U.S. History I
HIST 2211
Anoka-Ramsey Community College
Spring 2025

 

Quick way to remember due dates: Items in the YELLOW column are due Mondays at NOON; 2 weeks do not have a Inquisitive

Items in the GREEN column are due Tuesdays at NOON, each and every week.

Week 1:

Class begins on Monday, January 13

Topics Covered

 Reading for Inquisitive #1.  Due next Monday January 20 at NOON <BUT a free Week 1 extension given until Monday, January 27 at NOON.

Inquisitives are located in Materials > Content>Inquisitive. on D2L.

Readings for Discussion and Discussion Quiz #1-- Final Deadline = next Tuesday at NOON *Free extension during Week 1, so the deadline is 1/28.
 

1.  Introduction to the Course and Each Other

2.  Native American Worlds

3.  The Age of Exploration and First Encounters
 

These Truths Chapter 1.  These Truths is a VitalSource ebook located at D2L Materials --> Content.

 "First Encounters: Cortez and the Aztecs" 
*This is an article that is located on D2L (Materials --> Content)    

Week 2:

 

Tuesday, January 21

Topics Covered

 Reading for Inquisitive #2.  Due on Monday, 2/3 at NOON. -- Two Weeks Given for Chapter 2

Inquisitives are located in Materials > Content>Inquisitive. on D2L.

Readings for Discussion and Discussion Quiz #2-- Final Deadline = next Tuesday at NOON.
  1.  The First Europeans in North America (c. 1530-1670s)

2.  First Settlements in the Southern Colonies


 

These Truths Chapter 2. 



1. The "Lost Colony" of Roanoke (founded in 1584): Click here for the assignment.  Be sure to note that there are three items total for each student to read; the third item is determined by your last name.

2.  Southern Colonies/Jamestown (founded in 1606) readings: Click here for assignment.

3.  Next we will move on to the Northern Colonies (a topic we will continue next week.)  This assignment is to watch the documentary film: We Shall Remain, Episode One, "After the Mayflower."  You can find this video loaded into D2L > Materials > Content.
(1 hour, 13 minutes in length.)  Click here for a note-taking guide.
(Even though this is not a "reading" per se, you will be quizzed on the material in this film this week.  You will NOT have to include a specific time stamp as part of your citation but your answer will be evaluated based on the specific details and examples from the film.)

Week 3:

Tuesday, January 28

Topics Covered

 Reading for Inquisitive #2.  Due next Monday, 2/3 at NOON. (Two week block for this chapter.)

Inquisitives are located in Materials > Content>Inquisitive. on D2L.

Readings for Discussion and Discussion Quiz #3-- Final Deadline = next Tuesday at NOON.
 

1.  The Northern Colonies

2.   Religion in Puritan America

3.  Salem Witch Trials

 

These Truths Chapter 2. 

 

 

1.  Discovering the American Past (DAP) Chapter 2.  VitalSource ebook located at D2L Materials --> Content.

2.  Read the general background of the Salem Witch Trials.

3.  Skim the trial of Sarah Good.  Summarize what her accusers said about her.   

4.  Read the Examination of Rebecca Nurse.  How does she answer the accusations against her?

If you're interested in more information and documents related to the Salem Witch Trials, check out this website at the University of Virginia. (optional)

**Look ahead -- a bit more reading assigned next week.  Get a start on it if you can.

Week 4:

Tuesday, February 4

Topics Covered

 Reading for Inquisitive #3.  Due next Monday, 2/10 at NOON.

Inquisitives are located in Materials > Content>Inquisitive. on D2L.

Readings for Discussion and Discussion Quiz #4-- next Tuesday at NOON.
 

Unfree Labor in the Southern Colonies and the "Terrible Transformation"

 

 These Truths Chapter 3
   		1.  Discovering the American Past (DAP) Chapter 3. VitalSource ebook located at D2L Materials --> Content.
*In the questions I will pose in Discussion on D2L, I will ask students to summarize and comment on the laws and statistics.  Aim to make sure one of your weekly posts accomplishes this.

1A: Click here for an article and interesting graphic map about the scope of the trade in enslaved people.

2.  "The Life of Olaudah Equiano/Gustavus Vassa" in Classic Slave Narratives.  This book is for sale in the bookstore or you can locate the Equiano narrative on-line here, Volume I.  Click here for Volume II.

All editions will read the same chapters but the page numbers will vary depending on which edition you purchase.
Everyone read Chapters 1, 2, 5, 12
[You can read the summaries of each chapter if you wish to follow the story throughout.]

3.  Click here for an optional extra credit assignment due next Tuesday 2/11 at NOON.  (Reading the rest of the Equiano narrative and writing a short reaction paper.)

Week 5:

Tuesday,
February 11

Topics Covered

 Reading for Inquisitive #4.  Due next Tuesday, 2/18 at NOON. One day extension due to President's Day.

 Inquisitives are located in Materials > Content>Inquisitive. on D2L.

Readings for Discussion and Discussion Quiz #5-- Final Deadline = next Tuesday at NOON.
 

Colonial Society Matures


 

These Truths Chapter 4. 

