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American History I
United States history from colonial period through
Civil War. Topics include process and problems of colonization,
factors promoting independence, difficulties encountered in developing
workable political structure, process of democratization, socio-economic
change, territorial expansion and rivalries leading to Civil War.
Special attention paid to modern legacy from America’s past.
Prerequisites: E, R
Shaping America
U.S. History to 1877
Produced by Dallas Telecourses
Explores the beginnings of American history, from
early European settlement through the resolution of the Civil
War. Video content features over sixty nationally known historians,
chosen for their individual expertise, diverse backgrounds and
viewpoints of early American history.
Textbook: Roark's American Promise Vol. 1, 3rd edition
ISBN: 0312406886
Pub Date: Oct., 2004
Copyright: 2005
Telecourse Guide: 2nd edtion
ISBN: 0312417357
Pubdate: 12/17/04
Copyright: 2005
Twenty-six Lessons
101) A World apart
(formerly America Before 1492: A World Apart)
By describing Native American cultures in various regions of what
eventually became the United States, this program explores how
indigenous peoples shaped their societies and what we can learn
from enhancing our understanding of them.
102) Worlds Transformed
(formerly The Columbian Exchange: Worlds Transformed)
Through the eyes of native peoples and conquistadors, this program
explores the collision of cultures emanating from the voyages
of Columbus and other Europeans. It also describes Spanish colonization
in the Santa Fe area and assesses the lasting impact of the Columbian
exchange on the world.
103) Settling in the Southern Colonies
(formerly British America: Settling in the Southern Colonies)
Failing at Roanoke, the British established permanent colonies
at Jamestown and later in the Charleston area. This lesson examines
how the emergence of staple crops, forced labor, and a racial
hierarchy shaped the society, economy and the politics of the
region in the 17th century.
104) Settling in New England
(formerly British America: Settling in New England)
Religious motivations inspired British settlers at Plymouth and
Massachusetts Bay. This program describes the challenges facing
pilgrims, puritans, and native peoples in the region, and assesses
the enduring effects of Puritanism in America.
105) Diversifying British America
(formerly Diversifying America: Life in a New Century)
Ethnic and religious diversity in America took on even broader
dimensions in the middle colonies. By examining the maturation
of the northern colonies, this program analyzes the effects of
diversity and growth on the shaping of America.
106) A Distinctive Society
(formerly A Distinctive Society: Slavery and Identity)
While northern colonies became more diverse in the early 18th
century, the distinctive nature of a slave society began to characterize
the southern colonies. This program examines the slave trade,
the conditions of slave labor, the emergence of an African American
culture and the effects of slavery on southern society. In addition,
it considers to what extent an "American" identity had
emerged by 1760.
107) Making a Revolution
Between 1754 and 1774, a series of events, decisions and choices
moved the colonies toward a revolution. By considering the ingredients
necessary to make a revolution and how the American experience
fits into this framework, this program examines how and why the
Americans were near the breaking point by the mid-1770s.
108) Declaring Independence
More than a year after the military engagement began at Lexington
and Concord, American political leaders formalized the revolution
against British authority. By analyzing the purpose and meaning
of the Declaration of Independence, this program considers why
this document comes to be revered as the seminal statement of
American ideals.
109) Winning Independence
Declaring independence was one thing; actually winning it was
another. This program examines the military aspects of the American
Revolution, how the war affected the American people, why the
Americans won, and the enduring effects of that victory.
110) Inventing a Nation
Having won independence, the American people now grappled with
the process of nation building. Among the challenges facing that
generation was the persistent issue of distributing political
power among individuals, states and the national government. This
program explores how and why they adopted the Constitution, which
still provides the legal framework for the nation.
111) Searching for Stability
The state of the nation in 1789 begged for signs of stability.
We examine how the political leadership of George Washington and
the economic plan of Alexander Hamilton shaped the United States
in the 1790s— and for generations afterwards.
112) A Peaceful Transfer of Power
While Washington and Hamilton had laid foundations of stability,
internal and external conflicts continued to disrupt the nation.
This program analyzes how, out of this turmoil, important precedents
became established, including the acceptance by the revolutionary
generation of a peaceful transfer of power.
