AMST 200 General Course Description: An integrated and interdisciplinary study which relates a broad range of American cultural forms---arts, literature, and philosophy, formal and popular---to the specific historical experiences and development of the United States from the Colonial era to the present.  The course introduces the concept and methodology of American studies and explores six major themes (natural environment and the frontier; people and immigration; government and constitutionalism; urbanization and industrialism; the American dream; and America and the world).

American Studies 200 is being taught in Fall 2004 by Prof. George Hopkins (History). Prof. Jamie McKown (Communication) will teach the course in Spring 2005, and Dr. Hopkins will teach it again in Fall 2005.

Below is the Fall 2004 syllabus, which should give you some sense of typical course materials and graded requirements.  Please note that AMST 200 syllabi vary considerably from professor to professor.

American Studies 200 Introduction to American Studies / Dr. Hopkins

Required reading:

Howard Zinn, A People's History of the United States [abridged teaching edition]
Robert H. Fossum and John K. Roth, eds., American Ground: Vistas, Visions, and Revisions
Charles Johnson, Middle Passage
George W. Hopkins, "Constructing the New Mythic West: Dances With Wolves as a Revisionist Western"*
John Steinbeck, In Dubious Battle
Cheri Register, Packinghouse Daughter: A Memoir
George W. Hopkins, "Historians and the Vietnam War: The Conflict Over Interpretations Continues"*
Barbara Ehrenreich, Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America
*Materials on e-reserve at the library; password: American
Coverage of historical and current topics in the news

This course will explore the origins and evolution of American culture and society. By examining American literature, thought, arts, and actions in historical context from the colonial era to the present, the course provides an interdisciplinary analysis of the complexity and diversity of the American experience. Race, ethnicity, class, and gender, as well as relative power and powerlessness, will be among the key concepts used to explore American culture over time.

Grading will be based on two essay examinations during the semester [the first worth 15%, the second worth 25%]; an 8-10 page typewritten analytical paper [20%]; brief reaction papers to specified readings [10%]; a final essay examination [25%]; and a grade based on possible quizzes and class participation [5%]. Lectures will include material not found in the readings and will offer interpretive comments on the topics discussed and the materials read or viewed. Examinations will cover lectures, discussions, readings, and documentary videos. If you miss a class, you are still responsible for the material covered and for any changes in assignment or procedure announced in class. No make-up examinations or late papers will be accepted without a verifiable excuse acceptable to the Dean of Undergraduate Studies. The success of the course depends on the interest and participation of the student as well as that of the professor.

My office is 330 Maybank. I will have office hours on MW, 2-3 pm; TR, 2-3 pm; and by appointment. Please feel free to discuss any questions or problems you have with the course. My phone is 953-8103; e-mail is hopkinsg@cofc.edu

Structure of the course: the following topics will be discussed on the days indicated. You should complete the assigned reading BEFORE each class to enable you to get the most out of the lecture and to be able to participate effectively in class discussion. Time will be provided for questions and discussions. Your informed participation will enrich and enliven the course.

Date Topic Assignment
8/25 Introduction to the course

8/27 America Before Columbus; First Americans [Arawaks] Meet Columbus: Results of Contact? Virginia, Massachusetts? Zinn, 3-21; American Ground [hereafter, AG], Guthrie lyric before page 1, 1-8.

8/30 Slavery in the New World: People as Property: Va. and SC Zinn, 23-32; film and discussion

9/1 Massachusetts: Pilgrims and Puritans AG, 9-10, 17-26.

9/3 Virginia: Indentured Servants, Enslaved Africans, and Bacon's Rebellion Zinn, 33-45 and 547-550.

9/6 Toward an American Identity and Independence Zinn, 47-60; AG, 27-56.

9/8 American Revolution or First Modern War of National Liberation? Articles of Confederation and Shays' Rebellion Zinn, 61-72 AAG,57; film and discussion.