1.  "The Sum of the Colonial Experience."  *This is an article that is located on D2L (Materials --> Content)
 [These are articles written by historians, which means it can be challenging, college-level reading.  I will post some questions for discussion on D2L that will encourage you to work together to "walk through" each historian's main points.]

2.  The Great Awakening Comes to Weathersfield, Connecticut: Nathan Cole’s Spiritual Travels

Week 6:

Tuesday,
February 18

Topics Covered

 Reading for Inquisitive #5.  Due next Monday 2/24.

 Inquisitives are located in Materials > Content>Inquisitive. on D2L.

Readings for Discussion and Discussion Quiz #6-- Final Deadline = next Tuesday at NOON.
  1.  Road to the Revolution

2.  The American Revolution

These Truths Chapter 5. 

1. Discovering the American Past (DAP) Chapter 4.  VitalSource ebook located at D2L Materials --> Content.

2.  An Account of a Soldier at the Battle of Yorktown  (You might also want to listen to #20 on the Hamilton soundtrack "Yorktown")

 

Week 7:

Tuesday,
February 25

Topics Covered

 Reading for Inquisitive #6 AND #7.  Due next Monday, 3/3 at NOON.


Inquisitives are located in Materials > Content>Inquisitive. on D2L.

Readings for Discussion and Discussion Quiz #7-- Final Deadline = next Tuesday at NOON.
 

The New Political Order: The Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the New Republic

 

These Truths Chapter 6 and 7. 

*You will complete two separate Inquisitive units this week.  The topics covered in these chapters align with the discussion readings.

1.  We will be reading about the need to create a new Constitution and then reading sections of the Constitution itself.  Click here for the reading assignment.

2.  "Hamilton" The Musical -- click here for the assignment.  If you have Disney+ you can watch the Original Broadway Cast perform the musical! 

 

Week 8:  MID-POINT OF THE SEMESTER.  WEEKS 1-8 IN DISCUSSION WILL BE GRADED. 

Tuesday,
March 4

Topics Covered

 Reading for Inquisitive #8.  Due next Monday, 3/10 at NOON.

Inquisitives are located in Materials > Content>Inquisitive. on D2L.

Readings for Discussion and Discussion Quiz #8-- Final Deadline = next Tuesday at NOON.
 

Thomas Jefferson

 

 These Truths Chapter 8.  Click here for the reading assignment about Thomas Jefferson.

 

Week 9: Two weeks given here due to Spring Break.  Work will be due Monday 3/24 and Tuesday 3/25. Saturday deadline for discussion is 3/22.

Tuesday, March 11

Topics Covered

 Reading for Inquisitive #9.  Due Monday 3/24 at NOON.

Inquisitives are located in Materials > Content>Inquisitive. on D2L.

Readings for Discussion and Discussion Quiz #9-- Final Deadline = Tuesday 3/25 at NOON.

Jacksonian Democracy and Moving Westward

 

These Truths Chapter 10.   *Note this chapter is out of order!

1.  Discovering the American Past (DAP), Chapter 7.  Read the introductory and concluding pages (pp. 167-179; 202-206) and then choose SIX sources from the "Evidence" section in the middle of the chapter.  Choose three white sources and three Cherokee sources, being sure to read #5 Frelinghuysen.  VitalSource ebook located at D2L Materials --> Content.

2.  "Everything Here is New But the Forests": Englishman Thomas Woodcock Travels to Niagara on the Erie Canal, 1836.

3. Watch "We Shall Remain, Episode 3; Trail of Tears" (1 hour, 12 minutes)  This film is available through our library's database and I have loaded it into D2L.  (Materials --> Content --> We Shall Remain Trail of Tears Video).  Click to open link.  Please let me know if you have any trouble opening and watching this video.

 

Week 10:

Tuesday,
March 25

Topics Covered

 Reading for Inquisitive #10.  Due next Monday, 3/31 at NOON.

Inquisitives are located in Materials > Content>Inquisitive. on D2L.

Readings for Discussion and Discussion Quiz #10-- Final Deadline = next Tuesday at NOON.
  1.  Urbanization and Industrialization

2.  19th Century Immigration



 

These Truths Chapter 9.  *Note this chapter is out of order!

 1.  Interview with historian Noel Ignatiev

2.  Choose one of the months listed in this selection from the newspaper the Cork Examiner.  You'll be reading the famine-related news for that month.  After you've chosen a month from the right side of the screen, read at least TWO articles from that month.

 3.  Summary of the basics behind the potato famine.

4. "Working girls of Lowell" *This is an article that is located on D2L (Materials --> Content)  All students must read p. 145-150 and 175-177.  Each of the sources are numbered within the chapter.  Read sources #2, 3, 7, 10, 15, 18-22.

Optional: You can view the first 30 minutes of this movie to learn more about Irish immigration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybntHGbrPAs

Begin assignment in Classic Slave Narratives (see next week) and/or get a start on watching the film.  Larger assignment coming up next week!

 

Week 11:

Tuesday,
April 1

Topics Covered

 NO Inquisitive this week.

