HI 215 History of American Thought

Journal Prompt #9 – due Wed 5/7 For your final journal entry, consider what you’ve learned in this class and also *how* you’ve learned in this class. Look back over the syllabus. How has your understanding of American intellectual traditions and core national concepts grown over this semester? What readings did you feel you learned from the most, and the least? Which unit(s), projects, or conversations most engaged your interest? I’d also be curious to know what you wanted to learn but didn’t – what didn’t we cover, or get to, that you hope to explore further once this class is over? What advice would you have for students taking this class in the future?

Our last three class sessions will be conversation panels based on your research and “big idea” papers. These are something between presentations and discussions… each person will have the chance to talk in which you need to BRIEFLY convey the main points or innovative structure of your paper. Make sure your audience (who of course have not read your paper) clearly understands what your “big idea” was and how you connected your 4 thinkers. Do not just read from your paper, and do not prepare any slides or other visuals.

I have divided our class papers into themed panel sessions (similar to an academic conference). Each panel will have 30 minutes, and will feature 4-5 students. This means you have about 6-7 minutes MAX for each person, but I would recommend planning on more like 2-3 minutes, with time for discussion among the panel to tie the big ideas together. Since there is no final exam, this represents our opportunity to synthesize and tie up the themes of the course as a group. I am very proud of the work you have done as a seminar together and hope this feels like an appropriate crowning event of all your hard work.

The order listed here is simply alphabetical within each session – this may not be the exact order you’ll speak in

Tuesday April 29: Rights of Man (and Woman)

Session 1 10:05 – 10:35
Inalienable American Rights
T. Egginson “The Evolution of Freedom of Speech: The Question of Unpopular Ideas”
E. Fee “Innate Equality”
M. Froio “The Role of Government and the Natural Rights of People”
J. Troccolo “The Impact of Immigration Throughout the Years”

Break 10:35 – 10:45

Session 2 10:45 – 11:15
Women’s Rights
M. Balich “Women’s Rights”
E. Boutilette “Women’s Rights: What Women Thought Needed to be Done”
K. Bunker “The Dynamic Nature of the Gender Equality Movement”
J. Paradis “Anti-Feminism and its Hindrance on Women’s Suffrage”
K. Paré “Role of Women in America: Injustices in Treatment as Seen by Four Women”

Thursday May 1: Liberty and Justice for All

Session 1 10:05 – 10:35
Grassroots Movements, Civil Rights and Social Change
J. Hardy-Lavoie “American Socialism”
J. Kelley “The Evolution of African American Civil Rights”
A. Morrissey “Inequality in Three Forms”
R. Shea “Impact of Leadership”

Break 10:35 – 10:45

Session 2 10:45 – 11:15
Racial Equality
S. Perreault “How Racial Equality Has Changed in the United States”
R. Reynolds “Racial Equality Through Eight Eyes”
R. McWeeney “Racism and Equality in the United States”
T. Schroeder “The Struggle for Racial Equality”

Tuesday May 6: War and Peace

Session 1 10:05 – 10:35
Conflict and Balance
O. Hammerle “The Trouble with Hydrovite or Liberty’s Balancing Act: Individualism versus Collectivism on the Moon”
R. Kelley “‘Striking at the Root’: American Philanthropy and Altruism as a Means for Personal Growth”
B. Klaes “War and Diplomacy: Views of Four American Presidents”
A. Rezk “Church State Separation”

Break 10:35 – 10:45

Session 2 10:45 – 11:15
Peace Out (Transcendentalism and Nature)
T. Kanan “Transcendentalism: A Comparative Perspective”
L. Moon “Individual Freedom and Spirituality”
W. Whearty “Transcendentalism Throughout Time”
C. Wilson “Naturalism in American Literature”

For the first week of February, we continue our unit “A New Nation, Conceived in Liberty” with a look at “Founding Mothers” and at the creation of a (gendered?) public sphere.

Tues 2/4 Founding Mothers. Reading: The Judith Sargent Murray book, pages 1-60 and 133-139 (bring the book to class) and also Linda Kerber, “The Republican Mother” (PDF)

Thursday 2/6: Special Meeting Place = LRC 319B, the classroom inside the UTS Computer Cluster – not in our regular classoom! We will have a library instruction session with the History liaison reference librarian, Raven Fonfa, in preparation for your speech and research papers. Bring your laptops, please. Even though we’re not having a conventional discussion day, there *is* an assigned reading for Thursday, a fascinating article by Donald M. Scott, called “The Popular Lecture” (PDF). Scott describes the age of public oratory and the lyceum movement in the early national period – part of the scene that would make Edward Everett such a superstar in the next generation.  Also: Thursday, you will receive your group assignment for the American Argument / Current Thinkers project.

Journal Prompt #3 – due Thurs 2/6 Use this week’s journal as a way to reflect on the readings in this unit, perhaps especially on Scott’s article since we won’t have a chance to talk it over in class. Or contrast the founding mothers and fathers in the texts we have considered. Or synthesize your understanding at this point in the course of what “American thought” meant to people in the founding generation.

Prepare for Thursday’s discussion with the following readings:

Read the full text of the Gettysburg Address – note there are several versions
Read & prepare to discuss Gary Wills, “The Words that Remade America” from The American Idea: The Best of the Atlantic Monthly (PDF)
Read & prepare to discuss Ted Widmer’s opinion piece for the New York Times, “The Other Gettysburg Address” 19 November 2013 (why that date?)

If interested, take a look at Edward Everett’s speech and explore other related primary source documents in the National Archives

Bonus link: Lincoln was there, and so was at least one camera

Journal Prompt #1 – Your first journal entry is due on Thursday Jan 23, in the “My Learning Journal” section on Blackboard. It should be at least 350 words long and posted by 9:00 am. Journal #1 can comment on/connect any of our first week’s readings. You should also mention which current “American thought” forum(s) you will be following this term – choose from the “Today’s Thinkers” links in the course left sidebar. You may also use this initial journal entry to tell me a little about yourself and why you are interested in this class.

Metaphysical Club – start reading Part One, and you may begin writing in the club journal at any point. Posts/discussion on Part One should be complete by Thursday, Feb 6th. Remember, participation in the Metaphysical Club book discussion group is required if you are taking the class for Honors, and open to anyone else in the class for extra credit.