09/13/2006
| SETON HALL UNIVERSITY Dr. Maxine N. Lurie History Department Jacksonian Era |
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Hist.3352 Section AA.
Fall 2006
Class meets: MW 2:30- 3:45; Fahy 131
Course Description:
This American History course covers politics and thought, as well as cultural
and economic change,
in the Jacksonian Era. Included is a discussion of the westward movement,
Indian removal, and the development of Manifest Destiny.
Course Rationale:
This
course is designed primarily for upper level history majors. It covers the
period from 1820 to 1850,
ensuring that they have a deeper understanding of this important period
and the majors changes that had begun to take place.
Students learn about some of the major figures of the time, the conflicts of the
Era, the literature
of the American Renaissance
period, as well as how various
historians have interpreted this part of American History.
Required Texts:
Paul Nagel, John Quincy Adams
Sean
Wilenz, Andrew Jackson
Peter
Bernstein, Wedding of the Waters
William Cain ed., The Blithedale Romance
John Ehle,
Trail of Tears
John Eisenhower, So Far from God
Course
Objectives: After
completing this course students will be able to:
1. describe the history of the Jacksonian period and how the United States
changed during this time period.
2. analyze important documents from the period, and the work of historians who
have written about it.
3. critically evaluate books, articles, websites, and films.
4. write brief papers using historical methods of citation.
5. discuss important figures and events in the period from 1820 to 1850.
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Section I. United States in 1815. Sept. 6, 11. |
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Section
II. Origins of the Second Party System. Sept.13, 18, 20, 25. |
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Brief Assignment # 1. Websites. Sept. 25 |
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Section
III. Jackson. Sept. 27, Oct. 2, 4. |
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Movie. Selection from "Buccaneer" Sept. 27 |
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Paper #1. Nagel vs Wilenz. Oct. 9 |
| Movie. Selection from "Amistad" Oct. 4 |
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Section
IV. Sectionalism. Oct. 9, 11, 16. |
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Section
V. Politics 1836-1846. Oct. 18, 23. |
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Section
VI. Economic Development. Oct. 25, 30. |
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Midterm Exam. Nov. 1. Please bring a blank blue book. Study Guide |
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Section
VII. Cultural Developments/Reform. Nov. 6, 8, 13. |
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Movie. Selection from "Moby Dick." Nov. 15 |
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Section
VIII. Intellectual Developments. Nov. 15, 20. |
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Paper# 2. Hawthorne. Nov. 20 |
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Section
IX. Religion. Nov. 27, 29. |
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Movie: Selection from “Shakers" and "Brigham Young" Nov 29 |
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Section
X. Immigration/Indian Policy. Dec. 4, 6. |
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Brief Assignment #2. Indian Policy. Dec. 6 |
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Movie. Selection from documentary "The Alamo" Dec. 11 |
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Section
XI. Expansion. Dec. 11, 13. |
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Brief Assignment # 3. Trip Report. Dec. 11. |
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Final Exam.
Dec. 15, 8:45-10:25am
BRING BLUE BOOKS |
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Course Requirements/Assessments |
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See
Directions for Writing Papers and also History Department
Academic Policy Statement before you start writing any paper for this course.
Print required cover sheet,
go through the check list, and sign it
before you turn in your papers. Also note University policies that (a) all
written work must be submitted by the last day of classes; and (b)
substantial work in a course must be submitted for an incomplete to be
considered -- policies that are enforced in this class. Papers without the cover sheet
will not be accepted. Also note University policies that (a) all written work
must be submitted by the last day of classes; and (b) substantial work in a
course must be submitted for an incomplete to be considered -- policies that
are enforced in this class. See University Policy on .Disabilities Support Services. |
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Brief Assignments.
1-3
pages. Late papers will not be accepted. Before
you start see
Directions
for Writing Papers #2 Indian Policy. Write a paper discussing Indian policy during the Jacksonian period from the perspective of the Cherokees. Did they all agree on what the response to removal should be? What were the consequences? Could they have been avoided? You must use and cite from John Ehle's book Trail of Tears, which is required reading for this course.[Meets course objectives #1, 4, 5] #3 Trip report. Visit a historic site related to the time period of this course and write a report on it. Would you recommend it to others? Rules for this paper (1) you can NOT use a trip taken prior to the semester; (2) your trip will not count if you go to a museum but not INSIDE the museum; (3) your report must include the day and time of the visit; (4) your report must include a ticket or brochure from the site. See list of suggested sites, obtain approval for others before you go.[Meets course objectives #1, 3, 4] |
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Papers.
5-8 pages. See
Directions for
Writing Papers.
There are two papers. Late papers will be penalized 1/2 grade if one day late, AND another half grade every week thereafter. Proper footnotes are required for these papers. Paper #1. Use the Nagel and Wilenz books to write a comparison of JQ Adams and Andrew Jackson. In what ways were the two men different? Considered background, experiences, and personalities. Please use specific examples, quotations about them, citing the two books, for your comparisons. Finally, which one was a better politician? Who would you prefer to meet if it was possible? [Meets course objectives #2, 3, 4, 5]
Paper
#2. Read the Blithedale Romance. Write a
paper discussing Hawthorne's views of utopian communities, and women's rights.
Did he support experimental communities and/or women's rights? Based on the
novel what role do you think he thought best for women? Use the
sources/documents in the second part of the book, in addition to the novel,
to help answer the questions. [Meets course objectives #1, 2, 3, 4] |
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Exams.
There will be a midterm and a final exam. Each exam will consist of 10
identification questions;; the midterm will have two essays, the final exam
three. You will have a choice of questions. |
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Attendance.
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Grading |
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Extra credit.
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Trip to a historic site is required. Suggestions are Historic Speedwell, Museum of Early Trades and Crafts, Canal Museum, New Hope barge canal and/or railroad, or the Paterson Museum. |
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Office:
FH 340 973 275 2772 |