The History of African Americans, 1619–1877
HIST 205
Regina Sullivan, Ph.D.
Office:340W McKenzie Hall
Office Phone:346-4820
Office Hours:Tuesdays, 3:00-4:30 pm; Thursdays, 3:00-4:00 pm or by appointment
Email:
This course will present an overview of the current historical debates in the history of African Americans from the arrival of the first Africans in British North America in 1619 to the conclusion of Reconstruction in 1877.The course is designed as a writing-intensive first year course where students will focus on building analytical, interpretive and language skills.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
•Attendance:Students will be expected to attend all class meetings and participate in class discussion.Students who missmore than two classes—including discussion sections—and/or do not actively take part in class discussion can expect their final course grade to reflect their lack of participation.
•Quizzes:Students will take one reading quiz each week over the assignments in the Trotter textbook.These quizzes will be given each Thursday.The lowest quiz grade will be automatically dropped at the end of the term.Make-up quizzes will not be offered unless students have legitimate excuses, such as documented illnesses or emergencies.See policy below.
•Reaction Papers:Students will write short "reaction" papers each week in response to the reading assignments.The specific assignments are included in the syllabus.These papers are due at the discussion section meetings.These papers should be typed, double spaced and handed in at the beginning of class.Reaction papers will only be accepted when students attend class.(In other words, if you are absent, you lose the opportunity to turn in a paper unless you have a legitimate excuse, such as a documented illness or emergency.)No late papers will be accepted.Students may skip writing two reaction papers.More detailed information on these papers will be provided later.
•Examinations:There will be two exams in this course, a Midterm and a Final.Each will be in essay format and written outside of class.The exam questions will be distributed at least one week before they are due.Late papers will lose five points for each 24 hour period that the paper is late up to five days.After five days, no exams will be accepted.
•Course Credit:Credit for this course will be earned only as stated above.No provisions for extra credit will be offered.
On occasion, circumstances may arise which cause you to need to take a make-up exam or turn in a late assignment.To be eligible for special consideration, you must contact me or your Graduate Teaching Fellowbeforethe day of the exam or due date of the assignment and explain your circumstances.The reasons should be limited to personal illness or family crises, both of which must be documented.Donotexpect that you will be given the opportunity to make-up an exam or an assignment if you do not discuss your circumstances with me or your GTF well before the assignment is due.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Thomas Holt and Elsa Barkley Brown, eds.,Major Problems in African American History,vol. I
Joe Trotter, Jr.,The African American Experience,vol. I.
* Students should also note that a number of course readings will be available only through the library's online reserve system.
Please note:If students choose not to purchase the textbooks, they are still responsible for bringing copies of the readings to discussion sections when assigned.Copies of the textbooks will be on reserve in the library.We will be working with these readings in sections and it is important for each student to have her or his own copy.
GRADUATE TEACHING FELLOWS
Elizabeth MedfordEmail address:
Jurgen RuckaberleEmail address:
SCORING
Attendance & Discussion Participation10%
Reaction Papers20%
Reading Quizzes20%
Midterm25%
Final Exam25%*
*Improvement on the Final Exam will change the values to the following:Midterm Exam 20% and Final Exam 30%.
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Week One:September 28thand 30th
1.TuesdayCourse Introduction
2.ThursdayAfrica before the Slave Trade
Assignment:Trotter, pp. 2-25[23 pgs.]
3.No section meetings & no quiz.
Week Two:October 5thand 7th
1.TuesdayEuropeans, Africans and the Slave Trade
Assignment:Trotter, pp. 26-40[14 pgs.]
On reserve:Winthrop Jordan,White Over Black,pp. 3-43[40 pgs.]
2.ThursdayEuropeans, Africans and the Slave Trade
Assignment:Holt & Brown, Chapter 2, pp. 36-81[45 pgs.]
•Quiz on the Trotter assignments for this week.
3.Discussion SectionsReaction Paper Assignment:
Paragraph One:How do the primary sources impact your understanding of the slave trade?Give specific examples.
Paragraph Two:Identify the main argument made by Prof. Rodney.Identify the main argument made by Prof. Thornton.Is one argument more persuasive than the other?Do these arguments conflict or do they compliment each other?
Week Three:October 12thand 14th
1.TuesdayThe Development of North American Slavery
Assignment:Trotter, pp. 56-64 (top)[10]
Holt & Brown:Berlin article, pp. 166-182[16]
2.ThursdayAfricans in the British Colonies
Assignment:Trotter, pp. 64-79[15]
Holt & Brown:Primary Sources, pp. 82-91[9]
Primary Source #2, pp. 160-162[2]
Kulikoff article, pp. 182-194[12]
•Quiz on the Trotter assignments for this week.
3.Discussion SectionsReaction Paper Assignment:
Paragraph One:How do Prof. Berlin's article and the primary sources change your understanding of the development of slavery in North America?
Paragraph Two:What is Prof. Kulikoff's primary argument?Is it persuasive?Why or why?
