Standard

Updated: 05/12/08

R State Standard £ Institutionally Developed College: N/A

HIS 2112 – U.S. History II

Course Description

This course will provide an overview of the social, cultural, and political history of the United States from 1865 to the beginning of the twenty-first century, and will equip the student to better understand the problems and challenges of the contemporary world in relation to events and trends in modern American history. Topics include: the Reconstruction Period; the great West, the new South, and the rise of the debtor; the Gilded Age; the progressive movement; the emergence of the U. S. in world affairs; the Roaring Twenties; the Great Depression; World War II; the Cold War and the 1950’s; the 1960’s and 1070’s; and America since 1980.

Competency Areas	Hours
The Reconstruction Period	Class	5
The Great West, The New South, and The Rise of the Debtor	D. Lab	0
The Gilded Age	P. Lab/O.B.I.	0
The Progressive Movement	Credit	5
The Emergence of the U.S. in World Affairs
The Roaring Twenties
The Great Depression
World War II
The Cold War and the 1950’s
The 1960’s and 1970’s
America since 1980

Prerequisite:

Corequisite:

Course Guide

Competency	After completing this section, the student will be able to:	Hours
		Class	D.Lab	P.Lab/ O.B.I.

The Reconstruction Period		1	0	0
	Summarize the results of war-time conferences, the impact of the war on U.S. domestic and foreign affairs; and the rise of the United States.
	Analyze the successes and failures of presidential and congressional reconstruction.
THE GREAT WEST, THE NEW SOUTH, AND THE RISE OF THE DEBTOR		4	0	0
Populist Party	Analyze the reasons for the rise of the Populist party.
	Assess the Populist party goals.
	Evaluate the effects of the Populist party on American politics and economics.
New South	Examine the rise of the New South.
	Assess the changes and impact that the rise of the New South brought to the southern economy and society.
Westward Expansion	Evaluate the impact of westward expansion on the following: a. The American Indians; b. The Environment; and c. The American Economy.
THE GILDED AGE		5	0	0
Laissez Faire	Assess the impact of Laissez Faire conservatism to include: a. the late 19^th century economics; and b. Politics.
Second Industrial Revolution	Contrast the second Industrial Revolution with the first Industrial Revolution.
	Analyze the contributions of industrial leaders during the second Industrial Revolution
Labor Unions	Examine the rise of labor unions.
	Evaluate the impact labor unions had upon America.
Cities of the last half 19^th Century	Describe the rise of cities in the last half of the 19^th century.
	Analyze the rise of cities in the last half of the 19^th century to include: a. Problems that resulted; and b. Reforms that resulted.
Intellectual and cultural movement	Evaluate the intellectual and cultural movements of the time.
	Determine how the intellectual and cultural movements impacted American life and society.
THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT		5	0	0
Origin and Goals	Explain the origin of the Progressive Movement.
	Explain the goals of the Progressive Movement.
Reforms	Analyze the local and state reforms to include the utility socialism.
Progressive Presidents	Identify the three Progressive Presidents to include major actions during their terms.
	Compare and contrast Roosevelt’s Square Deal and Wilson’s New Freedom.
Niagara Movement	Identify the Progressive African American leaders.
	Assess the impact of the Niagara Movement.
The Emergence of the U.S. in World Affairs		5	0	0
U.S. in World Affairs	Examine the factors that led to the U. S. taking an increasingly active role in world affairs.
	List major causes and results of the Spanish-American War.
American Policy	Analyze how American policy changed in the late 1800’s.
	Analyze how American policy influenced Asia, Latin America, and the western hemisphere.
Great War	Understand the imperialistic actions of Presidents Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson.
	Examine reasons for the U.S. attempting to remain neutral as the Great War began and for becoming involved later.
	Analyze the impact the Great War had on the home front in America.
	Examine the political, social, and cultural results of the Great War.
The Roaring Twenties		5	0	0
Prosperity	Analyze the causes of economic prosperity and the rise of consumerism.
