Course Description
This course will focus on American history from its colonial foundations to the Civil War and Reconstruction. It provides students with knowledge and understanding of the major political, social, and economic movements, as well as leading historical figures in American history up to 1877.
Notes: This course is an approved Survey Course in United States History for teacher certification in Connecticut. This course duplicates the CLEP exam and/or a course in U.S. History 1.
Prerequisite
- None
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Describe pre-Colombian societies and the clash of cultures between the Native-Americans and Europeans.
- Trace the evolution of the English settlements from “transplantations” to “middle grounds.”
- Examine the society and culture of Provincial America.
- Analyze the causes of the tension between the colonies and Great Britain prior to American Revolution.
- Describe how and why the thirteen colonies won the Revolutionary War and what problems faced the newly independent republic.
- Discuss the making of the US Constitution and the political battle between federalists and anti-federalists.
- Describe the political, economic, and social characteristics of America during the Jeffersonian Era.
- Explain the conflict between sectionalism and nationalism and the nature of economic growth during this period.
- Examine the political, economic, and social characteristics of America during the Jacksonian Era.
- Analyze the causes and impact of American economic growth in the 1830s and 1840s.
- Describe the economic and social characteristics of the “Old South.”
- Examine the various antebellum reform movements.
- Define the idea of “Manifest Destiny” and its impact on Americans; explain how the issue of slavery increased sectional tensions and reshaped the American political party system.
- Analyze how and why the North won the Civil War.
- Describe the goals of Reconstruction and evaluate how well they were met.
Course Activities and Grading
| Assignments | Weight |
|---|---|
Discussions (Weeks 1-8) | 50% |
Quizzes (Weeks 1-8) | 35% |
Final Exam (Week 8) | 15% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbooks
Available through Charter Oak State College's online bookstore
- Brinkley, Alan. American History: Survey, Volume I. 15th ed. McGraw-Hill Publishing, 2015. ISBN-13: 978-0-07-777683-1 (Looseleaf Edition)
Course Schedule
Week | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
1 | 1,2 | Topics: The Collision of Cultures & Transportations and Borderlands
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2 | 3,4 | Topics: Society and Culture in Provincial America & The Empire in Transition
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3 | 5,6,7 | Topics: The American Revolution & The Constitution and the New Republic & The Jeffersonian Era
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4 | 8,9 | Topics: American Nationalism & Jacksonian America
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5 | 10,11 | Topic: America’s Economic Revolution & Cotton, Slavery and the Old South
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6 | 12,13 | Topic: Antebellum Culture and Reform & The Impending Crisis
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7 | 14 | Topic: The Civil War
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8 | 15 | Topic: Reconstruction
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COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.