Week Four:October 19thand 21st
1.TuesdayAfrican Americans in the Revolutionary Period
Assignment:Trotter, pp. 103-23[20]
Holt & Brown, Primary Sources #3, #4, #5, pp. 162-164[3]
Holt & Brown, Morgan article, pp. 99-108[9]
2.ThursdaySlave Status and the Limits of Democracy in the New Republic
Assignment:Trotter, pp. 134-140[6]
Holt & Brown, Primary Source #1, #2, pp. 196-203 [7]
Holt & Brown, Patterson, Genovese and Morgan articles, pp. 218-244[26]
•Quiz on the Trotter assignments for this week.
3.Discussion SectionsReaction Paper Assignment:
Paragraph One:According to Prof. Morgan, what is the central paradox of American history?Is his argument persuasive?Explain your assessment briefly.
Paragraph Two:The articles by Patterson, Genovese and Morgan each address issues of property and power.Compare their main arguments, briefly.
Week Five:October 26thand 28th
1.TuesdayThe Slave Community & the Rise of Cotton
Assignment:Trotter, pp. 150-160[10]
Holt & Brown, Berlin & Rowland article, pp. 264-268[4]
Holt & Brown, Primary Sources #3, #4, pp. 250-255[5]
Holt & Brown, Primary Source, #3, pp. 203-207[4]
Pick up Midterm Exam.Completed exam is due on Tuesday, November 2ndat 1:20 pm.
2.ThursdayThe Slave Community:Religion & Resistance
Assignment:Trotter, pp. 189-194, 197-207[15]
Holt & Brown, Primary Sources #1 & #2, pp. 246-250 [4]
Holt & Brown, Primary Sources, #4 & #5, pp. 208-214 [6]
•Quiz on the Trotter assignments for this week.
3.Discussion SectionsReaction Paper Assignment:
In two paragraphs, briefly explain what you have learned from the primary sources and the Berlin & Rowland article about the slave community.
Week SixNovember 2ndand 4th
1.TuesdayNo class meeting.Midterm Exam due at 1:20 pm.
2.ThursdayAfrican American Slaveholders
Assignment:On Reserve:Johnson & Roark,Black Masters, pp. 65-106[41]
• No quiz this week.
3.Discussion SectionsReaction Paper Assignment:
In one paragraph, give your assessment of the Johnson & Roark chapter in light of your previous readings on slavery and the slave community.Be careful to show that you read the chapter.
Week SevenNovember 9thand 11th
1.TuesdayFree African Americans in the North and South
Assignment:Trotter, pp. 208-227 (top)[19]
Holt & Brown, Primary Source #3, pp. 300-301[1]
Holt & Brown, Lapansky article, pp. 308-321[13]
2.ThursdayAfrican Americans and the Abolitionist Movement
Assignment:Trotter, pp. 227-232 [5]
Holt & Brown, Horton & Horton article, pp. 321-332[11]
Holt & Brown, Primary Sources #1, #2, #5, pp. 294-300, 304-305.[6]
•Quiz on the Trotter assignments for this week.
3.Discussion SectionsReaction Paper Assignment:
Paragraph One:Identify and discuss the main argument of the Lapansky article?Is it persuasive?
Paragraph Two:Identify and discuss the main argument of the Horton & Horton article?Is it persuasive?Do the primary sources impact your assessment?
Week EightNovember 16thand 18th
1.TuesdayThe Fugitive Slave Act & its Impact in the North
Assignment:On Reserve:Carol Wilson,Freedom at Risk, pp. 40-66[26]
Holt & Brown, Primary Sources #4 & #6, pp. 301-303, 305-307[4]
2.ThursdayThe Civil War & the Struggle for Freedom
Assignment:Trotter, pp. 236-264[28]
Holt & Brown, Harding article, pp. 343-356[13]
•Quiz on the Trotter assignments for this week.
3.Discussion SectionsReaction Paper Assignment:
Paragraph One:What is your assessment of the readings for Tuesday?Be careful to demonstrate that you completed the assignment.
Paragraph Two:What is Harding arguing in his article "Soldiers of God's Wrath"?Does Harding's argument impact your understanding of the Civil War?
Week NineNovember 23rdand 25th
1.TuesdayNo class meeting.
2.ThursdayThanksgiving Holiday
Week TenNovember 30thand December 2nd
1.TuesdayEmancipation
Assignment:Trotter, pp. 264-268, 270-277[11]
Holt & Brown, Primary Sources, pp. 334-342[7]
Holt & Brown, Mohr article, pp. 356-367[11]
Holt & Brown, Primary Sources #1 & #2, pp. 370-373[3]
2.ThursdayReconstruction
Assignment:Trotter, pp. 277-292[15]
Holt & Brown, Gutman, Saville, and Brown articles, pp. 388-417 [29]
Holt & Brown, Primary Sources #3, #4, #5, #8, #9, pp. 373-379, 381-387[11]
•Quiz on the Trotter assignments for this week.
Pick up Final Exam.
3. Discussion SectionReaction Paper Assignment:
Paragraph One:What impact did African Americans have on the conduct of the Civil War, according to the primary sources and the Mohr article?
Paragraph Two:What do you learn about situation of freed slaves from the Thursday readings?Be careful to demonstrate that you completed the assignment.
Final Exam is due at 11:00 am on Thursday, December 9th or before.