history syllabus

Course SyllabusHIS/135

The American Experience Since 1945

Course Start Date: 02/14/2011Course End Date: 04/17/2011

Please print a copy of this syllabus for handy reference.

Whenever there is a question about what assignments are due, please remember this syllabus is considered the ruling document.

Copyright

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Edited in accordance with University of Phoenix© editorial standards and practices.

Facilitator Information_________________________________

Gladys Vin, [email protected] (University of Phoenix)[email protected] (Personal)501-977-3143 (Central Standard Time)

Facilitator Availability

I am available from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Central Time on most days, but I attempt to reserve Sunday for my family. On Saturdays, I tend to be online in the morning only. If these times are not convenient for you, please let me know. I will be happy to accommodate your schedule, if possible. I provide you with these times to make it easier to communicate with me, and not to limit our contact.

I want you to know that, should you need to contact me outside these periods, you should not hesitate to do so.

For emergencies, when you are not able to gain access to messages on the Online Learning System (OLS), please send a message to my personal email address. In the event a third party needs to contact me, please direct them to my contact information listed under "facilitator information." No third party should use your login credentials to gain access to the classroom.

Where to Go to Class__________________________________________________

Main: This is the main forum for the class and is and the place where discussion takes place. It has read-and-write access for everyone.

Chat Room: This is a read-and-write access forum. The Chat Room gives us a place to discuss issues not related to the course content. Please send your bios to the Chat Room forum.

Course-Materials: This is a read-only forum, which means you can read messages here but cannot send any. This is where I will post the course syllabus and materials. To access the reading material for each assignment, go to Materials under student page, click the desired week’s reading. The link for ecampus will open with the requested reading assignment.]

Electronic Materials- This is a link found in the student’s forum in the Materials section. First click on materials, then the desired reading. The materials will open in a page at e-campus. All electronic readings are located at this link.

Individual Forum: You will see one forum with your name on it. This is a private forum, shared only by you and me, the facilitator. Your classmates will not have access to this forum. You can ask questions here. However, if you have general questions about instructions of assignments, please post those in the Main forum, since other students may benefit by that exchange as well.

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Late Assignments______________________________________________________

Late assignments receive a 10% deduction for each day they are late if assignments are not posted by 11:59 p.m. M.S.T. on the day they are due. Assignments more than 4 days late will not be accepted. Technological issues do not represent valid grounds for late assignment submission.In the event of a University of Phoenix server outage, students should submit assignments to the instructor and when system works again, submit those assignments according to syllabus instructions. Unless student has incomplete grade, learner assignments submitted after the last day of class are not accepted.

Policies_______________________________________________________________For class policies, please see the Policies link on the left side of the Materials page for the course on eCampus. Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within that link. University policies are subject to change so please be sure to read them at the beginning of each class as it may have changed since your last class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, it is important you read the policies governing your current class modality

Technical Support______________________________________________________

Technical Support is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call 1-877-832-4867, or use the e-mail support form.Answers to the most common issues are located in the Knowledge Base by clicking Help, found at the top of every student Web site.

Feedback_____________________________________________________________

Each week, I will provide grades or scores and comments on assignments within 6 days of when they were submitted. After I send feedback each week, I will post a notification in the Main forum.

Grading Formula_______________________________________________________

Percentage % Grade

95+ A

90-94 A-

87-89 B+

84-86 B

80-83 B-

77-79 C+

74-76 C

70-73 C-

67-69 D+

64-66 D

60-63 D-

<59 F

http://kb.phoenix.edu/display/2/_index1.asp?tab=atr&c=12&cpc=dt2wJiVUQ8s0WMPyKTgX6Jd18xTb14qA40Nfr5EdyY0JfnR2&cid=5&r=0.889126

http://kb.phoenix.edu/display/2/_index1.asp?tab=atr&c=12&cpc=dt2wJiVUQ8s0WMPyKTgX6Jd18xTb14qA40Nfr5EdyY0JfnR2&cid=5&r=0.889126

Course DescriptionThis course is an overview of the principal social, political, economic, and global events, which have shaped the American experience since World War II. Understanding modern American history is a necessity in today's ever-changing world. This course aims to supply the tools for understanding current political, social, cultural, and economic problems in the U.S., by applying historical perspective to analyzecontemporary issues.

Course Topics & Objectives _______________________________________ Week One: Start of the Cold War Objectives

Explain the impact of McCarthyism on the U.S. Relate the ideology of the Cold War to the breakdown of wartime alliances after

the end of WWII. Examine American Cold War policies and practices in international relations from

the late 1940s to the mid-1950s.