Readings for Discussion and Discussion Quiz #11-- Final Deadline = next Tuesday at NOON.
 

Slavery

 

No Inquisitive this week.  Use the time to make up a missed chapter!  You can use a free ticket.

 

1.  "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" in Classic Slave Narratives.  You should read the entire narrative.  This book is for sale in the bookstore.  You may also use these links for reading it on-line: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11030

2.  Watch "12 Years a Slave;" may be able to watch here for free:
(Rent it via all of the major streaming sites.  You also may be able to request a copy from your local public library.) click here for a list of characters and a summary.

Week 12:

Tuesday,
April 8

Topics Covered

 NO Inquisitive this week. 

Readings for Discussion and Discussion Quiz #12-- Final Deadline = next Tuesday at NOON.
 

19th Century Religion and Reform
 

 Optional: You can go back and review These Truths Chapter 10 to refresh your memory about reform movements.  Also a good time to use a free ticket to make up a missed Inquisitive or increase your score. *Each student must read all of the assigned items: #1-7. 

1. What prompted this wave of reform: DAP, Chapter 8. italSource ebook located at D2L Materials --> Content. Read pp. 210 (starting with "The rise of..") - middle of p. 213.

2.  Women's Rights
DAP, Chapter 8.  Choose ONE text source from the "Evidence" section of the Chapter (see pp. 215-227).  VitalSource ebook located at D2L Materials --> Content.

3.  The Second Great Awakening:
“The Meeting Continued All Night, Both by the White & Black People”: Georgia Camp Meeting, 1807

4.  The Shakers
“All To Me Was New and Strange”: Mary Doolittle Leaves Her Family for a Shaker Community, 1830

5.  Brook Farm
“I Believe in the Divinity of Labor”: George Ripley Tries to Convince Ralph Waldo Emerson to Join Brook Farm, Boston, 1840

The remaining items are located in D2L Materials --> Content under "Age of Reform materials"  Read
6a.  Moral Reform. 
6b.  Moral Reform. 
Introduction plus ONE primary source document of your choice. 

7a.  Dress Reform.
Introduction
7b.  Dress Reform.
Document 2, Catharine Beecher.


Week 13: 

Tuesday,
April 15

Topics Covered

 Reading for Inquisitive #11.  Due next Monday, 4/21 at NOON.

Inquisitives are located in Materials > Content>Inquisitive. on D2L.

Readings for Discussion and Discussion Quiz #13-- Final Deadline = next Tuesday at NOON.
 

The Conflict Over Slavery

 

 These Truths Chapter 11.

 		Click here for the reading assignment.

Note that there is an extra credit assignment due Friday 5/16 during Finals week. (Reading the Douglass narrative and writing a short reaction paper.)  While this is not due until the end of the course, it connects to the topics we're reading this week, so you might want to get a start on it!

Week 14:

Tuesday,
April 22

Topics Covered

 Reading for Inquisitive #12.  Due next Monday, 4/28 at NOON.

 Inquisitives are located in Materials > Content>Inquisitive. on D2L.

Readings for Discussion and Discussion Quiz #14-- Final Deadline = next Tuesday at NOON.
 

The Civil War: Military Aspects

 

 These Truths Chapter 12.

 		Click here for the reading assignment.

Week 15: 

Tuesday, April 29

Topics Covered

 Reading for Inquisitive 13.  Due next Monday 5/5 at NOON.

Inquisitives are located in Materials > Content>Inquisitive. on D2L.

Readings for Discussion and Discussion Quiz #15-- Final Deadline = Tuesday, 5/6 at NOON.
  1.  The Civil War on the Home Front


2.  Reconstruction



 

 These Truths Chapter 13 .

1.  “If It Were Not For My Trust in Christ I Do Not Know How I Could Have Endured It”: Testimony from Victims of New York’s Draft Riots, July, 1863

2.  “A Jubilee of Freedom”: Freed Slaves March in Charleston, South Carolina, March, 1865

3. "No More Pint o' Salt for Me: The Port Royal Experiment" *This is an article that is located on D2L (Materials --> Content).  The PDF of this article was large enough to require two separate documents, so be sure to open and print BOTH Parts ONE AND TWO.  Everyone read: pp. 237-246; 271-274.  The primary sources in this chapter are divided as follows:

Last names A-C: Sources 1-3 (education)
Last names D-G: Sources 4-8 (work and land)
Last names H-L: Sources 9-13 (work and land)
Last names M -P: Sources 14-17 (work and land)
Last names Q-R: Sources 18-25 (military service)
Last names S-Z: Sources 26-28 (attitudes)
 

4.  The Mississippi Black Codes of 1865.  What kinds of laws did Mississippi pass to control the lives of freed people?

Week 16 /Finals Week.  5/6 to 5/13

No quizzes this week, although you may use a free ticket to make up missed quiz or to complete an Inquisitive.  (Tickets cannot be use for retakes.)  You can also complete the Frederick Douglass extra credit assignment, due Friday 5/16.  There is one more required discussion post in the "Final Reflection" forum due Tues. 5/13 -- there is no official final exam in this class.  More details will be posted on D2L.