Welcome to History
1301
American History
to 1877
This is a course in United States history from the time
before European contact in the late Fifteenth Century through the end of the
Reconstruction Era in 1877. Historical content focuses on the political,
economic, and social events and issues related to the colonial and revolutionary
eras, the creation and ratification of the U.S. Constitution, challenges of the
early Republic, westward expansion, sectionalism, Civil War, and Reconstruction.
There are no academic prerequisites for this class and it is open to freshmen
who enter with a credit in American history from high school.
Upon completion of this course, the successful student will be able to:
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describe
the physical characteristics of the United States and their impact on
population distribution and settlement patterns in the past and present;
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analyze
the various economic factors that influenced the development of colonial
America and the early years of the Republic and identify the origins of the
free enterprise system;
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evaluate
and discuss American beliefs and principles, including limited government,
checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, and individual
rights, reflected in the U.S. Constitution and other historical documents;
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evaluate
the impact of Supreme Court cases and major reform movements of the 19th
century and examine the rights and responsibilities of citizens of the
United States as well as the importance of effective leadership in a
democratic society;
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evaluate
the impact of scientific discoveries and technological innovations on the
development of the United States;
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use
critical-thinking skills, including the identification of bias in written,
oral, and visual material;
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relate
the relevance and significance of developments during this period to
conditions in contemporary America;
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place
the American experience, past and present, within a global context; and
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report
findings clearly in language and style appropriate to an academic setting.1
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