Course Syllabus

SYLLABUS:  August 24 - December 9 2015

 

COURSE:  HIST 316-11SS

African American History to 1877

 

SEMESTER:  Fall 2015

“The Negro race, like all races, is going to be saved by its exceptional men.  The problem of education, then, among

Negroes must first of all deal with the Talented Tenth; it is the problem of developing the Best of this race that

they may guide the Mass away from the contamination and death of the Worst, in their own and other races”.

• W. E. B. DuBois, “The Talented Tenth” from The Negro Problem:  A Series of Articles

 

by Representative Negroes of To-day (New York, 1903).

Class:  Monday and Wednesday:  9:30 AM - 10:45 AM

Where: Mandeville Hall - Room #308

 

Professor: Darnell A. Morehand-Olufade

Office:  Bryant Hall, Conference Room - 271 Park Avenue

Phone:  203.529.3121 or 623.760.3074 (Cell)

Emails: dmorehan@bridgeport.edu or darnellsun@aol.com

Office Hours:  By appointment only

1. REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:

 

From Slavery to Freedom:  A History of African Americans, Ninth Edition, by

John Hope Franklin and Evelyn Brooks-Higginbotham, New York:  McGraw Hill

Companies, Inc., 2011.  You can purchase the textbook at the UB campus store

and online.

2. COURSE DESCRIPTION:

 

The HIST 316-11SS course is a survey of Black history to the end of the Reconstruction era (1877).  It provides a history of the Africans who were brought to the United States during the period of early European settlement through the Civil War.  We will focus on the development of the 13 colonies, the trans-Atlantic slave trade (also known as the triangular slave trade), the differences of the colonial slave practices between the north and the south, slave revolts, the role of Africans in America during the French and Indian War, American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War as Black Union and Confederate soldiers.

 

The course will emphasize the important influence of Caribbean slavery, the impact of the Haitian Revolution (1791) on the transatlantic slave trade, and the development of the domestic slave trade in the United States after 1807.  We will discuss the interrelationships between Africans and Native Americans that formed the distinct and historically ignored group known as Black Indians, who were slaves/Freedmen of the Five Civilized Native American tribes (Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole) before, during and after the Civil War, respectively.  Since we live within a ‘global society’, we shall explore the international aspects of Black History starting on the continent of Africa, into the Caribbean, South and Central Americas, throughout the United States.

 

3. COURSE OBJECTIVES:

 

• Acquire basic knowledge of Black History to 1877 in the United States and internationally.
• Understand the unique qualities of Black culture in the United States and how it developed during and after 200 plus years of legalized slavery.
• Respect and recognize the contributions of Blacks pertaining to the acquisition of American wealth because of Black ‘free labor’ that literally built America.
• Acknowledge the significant social challenges of ‘Negro slavery’ and its legacy, and what attempts were made to address such issues.
• Develop and utilize your critical thinking skills as you study the varied interpretations of Black historical events in the United States.

4. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

 

A TAKE HOME TEST, A FINAL TEST SEVEN PAGE WRITTEN RESEARCH

PAPER, TEAM PRESENTATIONS, CLASS PARTICIPATION AND

ATTENDANCE

 

1. One ‘Take Home Test’ consisting of autobiographical and biographical

identifications, multiple-choice, true and false and essay questions.  Student who

do not take this test must take a makeup test on Monday, November 23,

2015.  The Take Home Test will contain questions drawn from the Chapter

Readings one through six (1 thru 6), and handed out in class on Wednesday,

September 30 AND MUST BE RETURNED ON Wednesday, October 7, 2015.

The ‘Take Home Test’ is worth 200 points = 20% of your class grade.

 

THERE ARE NO POP QUIZZES!!!

