AMERICAN HISTORY I Syllabus 2012-13 – Madison High School

·         Instructor: Mr. Cordts robert.cordts@k12.sd.us      

 
·         Textbook:   The Americans (2005).  by G.A. Danzer, J.de Alva, L. Krieger, L. Wilson, and N. Woloch, 
 Publisher = McDougal Littell
 Text website w/ quizzes & objectives etc.   =  http://www.classzone.com/books/americans05/index.cfm
 
 Reasons for Studying American History :  1)  Two semesters of American history are required
for graduation. 2)  We study American History to better understand what it means to be
"American".  We learn about the origins of our freedoms and responsibilities as citizens.   We also
learn about the sacrifices people have made to ensure our freedoms and way of life. 3) We study
history to learn from the successes and failures of the past to better shape the future.  4) We study
history for inspiration.   We look back on the lives of people from the past to better model our own
lives.   Historical figures don't always have to be famous people but they can be people who had
the courage to stand up for their beliefs and change things for the better.   The physical courage
and moral courage of people from the past can inspire us to better shape the future.  5) History is
Exciting. Well-written, well- told history is exciting.  History isn't just names and dates.
 
 Classroom activities and goals:  It is important that all of you understand American history to be
better citizens.  An uneducated democracy can be worse than government by a dictator, so it is
important that you have a basic understanding of American ideals and institutions to make better
political decisions. During this school year we will work on improving your writing, speaking and
problem solving skills.   We will also work on your READING and WRITING skills.   We will
periodically work with Primary Sources documents in order to improve your reading and critical
thinking skills. Since most of you will probably not be making your living as historians, another
goal for this class is to help you with job- related skills.  We will be doing many different group
activities during the year to improve your teamwork and social skills.  

 Themes and strategies we will use in exploring and explaining American History:

1) Conflict: Finding and Exploring Conflict and Debate

2) Agency: Recognizing How People Shape Their Era

3) Choices: History is the study of Choices - Nothing is inevitable!

4) Relevance: Make Connections (carefully) to the Present

5) Primary Source Documents and Images

* Some ideas I learned from Dr. Ed O’Donnell, Ph.D, History (Columbia)

 
  GRADING SYSTEM: Graded work will consist of short written assignments, activities, worksheets,
presentations, Blackboard discussion board responses, blogs, journal entries, quizzes and Tests.
Each nine week period or quarter will account for 45% of your final semester grade. Your final semester
grade will be an accumulation of your 2 quarter grades and a comprehensive final test or final project.

Grading System Summary:

1st Nine weeks grade = 45 % of semester grade

2nd Nine weeks grade= 45% of semester grade

Final Test / Final Project = 10 % of semester grade

 Blackboard Learn: We will use Blackboard Learn everyday.    Get used to logging in
everyday and checking for assignments, quizzes and journal entries.

 Homework / Assignments:   Contact me or a classmate about missing assignments or class notes

on days that you miss.   All assignments and assessments (tests) will be available on Blackboard
Learn.   Make sure that you check Blackboard learn daily.

·         GRADING SCALE for Madison High School:

100-99% =+ A 93 -92% = B+ 86-84% = C+ 77 -75 = D+

98 - 96% = A 91 -89% = B 83 -81 = C 74-71 = D
95-94% = - A 88 -87% = B- 80-78 = C- 70 -68 = D -

·         LATE WORK: Daily work turned in late will be deducted one letter grade per day late.  Get in the
habit of using your agendas to avoid late work.  Make-up tests for excused absences must be made
up within one week after the absence.

South Dakota Department of Education Content Standards

9-12.US.1.1. Students are able to explain the cause-effect relationships and legacy that distinguish significant
historical periods from Reconstruction to the present.
9-12.US.1.2. Students are able to relate previously learned information of these time periods to the context of
succeeding time periods.
9-12.US.2.1. Students are able to describe the causes and effects of interactions between the U.S. government and
Native American cultures.
9-12.US.2.2. Students are able to describe the causes and effects of cultural, economic, religious, political, and social
reform movements on the development of the U.S.
9-12.US.2.3. Students are able to identify the influences of local groups on settlement patterns of South Dakota and
the Great Plains Region.

Scope and Sequence:

  Topics studied :
Weeks 1-2 Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution (federalism, checks and balances, limited government)
Quiz
The Settlement of the West, J. Turner’s Frontier Thesis,  Influence of Railroads ,  Long Drive and Cowboy
Tradition , Range Wars ,   End of the Frontier , Wild West and
Weeks 3-4  Homestead Act, Sioux Wars ,  Sioux War of 1862,  Bozeman Trail ,  Ft. Laramie Treaty Battle of Little
Bighorn ,   Wounded Knee,   U.S. policy and Native Americans ,Settlement of South Dakota,  Agrarian
Movement ,  William Jennings Brian and Cross of Gold Speech,  Impact of Populists
TEST #1 (CHAPTER 13)   
Week 5 Factors leading to U.S. Industrialization,  U.S. Entrepreneurs : Edison, Rockefeller,  Carnegie,  Social Gospel , 
Gospel of Wealth,  Social Darwinism, 
Weeks 6-7 Problems of  Industrial Age :   Immigrant problems, Rapid Urbanization, Political Machines and Boss
Tweed,  Working Conditions,  Wages and Working Conditions,  Labor v. Management ,  Haymarket Square
Incident,  Pullman Strike,  Homestead Strike  ,   Mass Culture TEST #2 – (chapters 14 –16)
Week 8 Progressive Reform Movement:  Who were the Progressives?  Industrial Reform , Societal Reform,
Consumer Reform ,  Political Reform,  Environmental Reform
Week 9 Progressive Presidents (Roosevelt , Taft,  Wilson)  - important reforms and ideologies,  Square Deal, Trust
Busting,  Federal Reserve 
TEST #3 – (chapter 17)
Weeks 10-  U.S. Imperialism and Spanish American War,   Yellow Journalism, Philippine Annexation,  Great White
11 Fleet, A.T. Mahan and Sea Power,   Teddy Roosevelt and Rough Riders ,  Roosevelt and Big Stick Diplomacy 
Week 12-13 Causes of the Great War,  U.S. Neutrality,  Zimmerman Note,  Luisitania, Sussex Pledge,

Week 14 Wilson’s leadership and Vision in the “War to End all Wars”,  League of Nations,  Treaty of Versailles and 
Its Failure 
TEST # 4  (Chapters 18, 19)
Weeks 15- American Culture during the 1920’s:  Jazz Age, Consumerism, Lost Generation ,  Harlem Renaissance,  Stock
16 Market Speculation  ,  Flappers and Women’s Liberation
Return to Normalcy:  Presidency of Warren G. Harding and Republicans,   Scandals of Harding Presidency, 
Labor Struggles after WWI,   Racial Issues after WWI, 
Week 17 Stockmarket Crash and the Beginning of Great Depression,  Hoover’s Response to the Great Depression ,  
Signs of the Depression :  Bonus Army , Unemployment,  Hoovervilles,  Hobos,  Dust Bowl 
Week 18 FDR and the New Deal,  First 100 Days,  Philosophy and Pragmatism of the New Deal,  Leadership qualities
of FDR,   Relief , Recovery, Reform Programs of the New Deal ,  Critics of New Deal,  New Deal Coalition 
 TEST #5   (Chapters 20 – 23)

Classroom Rules and Expectations:

1.        Do not disrupt Mr. Cordts or substitute teachers while they are giving instruction and do not
interrupt a student if they have been given permission to talk or are giving a presentation.

2.        Raise your hand to respond in class.

3.        No food, pop or gum in the classroom unless the teacher has given permission the day before.

4.        Show respect to all students, teachers and school personnel.

5.        Students will work on Class assignments during class time when Mr. Cordts assigns work and
they will not disrupt others who are trying to complete their assignment.

6.        Be in your desk before the bell rings and remain in your desk until the bell rings.  Use the first
couple of minutes of the period to check the announcements and check your e-mail.
7. Make sure that there are only two chairs per table. Unless we are working on a group activity,
keep an arm’s length away from the person next to you to avoid unnecessary distractions.

8. Computer rules:  A) Do not use e-mail without my permission; B)  Connect to Synchronize when I
ask you to - failure to connect could result in a Zero grade for the day's assignment  - stay in the
"Circle of Trust";  D) Computer Games are NEVER allowed.   Playing computer games will result in
a Zero grade for the day's assignment.    E) Maintain your computer.  It is your responsibility to
ensure that it is always properly maintained.    It is also your responsibility to keep track of your
log-in information. Ask to go to the Help desk (Mr. Jackson, Mr. Wright) if you are having problems
with your computer. 

9. Cell phones and iPods (MP3s) are not allowed in the classroom. Keep them out of sight unless I ask
to see them for something related to the curriculum.

10. DO YOUR OWN WORK. DO NOT PLAGIARIZE or Cheat. Plagiarism/Cheating is described on

Page 11 of the MHS Student Handbook :” Plagiarism is using and portraying the ideas or
writings of another persons as one’s own. Cheating is using/giving help or assistance in any
unauthorized way to complete an assignment or test. Any student guilty of cheating or of
plagiarism faces a zero for that particular assignment or test, and parents will be notified.”

11. Clean up after yourselves. Push in your chairs before you leave the classroom and keep things
orderly.

Consequences for not following the Rules:

1.        You will receive 1 VERBAL warning during the trimester that you have broken class rules.  After
the second warning I will start assigning 15 minutes detention for rules violations. 

2.        Further rules violations could result in IN-School Suspension (ISS).

Positive Consequences for Following the Rules:

1.        As a class, more options for class activities and assignments – more opportunities for extra
credit. 

2.        NOTE on class rules:  The rules are designed to protect the students to ensure that everyone has
their right to a free, public education without disruption.  Rules are not designed to get people in
trouble.

Other classroom procedures and guidelines:

·          Students will only be allowed 3 bathroom breaks per semester – maximum of  5 minutes
each.

·         Announcements – be quiet and listen to any announcements over the P.A. system.