HIS 530 Colonial America
William H. Mulligan, Jr.

Fall 2002
Office: Faculty Hall 6B8
Phone (270) 762-6571.
e-mail: Bill.Mulligan@murraystate.edu
Office Hours: M-F 8:30-9:30; M-W-F 10:30-11:30; T TH 11:00-12:15
Course Meets: M-W-F 9:30-10:20 in Faculty Hall 506.

Catalog Description
An explanation of the transplantation of European and African culture to the United States, the adoption of these cultures to the New World environment, their impact upon eastern Indian cultures and the rise of distinctly American institutions and ideas. The course will emphasize the evolution of English colonial policies and the comparison of New England, Middle Atlantic, and Southern Colonial experiences. 
Instructor Comments
This course will examine the formative period of American society from the first contacts between Europeans and the New World resulting from the expansion of Europe to the beginning of the debate between England and its North American colonies over their relationship. Emphasis will be placed on the social, political, and economic development of those British colonies that formed the United States and the interpretations of this development offered by historians. Less attention will be given to those areas colonized by Spain and France. The course is divided into four units, each with a theme, that culminates with a small group discussion. In addition to doing the readings and attending the lectures, students will find useful material in the websites listed on the syllabus. Websites will be added during the semester and regular consultation with the on-line syllabus is strongly recommended.

The course will be a lecture course with four small group discussions. Discussion questions will be posted on the course web site one week before the discussion is scheduled. Lectures will generally be informal and questions are strongly encouraged during lectures. 

 Texts
Peter Charles Hoffer, The Brave New World: A History of Early America
Gary B. Nash, Red, White & Black, fourth edition.
Ian K. Steele and Nancy L. Rhoden, eds. The Human Tradition in Colonial America
Schedule 
Aug. 21 Introduction to the Course
     23 Europe on the Eve of Colonization
Sep.  2 LABOR DAY - NO CLASS
      4 New France I
      6 New France II
      9 Native Peoples and Contact
Research Paper Topics and Preliminary Bibliographies Due
     11 NO CLASS
     13 Discussion I:  European Expansion and the New World
                      Readings:
                      Hoffer, 1-154.
                      Nash, 1-76.
                      Steele, 1-48.
     16 "Vexed and Troubled Englishmen"
     23  "A City on a Hill" - the Founding of Massachusetts Bay
     25  "An Errand into the Wilderness"
     27  New England Society
     30  Maryland
Oct.  2 Tobacco, Sugar, and Slaves: Chesapeake Society
      http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/spe/art/print/exhibits/drydrunk/intro.htm
     14 Where America Begins: The Middle Colonies
     16 New Amsterdam to New York
     18 NO CLASS- FALL BREAK
     21 "The Best Poor Man’s Country" - Founding Pennsylvania
     23 Society and Economy in Pennsylvania
        Drafts of Written Assignments Due [Optional]
     25 NO CLASS
     28 The Carolinas: Old Ways in a New World
     30 A New Start in a New World - Georgia
Nov.  1 DISCUSSION III: Ethnicity, Race, and Society in America
     Readings:
     Hoffer, 212-244.
     Steele, 141-180, 291-304.
      4 Varieties of Colonialism
      6 The Glorious Revolution in America
      8 The Dominion of New England
     11 The Great Awakening
     13 Cultural Life of the Colonies
     22 New France in 1750
     25 The War for America and the British Colonies
     
     27-29 Thanksgiving Break - No Class
Dec.  2 The Gathering Storm: Imperial Relations in 1763
      4 DISCUSSION IV: American Identity and the Imperial Relationship
GENERAL WWW RESOURCES
http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rulib/socsci/hist/amhist.html
http://www.hnet.uci.edu/mclark/seapage.htm 
http://www.earlyamerica.com/



Written Assignment
Those Taking the Course for Undergraduate Credit

Each undergraduate student will prepare a fifteen page paper on a topic in American history prior to 1763. The paper should be based on primary sources, at least one source must be drawn from World Wide Web. Papers should be prepared and documented in accordance with a standard "style sheet" such as MLA, Chicago, Turabian, etc. Papers should be typed, double spaced, and on standard 8 ½ by 11 inch paper secured by a single staple in the upper left hand corner. For a brief summary of footnote and bibliography format, see style sheet.