Week Two: Postwar EconomyObjectives

Explain how the American economy changed after WWII. Describe the culture of consumption during the Eisenhower administration. Explain Eisenhower’s pragmatic political measures to manage the economy and the politics of

consensus.

Week Three: New Frontiers Objectives

Describe Kennedy’s vision of the New Frontier. Explain how the U.S. became involved in the politics of Southeast Asia.

Week Four: Liberal ReformObjectives

Explain how the minority groups’ struggle for civil rights began in the 1950s. Describe the social structure and lifestyles of the Counterculture. Examine the social and political ramifications of LBJ’s Great Society and the continued struggle for

social justice.

Week Five: The Vietnam WarObjectives

Describe the connection between student unrest and the Vietnam War. Explain the political and social outcomes of the end of the war in Vietnam.

Week Six: Nixon’s LegacyObjective

Measure the impact of the Watergate scandal on public perception of government power.

Week Seven: ReaganomicsObjectives

Explain how the policies introduced during the Reagan presidency contributed to conservative politics and stimulation of the economy.

Describe the social, economic, and political composition of the decade of corporate greed.

Week Eight: End of the Cold WarObjective

Relate the political events of the 1980s to the collapse of communism in Europe and the end of the Cold War.

Week Nine: Moving Toward a Global CommunityObjective

Explain the role of the U.S. in the emerging global community.

Course Materials_____________________________________________________Davidson, J. (Ed.). (2006). Nation of nations: A concise narrative of the American republic (4th ed., Vol. 2). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Axia College’s Writing Style Handbook, available online at https://axiaecampus.phoenix.edu/Writing_Style_Handbook_AxiaUOP.pdf

All documents should be submitted in a Word 97 or PDF format.

All electronic materials are available on your student Web site.

POINT VALUE FOR COURSE____________________________________________________________

Recommended Point ValueWeek OneSummative Evaluation-McCarthyism 30Assignment: Cold War Ideology and Policies 100

Week TwoSummative Evaluation Eisenhower’s Politics 30Discussion Question 10Participation 20

Week ThreeOutline-Title page, Introduction, The Decade of the 1950s-preparing for final assignment. 05Summative Evaluation: Kennedy’s New Frontier 25Assignment: Southeast Asia 100

Week FourOutline-Decade of the 1960s, Decade of the 1970s-preparing for final assignment. 05Summative Evaluation: Johnson’s Great Society 25Discussion Questions 10Participation 20

Week FiveOutline-Decade of the 1980s, Decade of the 1990s-conclusion-preparing for finalAssignment 05 10Summative Evaluation: Nixon’s Politics 25Assignment: The Vietnam War 120

Week SixOutline-Hypotheses and Reference Page-preparing for final assignment 5

Questions 5Participation 20

Week SevenCorrect outlines where indicated-merge all sections of outline into one 10Summative Evaluation: Reagan’s Economics 20Assignment: Decade of Corporate Greed 100

Week EightWork on returned outlines-using week eight and nine to turn into the final documentDiscussion Question 15Participation 15

Week NineCapstone CheckPoint: End of the Cold War 30Final Project: Most Significant Event 250

TOTAL POINTS 1000

Week One ______________________________________________________________

Start of the Cold War

Explain the impact of McCarthyism on the U.S.

Relate the ideology of the Cold War to the breakdown of wartime alliances after the end of WWII.

Examine American Cold War policies and practices in international relations from the late 1940s to the mid-1950s.

Course Assignments

Course Preparation

Read the course description and objectives. Read the instructor’s biography and post your own.

Readings

Read Appendix A Read Ch. 27 of Nation of Nations: A Concise Narrative of the American

Republic.

Summative Evaluation: McCarthyism McCarthyism Complete the Summative Evaluation-Quiz over Chapter

27.Please answer each question with the numbers #1, # 2, etc. Each question should be answered with complete sentences and information taken from reading from text and one out-side source. Be sure to adhere to APA format required for this class, title, double-spacing throughout,

headings where appropriate, citations with-in text, where needed, and separate reference page for all citations included in the paper.

Questions 5 and 6 require a citation from the reading and one from an outside source.

All other questions should have citations if information was used in the answer that was taken from any source.