9/10 U.S. Constitution and the "Iron Triangle"; Compromise and Ratification; Federalist #10; add a Bill of Rights; Whiskey Rebellion Zinn, review 68-72, 73-80; AG, 58-85.

9/13 Franklin, Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton: Founders and the Early Republic; Crevecoeur and American Identity AG, 12-14, 86-98, 113-134.

9/15 Women: Gender Roles, Class, and Race through Antebellum Era Zinn, 81-94.

9/17 EXAMINATION Bring 1 bluebook to class; don't write in it; put it on the table

9/20 Jackson and the "Era of the Common [White] Man"; Cherokee Removal and the "Trail of Tears" Zinn, 97-112

9/22 Tocqueville's America; Transcendentalism AG, 99-109, 117-122, 164-178.

9/24 US Takes Northern Mexico; Antislavery Movement Objects Zinn, 113-127.

9/27 Old South: Class, Caste, Race and Gender Zinn, 129-140; Johnson, Middle Passage, all.

9/29 Old North: Regional and Sectional Conflicts Zinn, 161-171.

10/1 War and Reconstruction; Segregation, Lynching, Exclusion Zinn, 140-159, 172177; AG, 110-111.

10/4 From Dances With Wolves to Custer's Last Stand and the Wounded Knee Massacre; Turner's Frontier Thesis AG,151-163; Hopkins, "Constructing the New Mythic West: Dances With Wolves as a Revisionist Western," on e-reserve

10/6 1877: Class Conflict Replaces Sectional Conflict Zinn, 177-186.

10/8 "New Immigration" and Great Migration film and discussion

10/11 Industrial Capitalism: Owner Policies and Worker Protests Zinn, 187-205; AG, 204-208, 215-249

10/13 Populism: Farmers' Revolts Zinn, 205-213; film and discussion

10/15 1898: From Republic to Empire Zinn, 219-232.

10/18 Debs and the Socialist Challenge Zinn, 235-247

10/20 Class, Race, Gender and the Limits of Progressive Reform Zinn, 247-257; AG, 250-267, 323-347.

10/22 World War I and the Red Scare Zinn, 263-274.

10/25 "Roaring '20s"? / Harlem Renaissance Zinn, 277-281; AG, 209-210, 273-294.

10/27 EXAMINATION Bring 1 bluebook to class; don't write in it; put it on the table

10/29 Great Depression and New Deal Zinn, 281-295; AG, 295-322, 348-350; Steinbeck, all

11/1 World War II and Early Cold War; McCarthyism Zinn, 299-318; AG, 367-376.

11/3 Superpower Interventions vs. National Self-Determination Zinn, 319-325; AG, 396-410.

11/5 1959: Class and Gender in Minnesota Register, Packinghouse Daughter, all.

11/8 Civil Rights, 1955-1965 Zinn, 327-337; AG,351-366; film and discussion.

11/10 Malcolm X, Black Power, Ghetto Rebellions Zinn, 337-342; film and discussion.

11/12 Vietnam War and Antiwar Movement Zinn, 347-367; Hopkins, "Historians and the Vietnam War" e-res

11/15 Second Wave Feminism; AIM; counterculture Zinn, 373-393; AG, 376-386, 387-395; 411-415.

11/17 Nixon, Chile,China, 'Nam, and Watergate Zinn, 397-407.

11/19 Bicentennial: From Ford to Carter Zinn, 407-419.

11/22 1980s: Reagan-Bush, Supply-Side Economics; Iran-Contra Zinn, 419-437.

11/24-26 Thanksgiving Break

11/29 1980s: Citizen Activism Zinn, 443-462.

12/1 Clinton: Policies and Protests Zinn, 481-510; Ehrenreich, Nickel and Dimed, all

12/3 2000 Election; 9/11; War on Terror; Civil Liberties Zinn, 515-522.

12/6 America Today: Race, Ethnicity, Class, and Gender Zinn, 469-479, 525-530; AG, 417-421.

12/11, 12-3 pm Final Examination Bring 2 bluebooks