Week 9: Early U.S. Domestic and Foreign Policy (1812-1828)

This week we explore the early battles over the early identity of the United States. During this period local and national elites--as well as individual families and households--negotiated the course of political-economic and cultural development.

Readings:

Clark, chaps. 2-4

Points of Entry:

Monroe Doctrine

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/monroe.asp

Early U.S. material culture:

Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database : Search Results

Early U.S. images:

Picture Collection Online

Louisiana Purchase:

Louisiana Purchase

Questions for discussion:

The early American republic was largely agrarian. However, there were many proponents of a national, centralized economy based on industrial development. Which shaped early U.S. identity--coastal cities and early factories or farming?

What was the relationship between the "Old West" and slavery?

What role did Native American societies play during this period?

What role do you think women played during these years?

Self-evaluation

Your 1-2 page self-evaluation is due Friday (10/29). Here are some guiding questions:

So far, what has been the most important thing you’ve learned in class?

What has been the most difficult historical trend or reading that you’ve encountered?

What important questions remain unanswered for you?

What classroom activities or assignments have been the most effective in helping you learn this semester? Why?

Week 8: Defining the Nation

This week explores the American Revolution and "birth" of the U.S. in the context of the "age of revolutions." Our readings will cover the "founding fathers" and early national debates over the size and structure of the government.

Readings:

Benjamin Franklin Autobiography, pp. 100-197

Clark, preface and chap. 1.

Points of Entry:

The Federalist Papers -

Federalist Papers

Anti-Federalist Papers -

Anti-Federalist Papers

Haitian Revolution -

The Haitian Revolution

Questions for discussion:

What happens to the American Revolution when it is incorporated into the "age of revolutions?" How is it related to other Atlantic Revolutions?

Why do you think the Haitian Revolution is important? What is its legacy?

Which group do you think has a larger historical legacy--the Federalists or Anti-Federalists? Why?

Week 7: The American Wars and the Formation of the U.S. (1750-1783)

This week explores the foundational conflicts that would ultimately lead to the formation of the United States of America.

Readings:

Declaration of Independence and other Founding Documents 92 pp.

Taylor (chaps. 14-15; 18) 82 pp.

Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (50-100) 50 pp.

Points of Entry:

Seven Year's War

http://www.militaryheritage.com/7yrswar.htm

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/frin.htm

Benjamin Franklin:

http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/

http://www.english.udel.edu/lemay/franklin/

Founding Documents:

http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/declare.asp

http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/articles.html

Pontiac's War:

http://www.forttours.com/pages/pontiac.asp

Questions for discussion:

Do you think the Seven Years War was the first global war? Why?

How do the early founding documents relate to the Seven Years War?

What do you think are the most important causes and outcomes of the war? Why?

Week 6: Rivers to Oceans: The Frontier and the "West" (1650-1750)

This week we explore the concept of the "West"--a term we will continue to revisit later in the course. The readings investigate the formation of trading networks outside of the Atlantic World.

Points of Entry:

Pacific Northwest

American Indians of the Pacific Northwest - (American Memory from the Library of Congress)

Lakota Winter Counts:

Lakota Winter Counts Online Exhibit

Question for discussion:

What are the differences between the "frontier" and the "West?"

Week 5: The Tensions of Empires and Colonial Identities

This week we will explore colonial identities through the lens of gendered, racial, ethnic, and religious ideologies. We will also closely analyze some of these themes through the world and words of Olauadah Equiano (see week 4 for a link to the "Equiano Project").

Readings: The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano

Taylor, chaps. 12-13

Points of Entry:

The Lives of Colonial Cities:

Albany: An Early American City

http://www.engr.psu.edu/MTAH/essays/colonialcities.htm

The Great Awakening

The First Great Awakening, Divining America, TeacherServe®, National Humanities Center

Gender and the Colonial World:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/07/opinion/07faludi.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/06/opinion/saving-private-lynch.html

Questions for discussion:

Where do you think the "engines" of colonial history lie: in the country or in the cities?

How did the colonial frontier and cities shape gender/racial/ethnic identities?