113) Jefferson's Vision of America
Thomas Jefferson's inauguration as president in 1801 represented
a significant transfer of power as well as vision about the future
of America. As Jefferson and the nation increasingly looked westward,
this program explores what this meant in terms of territorial
expansion, relations with American Indians and the emerging conflicts
between nationalism and sectionalism.
114) The Market Revolution
Both Hamilton's and Jefferson's visions of America began to take
shape in the north and west during the 1820s and 1830s. This program
examines how a market revolution, spurred on by new developments
in transportation, manufacturing, and farming, set in motion changes
which would affect the American people for generations to come.
115) A White Man's Democracy
Andrew Jackson, the first president from west of the Appalachian
Mountains, mirrored the changing American society and became a
symbol of the times. This program analyzes the emergence of Jackson,
his decisions regarding nullification, the national bank, and
Indian removal and the limits of democracy during that era.
116) The Slave South
While the north continued to diversify, the spread of slave system
marked the south's expansion westward. This program examines the
changing nature of slavery, its effects on blacks and whites,
how slaves coped, and how the institution of slavery challenged
the future of the nation.
117) Perfecting America
The idea was not new, but during the 1830s and 1840s a surge in
religious enthusiasm compelled reformers to try to perfect America.
By examining religious and social reform movements, including
abolition and women's rights, we assess the effects of these developments
on the shaping of America.
118) Moving Westward
(formerly Moving Westward: The U.S. - Mexican War)
By the 1840s, the westward movement of the American people had
brought them once again into territory claimed by other people
and other nations. This program analyzes the "Manifest Destiny"
of the United States, as the nation annexes Texas, acquires the
Oregon territory and forces Mexico to cede California and the
southwest as a result of war.
119) Crisis and Compromise
Perceptive observers were wary of the state of the union after
the war with Mexico. What John C. Calhoun called "forbidden
fruit" was referred to as "poison" by essayist
Ralph Waldo Emerson. This program examines the issues provoking
a national crisis, the process of dealing with the crisis, and
the meaning of the compromise reached in 1850.
120) Irrepressible Conflicts
The persistence of slavery dashed any hopes that the Compromise
of 1850 might settle sectional differences between the north and
south. As the abolitionists and the slave catchers dramatized
the moral issue involved, this program analyzes how the Fugitive
Slave Act, the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dred Scott decision
led to irrepressible conflicts.
121) The Union Collapses
Even though the Supreme Court ruled that slaves were property
and could be taken anywhere, those opposed to this view continued
to press their case. In this program we examine the emergence
of Abraham Lincoln; the raid on Harper's Ferry, the election of
1860 and the decision for secession. Was the Civil War inevitable?
122) And the War Came
When Confederate troops made war by firing upon Fort Sumter, the
very survival of the United States was at stake. We examine why
each side was fighting and assess their relative strengths and
weaknesses. This program describes the major military developments
in 1861-62 and analyzes what this indicated about the nature of
the conflict.
123) Home Fronts
By 1862, it was clear that the effects of Civil War reached far
beyond the battlefields. Using the Shenandoah Valley as a setting,
this program describes what life was like on the northern and
southern home fronts. It also analyzes how Lincoln's issuance
of the Emancipation Proclamation changed the nature of the war.
124) Union Preserved, Freedom Secured
Beginning with the battles of Vicksburg and Gettysburg, this program
describes and analyzes the major military operations of the final
two years of the Civil War. It assesses the reasons for the Union's
victory, the place of Abraham Lincoln in U.S. history, and how
the Civil War shaped America.
125) Reconstructing the Nation
When the Civil War ended, there was hope that this "second
American Revolution" would provide a new birth of freedom
for the American people. As we assess the successes and failures
of Reconstruction, this program considers why the Reconstruction
era ended with a revolution only half-accomplished.
126) Looking Backward, Looking Forward
(formerly 1876: The Shape of America)
Using the U.S. Centennial as an occasion for reflection, this
program assesses the state of the nation in 1876 and discusses
the themes that we have tracked throughout this course: freedom
and equality, race and identity, gender and ethnicity. Finally,
our distinguished experts share with us what they believe we should
learn from our study of American history.
This page was last modified :
August 17, 2007
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