TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

History 370.500 / TTh 3:55 - 5:10 p.m. / PETR 113

Civil War & Reconstruction

Spring Semester 2008
Dr. Baum

Required Reading:

 The above books are for sale in the bookstore in the basement of the MSC. Because of the unavailability in paperback editions of A Southern Community in Crisis and The Shattering of Texas Unionism, additional copies have been placed on the Evans Library reserve shelf. The latter book is a NetLibrary eBook available on the Internet through Evans Library.  Copies of McPherson's article from the New Republic have also been placed on the reserve shelf. The movie "Glory" is available in Evan Library's Educational Media Services (EdMS). It can also be rented from most video rental stores or you may borrow my DVD copy from my office.

Lecture Topics and Reading Assignments:

Jan. 15 -Feb. 14: The Coming of the Civil War: The Antebellum South/The Dilemma of Territorial Growth/The Kansas-Nebraska Act/Rise of the Republican Party/Secession and War

Reading: Ordeal By Fire, pp. 1-162; A Southern Community in Crisis, pp. 3-197 or Shattering of Texas Unionism, pp. 1-81; Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men, entire; and all seven of the Lincoln & Douglas debates.

February 19 (Tuesday): FIRST EXAM

Feb. 21 - Mar. 27: The Civil War, 1861-1865: Lincoln's Early Commanders/War and Society/Turning Points/The 1864 Election/The End of the Confederacy/Presidential (or Johnsonian) Reconstruction

Reading: Ordeal By Fire, pp. 163-554; Shiloh, entire; The Killer Angels, entire; Boritt, Why the Confederacy Lost, entire; "Glory" & McPherson's review of "Glory"; A Southern Community in Crisis, pp. 199-272 or Shattering of Texas Unionism, pp. 82-179.

Mar. 11 & 13: No Class {Spring break}

April 1st (Tuesday): SECOND EXAM

Apr. 3 - 24: Congressional Reconstruction: The Southern Republican Governments/The Liberal Republican Movement/Retreat from Reconstruction/The Legacy of Reconstruction and the New South

Reading: Ordeal By Fire, pp. 555-663; A Southern Community in Crisis, pp. 273-395 or Shattering of Texas Unionism, pp. 180-240; The Era of Reconstruction, entire; [Matthew Gaines articles], "A Statue to an Ex-Slave on the A&M Campus?" BGSA speech, "Vision 2020" statement & Gaines Debate remarks.

May 6 (Tuesday):  1-3 p.m. FINAL COMPREHENSIVE EXAM

Examinations and Grading:

The exams will consist of a combination of multiple-choice, essay, and possibly some identification/short-answer questions. All questions will be directly related to the lectures and readings.  Essay questions having appeared on past exams are posted on the web on my homepage: http://www.tamu.edu/baum/cw370questions.html. Students must purchase three (3) unmarked and blank SCANTRON forms (No. 882-E) and three (3)  unmarked and blank large-sized Exam ("Blue") Book (10in. x 8in./16 sheets or 32 pages) and give them immediately after (or anytime outside of) class to Dr. Baum no later than February 7th. Blue books and scantrons will be returned to students on exam days. A number #2 pencil must also be brought to all exams in order to mark the scantrons. It is recommended that students bring a wrist watch in order to apportion adequately their time in writing various parts of the exams.

The penalties for failure to follow the above instructions are as follows: Minus 20 points on the first exam for failure to turn in required blue books and scantrons by February 7th; minus 20 points for Dr. Baum having to supply a required #2 pencil to a student during any exam; and minus 20 points on both the second and final exams for subsequent failures to turn in the required blue books and scantrons.

 Grades will be given in accordance with the standard university system:

Excellent is 90-100, the letter being A;
Good is 80-89, the letter being B;
Satisfactory is 70-79, the letter being C;
Passing but not satisfactory is 60-69, the letter being D;
Failing is 0-59; the letter being F.

The calculation of the final course grade will be as follows:
First and second exams............30% each, totaling 60%
Final comprehensive exam.......................................40%

Make-up Exams:

Make-up exams will be given to only students with authorized absences. Students must notify Dr. Baum or the Department of History by the end of the next working day after the absence in order to ensure full rights to take the make-up exam. Students are responsible for providing satisfactory evidence to the instructor within one week of their returns from being absent to substantiate the reason for missing the exam.  Discussion of university-approved excuses is found in "Student Rules at Texas A&M University" online (http://student-rules.tamu.edu/rule7.htm), but includes illness, medical appointment, appearing in court, and conflict due to religious holy days listed on the official University calendar.  For any absence to be valid, it must be supported in writing, for instance with a letter from a doctor or clinic, a judge or clerk of court, or the Athletic Department if a student is on a team that represents the University at a sporting event. Unless otherwise arranged, all make-up exams will be given on May 1st (Thursday) from 3:55 - 5:10 p.m. in PETR 113.

Class Attendance:

Attendance is required.  Students will be penalized after more than three absences, except in the case of university-excused absences.  For each unexcused absence after that, your final grade will be dropped by three percentage points.  Please see http://student-rules.tamu.edu/rule7.htm for current policy on university-excused absences.  For illness- or injury-related absences of fewer than three days, a note from a health care professional confirming date and time of visit will be required in order to count the absence as university-excused; for absences of three days or more, the note must also contain the medical professional's confirmation that absence from class was necessary (see Rule 7.1.6.1).

For purposes of helping the instructor learn names of students, monitor examinations, and pass back exams, a seating chart will be made for all students to sign.

Office Hours:

Dale Baum: 210-A Melbern G. Glasscock Building located in front of Evans Library
Tuesdays and Thursdays:  2 - 3:30 p.m. and 5:15 - 5:30 p.m. or by appointment.
Telephone: 845-7184 or messages may be left for me with the secretaries in the Department of History at 845-7151.

Perhaps the best way to contact me is to send an email message to me at d-baum@tamu.edu
Homepage: http://www.tamu.edu/baum/index.html

 

Students with Disabilities:

The "Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)" is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection
for persons with disabilities.  Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning
environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities.  If you believe you have a disability requiring an
accommodation, please contact the Office of Support Services for Students with Disabilities in Room B-118 Cain Hall (845-1637).

 

Academic Integrity Statement and Requirements:

Academic Integrity:  “An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do.”  You are expected to be aware of the Aggie Honor Code and the Honor Council Rules and Procedures, stated at http://www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor.

By signing your name on the Blue Books and SCANTRON forms during examinations, you will be, in effect, pledging to the following statement: "On my honor, as an Aggie, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this academic work."

Tips on Taking Essay Examinations:

An outline of the topics covered in class lectures is available at:  http://www.tamu.edu/baum/out370.html and essay questions that have appeared on past exams are posted at: http://www.tamu.edu/baum/cw370questions.html.  Even if you have prepared properly for an essay question, your problems are not over. You must stay calm enough to remember what you studied, you must understand the question, you must answer it directly and fully, and you must not run out of time. None of this is easy, but here are a few pointers to follow until you gain the experience to overcome these problems.

Remember: A well-written essay answer is a combination of (1) adequate knowledge of the subject (2) clear-thinking about the points to be covered (3) complete understanding of the question, and (4) well-constructed sentences.

Do not forget to turn in by February 7th three "unmarked and blank" bluebooks and scantrons to Dr. Baum (see "Exams and Grading" section above).

Special Requests:

Your classmates will appreciate your coming to class on time, turning off your cell phone, refraining from using tobacco products, and bringing no more food or beverages into the classroom than absolutely necessary.

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