INTRODUCTION TO
AMERICAN STUDIES II
Aspects of American
History and Government
AMST 212—SPRING 2006
VOICE: 17438775 (W) 17729091 (H)
Selected topics, themes
and issues in American history, politics and government with emphasis on their
contemporary relevance.
Grading
Policy: 20% for Attendance*; 20% for the Class
Presentation; 20% for the Midterm Exam; 20% for the Research Paper; and 20% for
the Final Exam. A Guidelines sheet will be distributed outlining the
requirements for your Class Presentation and for your Research Paper.
Grading
Scale: 93-100=A; 90-92=A-; 88-89=B+; 83-87=B;
80-82=B-; 78-79=C+; 73-77=C; 70-72=C-; 68-69=D+; 63-67=D; 60-62=D-; 0-59=F
Attendance
Policy*: Attendance in class is mandatory. It is the student’s responsibility to sign
the attendance sheet each day of class; failure to sign the attendance
sheet—even if in attendance—will be counted as an absence. If your unexcused absences exceed 25% of the
total number of lectures of the course in this semester, you will be automatically
withdrawn from the course and be given a grade of (WF) which will be counted
towards your GPA. As well, you are
expected to follow the syllabus and accordingly be prepared for each day's
class. This means that you must read the
pre-assigned readings before class so that you will be prepared to discuss and
debate in class the subject matter scheduled for that day and answer questions
related to the issues being covered. NOTE: TURN OFF all cell phones during class.
*Absence from class may be made up by preparing a two-page, typed (i.e. using maximum 12 point font size and maximum
double-spaced text with one-inch margin on all sides), summary on the missed material scheduled to be covered the
day(s) of your absence. The summary must
be in your own words and must not be copied material from the text(s),
the internet, or any other source(s).
Times New Roman font is strongly recommended; however, if you use an
alternative style, make sure your font does not resemble italic or bold text. Also, Comic Sans MS font is not allowed.
Required Texts:
InfoUSA: Information
Feb. 18: Introduction to American Studies II
Feb. 20: Critique &
Discussion of the
Film: Freedom: A History of US, PBS Video, Episode 1, “
Feb. 22: Critique &
Discussion of the
Film: Freedom: A History of US, PBS Video, Episode 2,
“Revolution” (30 minutes)
Feb. 25: The Historical
Context of the
Feb. 27:
Mar. 1: Equality of
States
Mar. 4: Constructing A
Mar. 6: Constructing A
Mar. 8: Constructing A
Mar. 8: [Last day for dropping courses]
Mar. 11-Apr. 26: [Withdrawal
period with a “W”]
Mar. 10-12:
Mar.13: Constructing A
Mar. 15: Liberty & Freedom
Film: Freedom: A History of US, PBS Video, Episode 3, “
Mar. 18: Liberty &
Freedom
Film: Freedom: A History of US, PBS Video, Episode 4, “Wake
Up,
Mar. 20: Interpreting
the Constitution & Formulating Democratic Values
Mar. 22: Interpreting
the Constitution & Formulating Democratic Values
Mar. 25: Foreign Policy
of the
Mar. 27: ASC
Symposium: “Diverse Voices in American
Literature”
Class Will Attend Symposium
Mar. 29: ASC
Symposium: “Diverse Voices in American
Literature”
Class Will Attend Symposium
Apr. 1: Hypocrisy of
the Young Democratic Nation: Enslavement
of Africans & Disenfranchisement of Non-Whites, Women, and the Poor
Apr. 3:
Apr. 5: The
Apr. 8: The Breech: Slavery & The
Apr. 10: Prophet’s
Birthday [
Apr. 12: Midterm Exam
Apr. 15-19: Mid-semester break [No classes]
Apr. 22: The
Breech: Slavery & The
Film: Freedom: A History of US, PBS Video, Episode 5, “A
Fatal Contradiction” (30 minutes)
Apr. 24: The
Breech: Slavery & The
Film: Freedom: A History of US, PBS Video, Episode 6, “A War
to End Slavery” (30 minutes)
Apr. 26: Congress: The Peoples House
Film: The Congress,
Part I, VHS (45 minutes/90 total)
Apr. 29: The Supremacy
of Elected Civilian Leadership
Film: The Congress,
Part II, VHS (45 minutes/90 total)
May 1: International
Labor Day [
May 3: Establishment
of Public Colleges
May 6: Establishment
of the Federal Civil Service
May 8: Federalism
Film: The
Constitution—That Delicate Balance:
Federalism—Government vs. the State, VHS (57:38 minutes)
May 10: Segregation Legalized & The Legal Fight
Against Segregation & the Abolition of Segregation in the Armed Forces
May 13: The Civil
Rights Movement: From Protest to
Legislation
Film: Let Freedom Ring, Episode 13,
VHS
May 15: A New
Declaration of
May 17: Immigration
Policy
Film: The
Constitution, That Delicate Balance:
Immigration, VHS (60 minutes)
May 20: Freedom of
Expression: “Clear and Present Danger”
May 22: Freedom of the Press & Against Prior
Restraint
May 24: The Media and
Foreign Policy [Research Papers Due]
Film: The
Constitution, That Delicate Balance:
National Security and Freedom of the Press, VHS (60 minutes)
May 27: Reapportionment
Reform: “One Person, One Vote” Rule
Established
May 29: Pathway Towards
Women’s Rights & Women Organize to Demand Their Rights
May 31:
Film: Let
Freedom Ring, Episode 14, VHS
June 3: Executive Privilege
June 5: Last day of
class; Review
June 10: Final Exam
June 22: Last day for
submitting grades