HIST 250 - United States History to 1865

3 Credit: (3 lecture, 0 lab, 0 clinical) 3 Contact Hours: [Reading Level 3 ]

This introductory survey course explores our history from Pre-Colombian times to the Civil War. We search for a narrative that helps us understand ourselves as a people and a nation in progress. Emphasis is placed on the social, economic, and political forces that have shaped the local and national communities through the colonial and revolutionary periods, as well as the growth and conflict, with emphasis on the national and sectional tensions of the 19^thCentury. The contributions of native, ethnic & marginalized peoples are emphasized. This course relies on lecture, video material, student groupwork and individual study and research.
OFFERED: fall semesters

Course Goals/ Objectives/ Competencies:
Goal 1: Demonstrate a working knowledge of the significant events, personalities, issues, conflicts and interpretations of our history from Pre-Columbian times to the Civil War that will contribute to an understanding of ourselves as a people and a nation in progress.

Identify key indigenous cultures and their interactions with Europeans.
Examine the forces behind European discovery, exploration & conquest of the Western Hemisphere-especially North America.
Apprise colonial economic, political, social and philosophical developments.
Assess revolutionary forces and the establishment of America’s independence and early government(s).
Examine the growth, expansion, conflict, conquest, diplomacy characteristic of the 19^th century.
Identify and evaluate the forces of nationalism and sectionalism and how they contribute to complexity of the Civil War.
Assess the interactions of indigenous, African, and Euro-American cultures for both contributions and conflicts.

Goal 2: Demonstrate critical thinking skills.

Concatenate the various developments in early American history and evaluate how they contribute to who we are today.
Manifest comprehension of key aspects of early American History on quizzes, tests, and exams.

Goal 3: Demonstrate written communication skills.

Write a logical, coherent, critical essay or paper.
Take and use class notes and outlines.

Goal 4: Demonstrate oral communication skills.

Exchange viewpoints in a small group setting and arrive at consensus in response to critical thinking questions and problems.
Present material to the class in a clear, coherent, useful, and meaningful manner.

Goal 5: Demonstrate the interpersonal, organizational, and time management skills needed in the workplace.

Employ effective written and oral communication in group settings to organize information, concatenate different perspectives, compromise, and arrive at a working consensus.
Meet deadlines.