	Analyze the extent of prosperity for different segments of society.
Presidents	Elaborate on the actions of the three Republican Presidents.
Social Change	Assess the importance and types of social change to include but not limited to: a. the Jazz Age; b. Harlem Renaissance; c. Movies; and d. Flappers.
The Great Depression		5	0	0
Stock Market Crash	Analyze how the Stock Market Crash sparked the beginning of the Great Depression.
Hoover’s response	Evaluate the actions of President Herbert Hoover in response to the Great Depression.
Economic problems	Trace and elaborate on the underlying causes of economic problems at the end of the 1920’s.
New Deal	Outline and evaluate the events and results as well as the actions of the New Deal.
Impact of Depression	Describe the differing impact of the Depression on various minority groups in America.
	Analyze the growth of influence and power of the Federal Government.
World War II		5	0	0
U. S. role	Examine world events during the 1930’s.
	Examine the rise of totalitarian states.
	Examine the U.S. role to promote relationships with American neighbors.
Causes and Events	Identify causes of World War II.
	Trace events that led to the U.S. entry into the war.
Turning points	Describe the military, political, and diplomatic turning points of the war.
	Evaluate their significance to the outcome.
	Analyze the impact of World War II on political, economic, and social life of the U.S.
The Cold War and the 1950’s		5	0	0
U.S. foreign policy	Analyze the changes in U.S. foreign policy related to the tensions of the Cold War.
	Assess the role of organizations established to address changes in U.S. foreign policy.
U.S. foreign relationships	Analyze the strained relationship between the United States and the U.S.S.R. to include the suspicion between superpowers in Europe and Asia.
Postwar	Evaluate the significance of domestic adjustments during postwar prosperity and the consumer culture
Civil Rights Movement	Identify the major events of the Civil Rights Movement.
	Evaluate the role of landmark Supreme Court cases related to the Civil Rights Movement.
	Assess the impact of the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement.
The 1960’s and 1970’s		5	0	0
Social Movement	Describe and evaluate the impact of major issues of social movements to include: a. race; b. gender; c. economic; and d. environmental problems.
Foreign Policy	Characterize and identify the foreign policy of Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon in relation to Cuba, Vietnam, China, and the Soviet Union.
Society	Assess domestic policy and society during this time period.
	Evaluate the changes in the nature of politics and disillusionment of the American people.
America since 1980		5	0	0
Middle East	Trace events in the Middle East since World War II with emphasis on the role of the United States in the Arab-Israel conflict.
Foreign and domestic policies	Analyze the foreign and domestic policies of the modern presidents.
	Detail post 9/11 U.S., emphasizing the changed domestic outlook and changes in U.S. Foreign policies
Minorities	Analyze the advancements of various minorities in American society.
New Technology	Explain the new technology on the economy and society.

Suggested Resources

Brinkley, Alan. (2006). Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People: Volume I: to 1877. (5^th ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Caputo, Phillip. (1996). Rumor of War. (2^nd ed.). Henry Holt and Company, Inc.

Davidson, James W. and et.al. (1999). After the Fact: The Art of Historical Detection: Volume I. (4^th ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Gaines, Ernest J. (1996). Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. (1^st. ed.) Bantam Books.

Kennedy, D., et.al. (2003). Brief American Pageant: A History of the Republic: Complete. (6^th ed.). Houghton Mifflin.

Morton, Marian J.J. and et.al. (2006). First Person Past: American Autobiographies: Volumes I and II. (2^nd ed.). John Wiley and Sons Inc.

Rampolla, Mary Lynn. (2006). A Pocket Guide to Writing in History. (5^th ed.). Bedford/St. Martin’s.

Roark, James L. L. and et.al. (2004). The American Promise: A History of the United States. (3^rd ed.). Beford/St. Martin’s.

Tindall, George Brown and et.al. (2006). America – A Narrative History: Volumes I and II. (7^th ed.). W. W. Norton and Company, Inc.

Posted: 05/08/08