dates. Failure to turn in required materials on those dates will result in a two point deduction for each day late.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY :
Under no circumstances will academic
dishonesty be tolerated. Examples of academic dishonesty include
, but are not restricted to, the following:
1. Plagiarism of any sort.
2. Copying from another on an exam or quiz.
3. Assisting another student to cheat by providing information.
4. Changing a grade, notation, or answer on a paper or test that has already been submitted, graded, and returned to students
5. Tampering or altering any notations in the instructor's grade book.
HONOR CODE:
LSMSA has an Honor Code and you are expected to
abide by it on all tests and papers. In particular, you are cautioned against
plagiarism. The ninth edition of The Harbrace College Handbook explains plagiarism in this fashion: "You
must acknowledge all material, quoted, paraphrased or summarized from any work.
If you fail to cite a source [for any material derived from your research],
whether deliberately or accidentally, you are guilty of plagiarism-of
presenting as your own work the words or ideas of another."
Please take special note that this
definition draws no distinction between intentional and unintentional
plagiarism, nor does it allow for the plagiarizing (non-attributed use) of
ideas any more than it does of words. I will assign an automatic grade of zero
for plagiarism on any paper or cheating on any exam. I also reserve the right
to assign a failing final course grade if there is more than a single instance
of cheating and/or plagiarism by a particular student over the semester.
WHAT I EXPECT OF YOU:
I expect you to attend every class session.
The lectures and discussions in class are a key part of learning. Habitual
lateness to class will not be tolerated. Students entering late are a
distraction to those who arrived on time and will therefore not be tolerated.
Three unexcused tardies will constitute an unexcused absence.
When class begins, I expect you to be prepared to start. This means that all newspapers, books, and other extraneous materials must be put away. As a courtesy to your fellow students, please refrain from speaking to your classmates during class time. Turn off your cell phones. This is a learning atmosphere, and I and your fellow classmates expect that you will be courteous enough to allow everyone an equal opportunity to listen and learn.
While this class is primarily lecture, there will be ample opportunities for questions and discussion. I expect each of you to participate and to contribute to class discussions on a regular basis. I may ask you questions at any time during the class session, and I expect you to be prepared to share your ideas and opinions.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT OF ME:
I will be at my office hours unless I notify
you that they have been changed. If those hours are not convenient, please see
me and I will try to make another arrangement to meet with you. I will also
come to class a few minutes early, and will stay a few minutes after class, to
answer questions. I check my e-mail daily, so I can be reached there.
I will do everything in my power to return all exams and quizzes to you within a week of when they were handed in.
An important element of the learning process
is finding where you have made errors. I will provide written comments on your
written work and will also discuss common problems in class following exams and
quizzes. I will also seek your feedback via anonymous comments or questions on
a regular basis. You feedback will assist me to improve my teaching and to
provide you with the information you need.
General Syllabus
Tentative Course Outline and Reading Assignments
Week of January 10
Introduction
The West, frontier, and mythology
Week of January 17 Hine, Introduction, Ch. 1
The First Invaders Beck, maps 8,9,10,
The Second Invaders
The Columbian Exchange and Disease
Week of January 24 Hine, Ch. 2
The Spanish Borderlands Beck, maps 15-19
The French Borderlands
English America
RESEARCH PAPER SUBJECT DUE January 24
Week of January 31 Hine, Ch. 3, Ch. 4 to 104
Empire and Frontier
American Revolution and the First Expansion West
Week of February 10 Hine, Ch. 4 after 104
American West to the Mississippi
Dispossession and Possession
PRELIMINARY BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE February 11
Week of February 14 Hine, Ch. 5
Louisiana and the Second Expansion Beck, maps 1,2,3, 24-26
Lewis and Clark and Military Exploration
The Mountain Men
FIRST EXAMINATION February 21
Week of February 21 Hine, Ch. 6
Trail of Tears Beck, maps 21, 22, 32, 39, 40
Second Expansion
Texas, Oregon, Utah
Week of February 28 Hine, Ch. 7 to 223
Manifest Destiny and Third Expansion Beck, maps 29, 41, 44
Mexican War
RESEARCH PAPER THESIS AND OUTLINE DUE February 28
Week of March 7 Hine, Ch. 8
California Gold Rush Beck, maps 34, 35, 36, 45, 54
The Gold Rushes: Mining and Minorities
Civil War in the West
Week of March 14 Hine, Ch. 9
The Railroads Beck, maps 55 - 60
Outlaws and the Struggle for Justice
SECOND EXAMINATION March 21
Week of March 21 Hine, Ch. 10
Cattle and The Open Range Beck, maps 30
End of the Buffalo
Week of April 4 Hine, 223-232, 251-256, 373-383
Final Conquest Beck, maps 37, 46 -52
The Indian Wars
RESEARCH PAPER FIRST DRAFT DUE April 4
Week of April 11 Hine, Ch. 11
Settlers and Farmers Beck, maps 42,
Western Political Movements
Week of April 18 Hine, Ch. 12, 13
The Urban West Beck, map 61
Week of April 25 Hine, Ch. 14
Changing Ideas Beck, map 73
Lumber and Forests
Water
Week of May 2 Hine, Ch. 15
The West in the 20th Century Etulain
American Myth?
RESEARCH PAPER FINAL DRAFT DUE May 9
Week of May 9
Summary
THIRD EXAMINATION: Finals week - date to be announced