Booker T. Washington

1856-1915 - Founder of Tuskegee

Normal School, Tuskegee, Alabama - 1881

1. THE FINAL TEST IS A ‘WRITTEN’ HISTORICAL RESEARCH PAPER

ABOUT A SPECIFIC EACH STUDENT WILL CHOOSE FROM THE

TEXTBOOK.  EACH STUDENT WILL ALSO GIVE A FIVE (5) MINUTES

ORAL PRESENTATION OF THEIR WRITTEN PAPER TO THE CLASS

*CHECK THE ‘COURSE OUTLINE’ AND TAKE NOTE OF THE DATES

OF THE ORAL PRESENTATIONS OF YOUR FINAL TEST PAPERS.

Each student will write and submit a ‘seven page’. double spaced, size

12 Font, 1 inch margins, Historical Research Paper on any topic

chosen within the textbook Chapters 1 thru 13.  Make sure to insert

page numbers in the body your research paper, on the Cover Page type

the name of the Course, the Professor’s name, and ‘Title’ of your paper.

It is important you stick to the seven page (7) limit.  Use MLA Format to

cite “Quotes” in the body of your paper.  You must have at least three(3)

citations within the body of your written paper and type the sources of

the citations as ENDNOTES on a separate Works Cited page.  **A

STUDENT WILL LOSE 100 POINTS IF HE/SHE DECIDES NOT TO DO

THE FIVE MINUTES PRESENTATION OF THEIR FINAL TEST

WRITTEN HISTORICAL RESEARCH PAPER**.  The Final Test Written

Historical Research Paper will be worth 300 Points = 30% of your

class grade.

 

General Writing Guidelines:

 

Critique the paper you wrote, for example, did you state the following:

Who, When, Where, What, Why and How?

A well-written paper has the following:

1. An Introduction
2. Historical Background
3. The body of the paper includes primary and secondary sources to

support the facts stated

1. A Conclusion

 

Your written paper can be either:  Argumentative, Logistical, Rhetorical, Factual,

Hyperbole or a combination of two or three.  make sure you state the main

Thesis of your paper in the first or second paragraph of your paper.

 

PLAGIARISM

 

What is plagiarism?  It is the use of any material written by someone else other

than the student and not documented.  Academic honesty and integrity will not

allow anyone, student or instructor to ‘knowingly’ represent the words or ideas of

others as their own when writing and/or publishing research papers, etc.  **IF YOU

USE “QUOTES(S)” FROM RESEARCH MATERIALS YOU HAVE TO ‘CITE’ THE “QUOTE(S)” AS

‘ENDNOTES’ AT THE END OF THE HISTORICAL RESEARCH PAPER ON A SEPARATE WORKS

CITED PAGE.  **We will discuss the matter further in class**

**PLEASE NOTE:  The following Final Test Written Historical Research Paper

submission procedures:  Each student must submit a rough Draft to the

Academic Resource Center (ARC) or upload it to etutoring.org in order to

improve your written historical research paper.  The rough draft of your

written historical research paper MUST be signed by an ARC staff

member AND SUBMITTED BY HAND WITH YOUR FINAL TEST HARD

COPY ON THE DATE YOU CHOOSE TO DO YOUR ORAL PRESENTATION.

I WILL NOT ACCEPT FINAL TEST WRITTEN HISTORICAL RESEARCH

PAPERS WITHOUT AN ARC STAFF SIGNATURE OR THE ‘ETUTORING’

PRINTOUT.   DO NOT SUBMIT TO ME BY EMAIL THE HARD COPY OF

YOUR WRITTEN HISTORICAL RESEARCH PAPER!  To all thoughtful

students, plan ahead for this process by researching and preparing a draft copy

of your written historical research papers by late October to the first week in

November so the assessment and revision are completed with the ARC before

the final test deadline(s).  The Academic Resource Center phone number

is 203.576.4290.

1. TEAM PRESENTATIONS:

 

Each student will choose a classmate OR classmates to do a ten (10) minutes

presentation on a topic(s) of interest that pertains to the Chapter for the week

assigned by the professor.  You can create a PowerPoint with pictures, graphs,

cartoons, do a skit, create a video, etc.  The Team Presentation is worth 200

points = 20% of your class grade.

