History 306 
United States, 1877 To 1920 
Spring 2007

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Purchase and read the assigned sections of the following texts: W.E.B. Dubois, The Souls of Black Folk.

Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Herland: A Lost Feminist Utopian Novel.

Upton Sinclair, The Jungle.

Leon Fink, Major Problems in the Gilded Age and the Progressive Era.


**I will also provide you with some supplementary readings throughout the course.**

2.  One in-class midterm— 20%.

3.  A final examination— 30%.

4.  A paper on the novels—First Drafts Due 10/22; Final Draft Due 11/5--25%.   In this paper you will analyze the arguments of Dubois, Gilman, and Sinclair, compare and contrast their critiques of American society, and assess their visions for the future. We will discuss this assignment further in class. (8-10 pages).

5.  Primary Source Report—--15%. In this paper you will act as the historian as your analyze wartime propaganda by examining reports, cartoons, advertisements, and editorials in the New York Times.  We will discuss this further in class. (4-6 pages).

6. Quizzes and Participation--short reading quizzes and general participation will count for 10%
    of your final grade.

There will be no make-ups, extensions, or late papers without a medical excuse.

A FEW WORDS ON ATTENDANCE:
Although the college allows you three unexcused absences, you are still responsible for all of the information in the readings, lectures, and discussions. I reserve the right to penalize your grade for each additional unexcused absence.

LECTURE AND DISCUSSION TOPICS AND WEEKLY READING ASSIGNMENTS:
N.B.: The schedule below includes reading assignments to be completed each class session. The “Lecture/Discussion” heading alerts you to the focus of that day’s discussion.  You are expected to have carefully thought about that day’s readings in advance. Bring the assigned readings to class and be prepared to discuss them.
 

LECTURE AND DISCUSSION TOPICS AND WEEKLY READING ASSIGNMENTS:

N.B.: The schedule below includes reading assignments to be completed each class session. The "Lecture/Discussion" heading alerts you to the focus of that day's discussion. You are expected to have carefully thought about that day's readings in advance. Be sure to bring the assigned readings to class because you may use them in our discussions.
 
DATE  LECTURE/DISCUSSION/ASSIGNMENT  READING 
1/23
 Introduction, Interpretations of History  Begin Dubois 
1/25
 The Nation Reconsidered
1/30
 The Rise of Industrial America: An Introduction to Economics and Politics  Fink, 18-20
2/1 The Ideology of Gilded Age America: An Overview  Socialist Party Platform, 
Women I, 
Women II, 
Women III,
Wealth

Fink 18-24; 93-95, 229-231, 296-301
2/6
 The New South Fink 88-92, 98-114 
2/8
 Southern Race Relations
 Fink 301-303; Finish Dubois
2/13
 Moving West
 Fink 47-85; Begin Sinclair
2/15
 Revisiting the Industrial North
 Grant, German Immigrant, Chinese Immigrant, Higham, Meyer,
Fiink 120, 128-31, 141-150
2/20
 Urbanization and Politics
 Fink 118-19, 121-2, 132-141, 167-78, 358-63
2/22
 Workers, Work and the Labor Movement
 Cigar Worker,
Ill. Stats, Lucy Larson, Mitchell, AFL, AFL Women, IWW, Sherman Antitrust,
Fink 123-126, 150-157
2/27
 Urban America and The Jungle
 Discuss Sinclair; Begin Gilman
3/1
 The Crisis of the 1890s--The Labor Movement
 Fink 34-45; 189-93, 201-8
3/6
 The Crisis of the 1890s -- the Agrarian Movement
 Fink 194-99
3/8
 Gender and Politics I: Iron Jawed Angels
 Fink 163-66, 365-6
3/20
 Gender and Politics II
 Review Fink, Finish Gilman
3/22
 Gender and Industrializing America
 Discuss Gilman
3/27
 Midterm Exam Review/ Paper Discussion
3/29
 Midterm Exam
4/3
 Paper Discussion-- Outlines, Arguments, and Writing
4/5
 An Introduction to Progressives
 Fink 239-253
4/10
No Class--Work on Paper Assignments
4/12
 In class peer reviews-- first drafts due in class
4/17
Progressive Politics and the Cities
 Fink 379-85, 389-411; 425-6, 440-444
4/19
 Progressives and the Labor Movement
Papers due in class/ Hand out Primary Source Assignments
4/24
The United States and Imperialism
 Fink 264-73; Document
4/26
 Commercialized Leisure, Sports and Industrializing America
 Fink 326-35; 336-54
5/1
 World War I--Getting Involved and the Homefront
 Fink 446-59; 476-84
5/3
 The Immediate Postwar Period
5/8
 Discuss Primary Source Reports/Review for Exam
Primary Source Reports Due in Class











































FINAL EXAM: Date, Time, and Place T. B. A.

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