History 354 Spring 2006
Prof. Andrew R. Heinze Office: UC 526. Tel: x 6231
Email: heinzea@usfca.edu Office Hours: TR 1-2
Homepage: http://www.usfca.edu/fac-staff/heinzea/ and by appointment
From Progressivism to Global War:
Description
This course explores some of the most important events of the first half of the 20th century: the rise of the “modern presidency” under Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Franklin Roosevelt; the emergence of America as a world power and the impact of two world wars; immigration, racism and the struggle for racial equality; the Harlem Renaissance and the Jazz Age; the Great Depression; the emergence of mass leisure through big-league sports, movies, radio, and cars; and changes in the roles and images of women, with a special focus on the life of Eleanor Roosevelt and the novels of Willa Cather and Zora Neale Hurston.
Goals (aka “learning outcomes”)
I would hope that, after completing the course, students will have a better understanding of: 1) the chronology of U.S. history between 1900 and 1945; 2) the formation of the modern presidency; 3) the dynamics of oppression and cultural rebellion in the early 20th century.
In-class requirements: This class relies heavily on the reading assignments, which means every student must come prepared to discuss the day's assignment. I will deepen the class discussion with lecture material, but there will be few standard lectures. The emphasis on comprehension of the required books requires an active interchange between teacher and student, and among students.
Graded Requirements: There will be three multiple-choice tests, totaling 100% of the final grade.
Paper Option: Students who enjoy writing papers and whose average score on the first two tests is 80% or higher may write a 10-page paper in lieu of the third test. The paper will be on an assigned topic and will cover the same material that Test # 3 covers. Papers will be graded rigorously and should only be undertaken by students who are willing to invest a lot energy in their writing. Students who would like to consider the paper option must notify me of this by the end of Week 11. They will be asked to submit a writing sample of one page, and then to consult with me before deciding whether to write a paper or take the last test.
There will be
no make-up tests and no extra credit assignments.
If you cannot be
present for any one of the tests, you should not enroll in this class.
Please: no eating during class, and no note-passing
or private chats.
Kathleen Dalton, Theodore Roosevelt
H.W. Brands, Woodrow
Sean Dennis Cashman,
Willa Cather,
My Antonia
Zora Neale Hurston,
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Doris
Philip Roth, The Plot Against
Jan 24: Introduction.
Jan 26:
Week 2
Jan 31:
Feb 2:
Week 3
Feb 7:
Feb 9:
Week 4
Feb 14: Brands, Woodrow Wilson, pp. 1-72.
Feb 16: Brands, Woodrow Wilson, pp. 73-140.
Week 5
Feb 21: Test #1.
Feb 23: Cather, My Antonia, Book 1 – “The Shimerdas”
Week 6
Feb 28: Cather, My Antonia, Books 2-5 – “The Hired Girls,” “Lena Lingard,” “The Pioneer Woman’s Story,” “Cuzak’s Boys”
Mar 2:
Week 7
Mar 7:
Mar 9:
Week 8
Mar 13-17: Spring Break.
Week 9
Mar 21:
Mar 23:
Week 10
Mar 28:
Mar 30: Test #2.
Week 11
Apr 4: Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Chapters 1-9.
Apr 6: Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Chapters 10-20.
Week 12
Apr 11: Goodwin, No Ordinary Time, pp. 9-80.
Apr 13: Goodwin, No Ordinary Time, pp. 81-189.
Week 13
Apr 18: Goodwin, No Ordinary Time, pp. 190-269.
Apr 20: Goodwin, No Ordinary Time, pp. 270-378.
Week 14
Apr 25: Goodwin, No Ordinary Time, pp. 379-483.
Apr 27: Goodwin, No Ordinary Time, pp. 484-569.
Week 16
May 9:
Roth, The Plot Against
May 11: Test #3.