Paper topics must be approved in advance by the instructor. Topics and preliminary bibliographies are due SEPTEMBER 12. Final drafts of the papers are due NOVEMBER 21. Preliminary drafts for review may be submitted no later than OCTOBER 24. Preliminary review will be a general evaluation of the paper NOT a detailed critique. Failure to submit a topic and preliminary bibliography on or before September 12 will result in a penalty of 25 points. Failure to submit the final draft of the paper on or before November 21 will result in a penalty of 10 points per week and may result in a grade of I due to the time needed for grading at the end of the semester.

If this paper will be our senior paper, you must inform the instructor when submitting out topic. Guidelines for the Senior paper are available.

Those Taking the Course for Graduate Credit

1. Each graduate student will prepare a twenty page paper on a topic in American history prior to 1763. The paper should be based on primary sources, at least one source should be drawn from World Wide Web. Papers should be prepared and documented in accordance with a standard "style sheet" such as MLA, Chicago, Turabian, etc. Papers should be typed, double spaced, and on standard 8 ½ by 11 inch paper secured by a single staple in the upper left hand corner.

Paper topics must be approved in advance by the instructor. Topics and preliminary bibliographies are due SEPTEMBER 9. Final drafts of the papers are due NOVEMBER 20. Preliminary drafts for review may be submitted no later than OCTOBER 23. Preliminary review will be a general evaluation of the paper NOT a detailed critique. Failure to submit a topic and preliminary bibliography on or before September 9 will result in a penalty of 25 points. Failure to submit the final draft of the paper on or before November 20 will result in a penalty of 10 points per week and may result in a grade of I due to the time needed for grading at the end of the semester.

2. Each graduate student will prepare a 1500 word review comparing two books which deal with the same general topic, person, or time period in American history prior to 1763. The review should compare the two works approach, use of sources, and thesis.

Books to be reviewed must be approved in advance by the instructor. The titles and full bibliographic citations are due SEPTEMBER 9. Final drafts of the reviews are due NOVEMBER 20. Preliminary drafts for comment may be submitted no later than OCTOBER 23. These comments will be a general evaluation of the review NOT a detailed critique. 

Guidance on how to write footnotes and bibliographies can be found at STYLE SHEET

Grading

Undergraduate course grades will be based on the following: 

Mid-Term Exam      100 points
Final Exam         100 points
Written Assignment 100 points 
Discussion         100 points
A = 360 points or more
B = 320-359 points
C = 280-319 points
D = 240-279 points
E = 278 or fewer points. 

Graduate course grades will be based on the following: 

Mid-Term Exam 100 points
Final Exam    100 points
Term Paper    150 points 
Book Review    50 points
Discussion    100 points
A = 450 points or more
B = 400-449 points
C = 350-399 points
D = 300-349 points
E = 299 or fewer points. 

Attendance Policy


Regular class attendance is expected of all students. Three unexcused absences are permitted. For every two additional unexcused absences the final grade will be reduced by one letter grade, (i.e. from A to B.)

Absences will be excused for the following reasons: participation in a university-sanctioned activity or program; death in the family or other family emergency; serious illness with a doctor's note; jury duty; military obligation; or weather emergency making travel dangerous.

Students are also expected to attend the entire class and remain awake. Arriving late, leaving early, or dozing off will count as an unexcused absence, except in highly unusual circumstances. Students are responsible for all material presented in classes they miss or changes in the course schedule that are announced in class whether their absence is excused or unexcused.

Students who require special arrangements for exams or in-class presentations must make such arrangements themselves at least one week prior to the exam or presentation. Students with a valid excuse for missing an exam or in-class presentation are responsible for informing the instructor as soon as possible, but no later than the day following the exam or presentation.

University policy on class attendance will be followed.

Academic Honesty Policy

It is expected that each student will only submit their own original work on exams and all written assignments. The College of Humanities and Fine Arts' policy on academic honesty and university policy will be followed.

Papers written for a previous course MAY NOT be submitted in this course. Papers may be submitted for this course and a course being taken concurrently only with the PRIOR approval of both instructors and an appropriate adjustment in length. 

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Updated 8-15-2002