The student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a broad factual knowledge of important social, economic, cultural, political, and intellectual movements and events in early American history
2. Analyze issues which have a direct bearing and influence on American life today
3. Explain the principal historical debates and problems within the field of American historiography concerning the sources and verification of historical evidence
4. Recognize the impact of different ethnic groups and other minorities on the evolution of early American society
5. Utilize the skills of historiographical analysis and interpretative exposition to explain and evaluate important developments in American history
6. Use primary and secondary sources effectively to articulate sound historical analysis

1. How do we know what we know—primary and secondary sources and their importance and use
2. Pre-Columbian world
   1. Earliest migrations and simple societies
   2. Major complex native societies in North America
   3. Native American political situation on the eve of contact
   4. European societies at the end of the 15th century
   5. Exploration of the Americas by Spain, France, and England
3. Impact of exploration on the native peoples of North and Central America and the Caribbean
   1. Comparative analysis of the Aztec and Spanish empires
   2. New Spain and continental Spanish exploration
   3. Early French, Dutch, and English settlement
   4. Native interaction with European colonies
4. Maturation of the colonies and wars for empire
   1. Class division, servitude, and slavery in the Chesapeake
   2. Puritanism and community in New England
   3. Dutch influence and diversity in the middle colonies
   4. Institutionalized slavery in the Southern colonies
   5. Colonial economic systems
   6. Mercantilism and the Atlantic trade
5. Great Britain's changing relationship with her American colonies
   1. Britain and France fight for hegemony
   2. Reasserting British control over the colonies
   3. Colonial resistance and arguments over liberty
   4. Assessment of impact of Enlightenment ideas and religious revivalism
6. The American Revolution
   1. Evaluation of events and arguments that led to open revolution
   2. Analysis of key ideas contained in the Declaration of Independence
   3. Tactics and strategies of Britain, the colonies, and their European allies
   4. Civil war in the colonies
   5. Evaluation of revolutionary expectations of women, Africans, and other minorities
7. The Early Republic
   1. Assessing the Articles of Confederation as the United States' first government
   2. Resolving conflict over the western territories
   3. Relations with the European and Indian nations
   4. Class, race, and gender divisions in the new republic
8. Creation of the Constitution
   1. Comparing the arguments of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists
   2. The Constitutional Convention
   3. The Bill of Rights and ratification
9. The Federalist Era and strains of early nationhood
   1. Washington's precedents and establishment of a national government
   2. Hamilton and financial reform
   3. Development of political parties
   4. Foreign affairs under Washington and Adams
   5. Evolution of relations with Native American tribes in the West
10. Jeffersonian Republicanism
    1. Election of 1800 and transfer of power
    2. Rise of the Supreme Court
    3. Expansion west and the Louisiana Purchase
    4. War with the Barbary states
    5. Madison and the War of 1812

Not applicable.

Midterm exams featuring written essays
Final examination featuring written essays
Research paper based on in-depth analysis of primary or secondary historical sources
Class discussion and participation
Short in-class written assignments or quizzes

Lecture
Discussion
Electronic discussions
Multimedia presentations

Faragher, John Mack, et al.. Out of Many: A History of the American People, Vol. I, 9th ed.. 2019.

Henretta, James A., et al.. America's History Vol. I, 10th ed.. 2021.

Schultz, Kevin M.. HIST, 5th ed.. 2017.

Additional wide-ranging use of web-based primary sources.

1. Midterm exams consisting of objective questions requiring understanding and assessment of important people, events, and concepts, and written essays asking for explanation and analysis of major themes and periods
2. One two-hour long final examination with written and objective questions in the style noted above
3. Research paper requiring development of a thesis, collection and analysis of primary and/or secondary sources, and organization and presentation of a quality written product
4. Class discussion and participation focusing on understanding content, analyzing point of view and competency of sources, and identifying important thematic connections to present day topics and events
5. Written questions and assignments requiring evaluation of particular documents, ideas or incidents from the period

HISTORY PROGRAM LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Students will be able to critically analyze a variety of primary and secondary sources and draw valid historical interpretations from them.