+

Introduction to 

American History

Jane Bayly (Nantes)


Sandra Cornuault (La Roche s/Yon)

Ambre Ivol (Nantes)
+
1. Course Presentation
Part I

THE LAND

Christopher Columbus and European invasions, First Nations, the Environment

Part II

THE PEOPLE

Immigration, Minorities, Cultural Diversity

Part III

THE INSTITUTIONS

The Constitution, Political Parties

+
Access to the course
Code: HFA1N5A
 Bibliography

Pauwels, Marie-Christine. Mauk, David and John Oakland. American

Civilisation Etats-Unis Civilization, An Introduction.
+
Required Reading
■ Topic 1: The Land

“The Country” chapter taken from the book American Civilization by David Mauk and
John Oakland (Since Pauwels does not include a chapter on Geography, the Mauk
document available on Madoc is required.)

■ Topic 2: The People –

Chapter 3 “Land of Immigrants” (pp. 46-63); Chapter 4 “The Population” (pp. 64-73);
Chapter 5 “Ethnic Minorities” (pp. 74-89); “C. School Desegregation” (p. 92); “D.
Bilingual Education” (p. 92); “D. Religion, Class and Race” (p. 151-2); “3.
Racism” (p. 187-8); “4. Poverty” (p. 188-9)

■ Topic 3: The Institutions

Chapter 1 “Institutions” (pp. 8-31)

---------------More chapters may be added. Check MADOC each week.

+

EXAM
Multiple-choice test
January
One hour
BOTH US and British History
+ Introduction to the US through Maps

Map 0 : Geography of the USA

+ Map 1: the United States In North America

North America

Includes

Greenland
Alaska
Canada
The USA
Mexico

The Caribbean
Islands: Cuba, The
Bahamas, Haiti and
the Dominican
Republic

Panama (border with

South America)

US+Canada: 80%
Map 2 :
The United States: A Product of European History

Borders
Perpetual flux

Mid-18th century
settlements:

European powers:

France (red)
Britain (yellow)
Spain (green)
Russia (dark blue)
 Map 3.
+ Territorial Expansion
from the 1780s to the 1850s

Acquisitions

Purchases

Cessions*

= buying/selling
= wars

Disputed regions

* To cede land

9/12/18
+ Map 4. Slave versus Free States (1820)

linked

Institution of
slavery

Land
administration

Disagreements
increased
over time
+ Map. 5: The Civil War : 1860-1865

Balance of
Power

Secession

To Secede

The Union

The
Confederation
 Map 6. Indian Removal Policy
in the first half of the 19th Century

Relocation

Devastating

Forced

Familiar

Foreign

Trek / March

Trail of Tears
+ Map 7. The Continent = The United States

1890s:
The Closing of the
Frontier

20th century:
Expansion Abroad

Domestic

The United States is

One country

On this map:
Regional identites
+ The Northeast

Political, financial and

cultural center

White House

Wall Street
+ The Midwest

Farmbelt

agriculture

‘heartland’

embodies

Rustbelt

industrial center

Detroit

derelict
+ The South

Cotton

Oil and chemicals

Deep South

Slavery - 1865

Racial Segregation
- 1960s
+ The West

Land of opportunity

Fruit (California)

Entertainment industry (Los Angeles)

New technologies (Silicon Valley)

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Homework

ACCESS MADOC and:

Read and learn the vocabulary for this first lecture.

Look at the powerpoint for next week's lecture.

Quizz questions regularly posted for you to practice your skills!