Assignment: Cold War Ideology and Policies

Write a 250-to 350-word paper in which you address the following:

o Use Two Resources to back-up your opinions-one from the reading, and one from out-side source.

o Describe the beliefs, values and opinions of the United States during WWII. Describe the beliefs, values, and opinions of the Soviet Union during WWII. Explain what changes after the war caused the beliefs and alliances to

All writing assignments for this class should use the format below.Title Centered

Cold War Ideology and PoliciesHeading #1-centered

The Beliefs, Values and Opinions of the United States-During WWIIEXAMPLE- 1.: The people in the United States valued their freedom.

Religion-explain (Davidson, Gienapp, Heyrman, Lytle, and Stoff, 2006). Economic System and Political System-explain(Davidson, et al,(2006) People had a right to speak up against wrongs without fear-explain

2..-example-The people in the Soviet Union lived in fear. The Communist State controlled the religious system.-explain The government controlled the Economic system and Political

system-explain People lived in constance fear-explain

3. After War II, the relationship that prevailed during the war changed. They became enemies-explain They were afraid of each other-explain How was this fear handled-explain

Heading #2 Centered

Describe how American Cold War Policies and Practices Influenced International Relations from the Late 1940s to the Mid-1950s.

1.

2.

3.

Set up like the first example

Be sure each questions is answered separately from readings from text and one out-side source. All opinions should have plenty of researched fact to support them. If you are not able to find research to back your opinions, then you should start over.

Format your paper according to APA standards.Post your paper as an attachment.

______________________________________________________________________

Summary of Week 1 Deliverables

Assignment Location where assignment will be posted

Due Date

Post Bio Main Forum Due Day 1

McCarthyism-Summative Evaluation-Quiz

Assignment Forum Due Day 1

Cold War Ideology and Policies


Week Two___________________________________________________

Post War Economy

Explain how the American economy changed after WWII. Describe the culture of consumption during the Eisenhower administration. Explain Eisenhower’s pragmatic political measures to manage the economy and

the politics of consensus.

Course Assignments

Readings

Read Chapter 28 of the text.

Summative Evaluation: Eisenhower’s Politics

Submit a 150- to 200-word response in which you address the following points:

Examine Graft in Chapter 18, page 828.- Remember to set up with title, headings, etc.

Explain the trend depicted on the graft. What caused the trend at this time in history? How did this contribute to the policy of consensus, spending, and attitudes? Would you describe the trend as good or bad for America’s economy?

Discussion Questions

How were people’s lives different at the end of the war than they had been before the war? Give specific examples of the differences. Did the scarcity experienced before the war influence how they spent their money?

o Respond to your classmates’ answers by considering the following points-did the people who left the country, to fight, have different expectations, and handle the at-home experiences, after the war, differently than those who stayed home?

o Would the people who had enjoyed luxuries before the war and people who found them to be a new experience behaved differently?

Describe the culture of consumption during the Eisenhower administration. How do you think such large-scale, newfound getting and spending culture influence people’s feelings about America?

o Respond to your classmates’ answers by considering which people were more likely, than others, to feel the benefits of certain kinds of economic

growth. Help connect how public spending influenced business and government budgets, which in turn helped more people.

Participation__________________________________________________________

All Week: Remember to participate in the class discussions 4 out of 7 days during the week.


AssignmentLocation where assignment will be posted

Day Due

DQ 1 Main Forum Due Day 2


Eisenhower’s Politics-Summative Evaluation


Week Three__________________________________________________

New Frontiers

Describe Kennedy’s vision of the New Frontier.

Explain how the U.S. became involved in the politics of Southeast Asia.

Course Assignments

Summative Evaluation: Kennedy’s New Frontier 200-150 words minimum

The following topics were part of President Kennedy’s New Frontier Program. Pick one of the topics, explain its success, or lack thereof, why was it successful, why was it not? Finally, which one of the list do you consider to be the most important, why?

Remember to use the writing format described in week one. Don’t forget your resources.

End Recession Restore Growth Civil Rights Leaders Goals for public education Aid to elderly with health care Minimum Wage Space Program Peace Corp. Give examples and explain.

Assignment: Southeast Asia

o Explain how the U.S. became involved in the politics of Southeast Asia. Give examples.

o Explain how this involvement, during the 1950s, affected the U.S.in: Political Policies Family Life Financial

Outline-Title page, Introduction, The Decade of the 1950s-preparing for final assignment-

1.Final assignment-read assignment carefully-value280 points.

2. Do you understand the format?

3. Due this week-an outline of the title page-see samplepaper with APA formatting in the Center for Academic

Excellency. Title page should be formatted like sample.

4.Introduction- Your paper will benefit from a strong introduction.The introduction provides an opportunity to capture the reader's attention with a “hook.” It also indicates what the paper will be about and how you will approach the topic. Refer to the 5-paragraph tutorial from Writing Wizards in the Tutorials & Guides section of the Center for Writing Excellence for more information about writing introductions (UOP,2010).

