U.S. History until 1877

MassBay Community College- Wellesley Hills Campus

Instructor: Cristóbal Espinoza

Office: Library

Office Hours:  By appointment

Contact Information: cespinoza@massbay.edu

Starting with the challenges that the United States confronted after the Civil War, this course will discuss the main historical process that took place until 9/11. Amongst those process is possible to mention: Westward Expansion, Progressivism, American involvement in World War I and II as well as the Cold War and Civil Rights. In general, this course will examine the cultural, economic, diplomatic, and political forces that have given the nation its current shape.

Amongst the course objectives, this course expected students to acquire a critical approach toward history. During this semester, students are expected to improve their ability to organize a broad range of historical materials; identify primary ideas, building explanation for historical events. Students should be able to develop their own original conclusions. Finally, by the end of the semester students should have understood that history is the memory of humanity.

This is a lecture course, which means, most of the material will be disseminated in the form of lectures, class discussions and assigned readings. Please note that lectures are not a summary of the textbook, but instead, they provide the explanation for the different topics. For that reason, attendance is a fundamental requisite to succeed in this class. It is expected that students will attend prepared to ask questions and expressed opinions. Oral participation counts for 10% of your final grade.  Please bring your book to every class.

Attendance Policy: As mentioned before, participation and attendance counts for the 10% of your grade. For that reason, if you have prior knowledge that you will miss more than two classes in a row, please contact me with a doctor note or other mean of justification. The same applies if you missed an assignment or class discussion.

Please keep in mind, according to MassBay college catalog:

If student absences exceed five (5) class hours, the instructor may withdraw him or her from the course by notifying the Registrar with the student’s last known date of attendance. This action will result in the recording of the appropriate designation for course abandonment on student’s academic record. Lack of attendance or course abandonment, does not constitute automatic or official course withdrawal. Students who do not officially withdraw in accordance with College procedures are subject to full payment of tuition and fees, and may receive the failing grade of ‘F’ for the course.

Grading: Missing class does not excuse you from work due. Please feel free to consult with me before assignments are due to discuss ideas about written assignments or any other questions about the class. I can review you draft and suggest corrections to obtain the grade you want. Draft papers will not be reviewed on the same day the assignment is due. Late papers will NOT be accepted unless a medical excuse with evidence.

Plagiarism is the most serious academic offense. It will result in an immediate F in the course. According to MassBay College Catalog:

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person(s) or agency engaged in the selling of terms papers or other academic materials. This includes material that is obtained via computer.

Your final grade will result of:

                    Oral participation and Attendance                          10%

                    Service Learning Project                                         40%

                    Documents Essay                                                    25%

                    Final                                                                        25%

                    ____________________________________________                                         

                    Total                                                                      100%

There is also an extra-credit which averages with your lowest grades

Remember: Grading is meant to evaluate your academic progress, not punish you for not knowing. For that reason, please take advantage of office hours as well as the possibility of submitting drafts. Additionally, you have the opportunity to use the different Academic Support Resources and Services the College offers. Those services include:

Reading and Writing Center- Room 215 / 781-239-2624

Online Tutoring- please register at SMARTHINKING from MassBay Blackboard site

Peer Tutoring- 781-239-2627

Finally, if you require special accommodations to comply with class work, please visit

Room 216 or call at 781-239-2234 or 2626

Other: Most students have problems deciding their academic major or future career paths. If you are one of them, please visit

Academic Advising - Room 111 or call 781-239-2632

Suggested Reading. In case you need a textbook, a good reference is

Boyer, Clark, et. al. The Enduring Vision. A History of the American People. Volume 2: From 1865, Dolphin Editions, (Wadsworth Publishing, 2008)

Required Readings: (*)

Kennedy, David, Bailey, The American Spirit, Vol II: since 1877, Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010 

Class Topics

Unit 1

1. Challenges at the end of the Civil War: Reconstruction
2. The Expansion to the West, the Agricultural Revolution.
3.  The Industrial Revolution, the rise of the social question and the making of the American working class.
4. Rise of the Imperial Democracy: Spanish- American War and American colonies

Unit 2

1. From the rise of Progressivism to American involvement in World War I
2. Domestic consequences of the American involvement in World War I
3. The United States in the 1920 until the Great Depression
4. New Deal and American Involvement in World War II

Unit 3

1. Origins of the Cold War and the Korean War
2. Eisenhower and the New Look
3. John Kennedy and the New Frontier
4. Lyndon Johnson, the Great Society and the Vietnam War.
5. Civil Rights movement

Unit 4

1. Richard Nixon: From Détente to Watergate
2. Jimmy Carter and Human Rights
3. Rise of Neo Conservatism and their arrival to the White House: Ronald Reagan.
4. Domestic and Foreign consequences of the War on Drugs

Unit 5

1.     George H.W. Bush and Cold War Leftovers.

2.    Bill Clinton and the challenges of a new era.

3.    The Road to 9/11 and the consequences of the War on Terror