5.Decade of the 1950s- By the time the first part of the outline is due, we have finished the Decade of the 1950s, and most of the 1960s. What one event we studied, in your opinion, made the most impact on society? When you choose the reason, there should be several examples that can be used to explain why it was important. The one event is based on your opinion. However, your opinion should be based on research. Two different resources required for each decade. You may use the text for more than one decade.


Assignmentlocation where assignment will be posted

Day Due

Outline-Title page, Introduction, Decade of the 1950s-preparing for final assignment


Kennedy’s New Frontier-Summative Review

Assignment Forum Due Day2

Southeast Asia Assignment Forum Due Day 7

Week Four________________________________________________

Liberal Reforms

Explain how the minority groups’ struggle for civil rights began in the 1950s.’ Describe the social structure and lifestyles of the Counterculture.

Examine the social and political ramifications of LBJ’s Great Society and the continued struggle for social justice.

Course Assignments

Readings

Read Chapter 29 & 30 of the text.

Summative Review: Johnson’s Great Society

Exercise: Johnson’s Great Society

Due Date: Day 5 [post to the Assignment section of eCampus] Rank the top five Great Society Programs you think contributed to sweeping

reform in this nation. Identify what you consider to be the most significant program on that list. Summarize and explain that program in 150-200 words. Make sure you give

specific examples from the course readings! Post to assignments tab as Microsoft .doc/ .docx file.

Outline-The Decade of the 1960s and the 1970s-preparing for final assignment Use format from Week 3.


How did the minority groups’ struggle for civil rights begin in the 1950s? Which event from this time do you think was most responsible for bringing public attention to the American Civil Rights Movement? Explain why you selected this event.-Choose one event-be specific.

Respond to the events your classmates see as most important by reflecting how the same activities would influence society today. What about today’s society would make the public reaction similar or different?

Describe the social structure and lifestyles of the 1960s Counterculture. How did the Vietnam War influence the Counterculture? Do you think there is a counterculture today?

Respond to your classmates’ answers by adding or elaborating on information related to the 1960s Counterculture and about where we see sub cultural reactions to today’s social, economic, and political issues

Participation______________________________________________________




Day Due

Outline Decade of 1960s and 1970s-preparing for final assignment




Johnson’s Great Society-Summative Review


Week Five___________________________________________________

The Vietnam War

Compare Nixon’s policies of engagement to foreign policy strategies used during the Cold War.

Describe the connection between student unrest and the Vietnam War. Explain the political and social outcomes of the end of the war in Vietnam.

Course Assignments

Summative Review: Nixon’s Politics

Submit a 150- to 200-word response comparing Nixon’s policies of engagement with foreign policy strategies used during the Cold War.

Assignment: The Vietnam War

Write a 700- to 1,050-word paper in which you address the following points:

○ Describe the connection between student unrest and the Vietnam War, noting how each affected the other.

○ Explain the political and social outcomes of the end of the Vietnam War.

○ Use at least two resources to support your response, including one related to the connection of student unrest and the war, and another related to the political and social outcomes of the war.

○ Format your paper according to APA standards.

○ Post your assignment as an attachment.

Outline-The Decade of the 1980s, the 1990s, and the Conclusion-preparing for final assignment-

Use same format as week three. Conclusion- Your paper will benefit from a strong conclusion. A

concluding paragraph summarizes the main idea from each decade, ties the main points together neatly for the reader, and ends with a sense of finality. Avoid introducing new ideas in the conclusion(UOP, 2010).



Day Due

Nixon’s Politics-Summative Review


The Vietnam War Assignment Forum Due Day 7

Outline-Decade of the 1980s, the 1990s, and a Conclusion


Week Six____________________________________________________

Nixon’s Legacy

Measure the impact of the Watergate scandal on public perception of government power.

Course Assignments

Readings

Read Chapter 31 & pp. 941–956 of the text.

Outline-Hypotheses and Reference Page-See same format as week three.

Always start your references on a new page.] [Please check the Reference and Citation Examples document in the Tutorials & Guides section of the Center for Writing Excellence for examples of correct formatting. Then carefully check your citations and references to be sure that they are formatted correctly (UOP, 2010).

Discussion Questions If you had been a voter at the time of Nixon's impeachment and resignation, how

would the Watergate scandal have affected your perception of government power? Do you think the Watergate scandal has had an enduring effect on the public's perception of government power today? Explain your answer.

o Respond by considering how later politicians had to respond to reactions similar to those of your classmates’ in order to restore public confidence in government figures.

Post your response to the following: Investigative reporters are bolder today than they were 30 or 40 years ago. How do you think the influence of Watergate has contributed to this boldness? Do you think investigative reporters are justified in being bold to get information for the public, or do you think they are too aggressive?

o Respond to your classmates’ answers by playing devil’s advocate. This means that when a response posts asserting investigators are too aggressive, ask how it is that the investigators can get at the truth. When a response posts asserting that investigators are justified in being bold to get information, ask how it is that people can preserve their privacy and not be tried by public opinion. Remember that this point or counterpoint type of discussion must be conducted with mature courtesy.

Participation_____________________________________________________




Day Due

Outline-Hypotheses and Reference Page

Assignment Forum Day Due 3



Week Seven_________________________________________________

Reaganomics

Explain how the politics introduced during the Reagan presidency contributed to conservative politics and stimulation of the economy.

Describe the social, economic, and political composition of the decade of corporate greed.

Course Assignments

Summative Review: Reagan’s Economics

Submit a 150- to 200-word response in which you explain how Reagan’s policies reflected conservative politics and contributed to stimulation of the economy.

Assignment: Decade of Corporate Greed

Review the Electronic Reserve Readings for this week, located on your student web site, which provide additional information about Reaganomics and the decade of corporate greed. These readings demonstrate different viewpoints, so read carefully to understand the arguments both for and against Reaganomics. Notice that an article in favor of Reaganomics may give you arguments against it, and vice versa.

o Create a Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation of 6 to 9 slides in which you address the following point:

o Describe the social, economic, and political composition of the decade of corporate greed and how it affected the political climate of the 1980s. Keep in mind that Reagan's tax policies favored some people over others.

o Include text and visual elements in your slides; however, visual elements may not comprise more than one third of your information. This means, for example, that no more than 3 of 9 slides may be pictures, or no more than one third of each slide may be pictures.

o Include speaker notes.

o Post your presentation as an attachment.



Day Due

Summative Review: Reagan’s Economics


Assignment: Decade of Corporate Greed


Outline- Correct returned outlines where indicated-merge all sections of outline into one


Week Eight__________________________________________________

End of the Cold War

Relate the political events of the 1980s to the collapse of communism in Europe and the end of the Cold War.

Course Assignments

Readings

Read pages 956–965 & Chapter 33 of the text.


Which political events of the 1980s had the most influence on the collapse of Communism in Europe and the end of the Cold War? Explain your answer.

Respond by discussing how history may have been different if the events in your classmates’ answers had not happened or if they had happened at a different time. For example, if they had happened either, sooner or later, how might they have affected other events? Explain these differences in detail.

Looking at how Mikhail Gorbachev’s policies changed the Soviet Union, would you consider him a patriot, or in a sense, a subversive? Explain your answer.

Respond by using the reasons your classmates discuss to compare how other historic figures may be considered similarly either patriots or subversives.

Participation _________________________________________________________




Due Day



WEEK NINE_________________________________________________

Moving Toward a Global Community

Explain the role of the U.S. in the emerging global community.

Course Assignments

Capstone CheckPoint: End of the Cold War

Submit a 150- to 200-word response in which you explain the role of the U.S. in the emerging global community.

○ Resources: Appendixes A and C

Final Project: Most Significant Events

Write a 1,750- to 2,050-word essay in which you address the following points:

Choose one social, economic, or political event that you studied from each of the five decades following World War II—1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s—that you think had a more powerful effect on the American people than other events within the same decade.

○ Resources : Appendix A

○ Introduce the paper with a short explanation of the overall purpose of the final project.

○ Conclude the paper by hypothesizing changes you anticipate to happen in the U.S. social, economic, or political climate of the next ten years. Explain the reasons for your hypothesis.

○ Review the Electronic Reserve Reading for this course, located on your student Web site, to get an idea of how you might present your hypothesis. Notice how you may trace the thread of a topic through the last five decades as you lead up to your prediction. Notice also how you may make personal comments—the hypothesis is an opinion, so you may show your bias. You are not expected to write as much as the supplemental reading, but it might be helpful.

○ Include at least two references in each decade’s section of your paper. ○ Organize all sections into a unified, final paper with subtitles for each section. ○ Refer to Appendix C to verify that you have written a collegiate paper.o Format your paper according to APA standards.o Post your paper as an attachment.



Day Due

End of the Cold War Capstone-Checkpoint


Final Project-Most Significant Event


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