 

1. CLASS PARTICIPATION:

 

You are encouraged to read the weekly assigned Chapter(s) and be prepared to

contribute to class discussions about the historical facts, events and people that

are featured in the textbook.  For those who are uncomfortable about discussing

certain issues in class, please do not hesitate to give me your questions or

discussion points in writing before the start of each class.  Class participation

is worth 100 points = 10% of your class grade.

1. ATTENDANCE:

 

Class attendance will count significantly towards your Final Grade.  Roll will

be recorded electronically by the professor, and/or sign-in sheet at the

beginning of each class.  *After the first week of class being late two (2) times

will be considered as an absences.  Two unexcused absences within the 16

weeks of the fall 2015 semester will reduce a student’s grade by one full letter.

Three unexcused absences will reduce a student’s grade by another full letter.

Absences can only be excused in writing.  Student athletes who have to

participate in varsity activities that conflict with the class schedule MUST notify

the professor in advance.  Attendance is worth 200 points = 20% of your

class grade.

5. GRADING:

 

The class grading system for the course is based on the following final points and

percentages:  (The total number of points for the course is 1,000)

 

Grade Breakdown Percent Points

Take Home Test 20% 200

Team Presentation 20% 200

Final Test Written Paper 30% 300

Class Participation 10% 100

Attendance 20% 200

TOTALS 100% 1,000 Points

 

Grading Scale:

90 - 100 A (900 points)

80 - 89 B (800 points)

70 - 79 C (700 points)

60 - 69 D (600 points)

Below 60 F

**SPEAK TO THE PROFESSOR ABOUT AN ‘EXTRA CREDIT’ ASSIGNMENT

6. ELECTRONIC DEVICES:

 

Cellphone/smartphone/pager, etc. are allowed in class, please place on “silent/vibrate’ mode DURING CLASS, and DO NOT USE IT DURING CLASS!

PLEASE STEP OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM IF YOU MUST ANSWER A CALL

OR TEXT MESSAGE.   Also, wait until after class to answer all incoming calls or text

messages, unless there is an immediate life-or-death emergency you have to attend to.

You can use your notebook, iPad or laptop during class for NOTE TAKING AND VIEWING THE ELECTRONIC DICTIONARY.  **SURFING THE WEB DURING CLASS

IS NOT PERMITTED!!!

 

7. SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS:

 

In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the American Disabilities

Act and Connecticut State Laws, the University of Bridgeport is committed to providing

reasonable accommodation services to qualified students with disabilities. All accommodations are determined on an individual basis, and if a student would like to be considered for accommodations please do the following:  Prior to or at the beginning of the academic semester call ‘Counseling Services’ for further information at

203.576.4454 or email: counselingservices@bridgeport.edu

 

8. FOOD OR DRINK, VISITORS, FRIENDS OR CHILDREN ARE NOT

PERMITTED IN CLASS .  THANK YOU.

 

9. **THE TAPING OF CLASS LECTURES IS NOT ALLOWED**

 

10. ACADEMIC HONESTY STANDARDS:

 

The students of the University of Bridgeport are considered adults and expected to conform to a high standard of personal conduct.

 

The University Senate passed a proposal mandating the following statement be included in every full time and part time professor’s syllabi at the University of Bridgeport.

 

“It is the student’s responsibility to familiarize himself or herself with and adhere to the standards set forth in the policies on cheating and plagiarism as defined in Chapters 2 and 5 of the Key to UB  http://www.bridgeport.edu/pages/2623.asp  or the appropriate graduate program handbook”.

COURSE OUTLINE AND CHAPTER READINGS/ASSIGNMENTS

 

PLEASE NOTE:  The dates within the Chapter readings of the Course Outline and be prepared for class discussions, Take Home & Final Tests, Team Presentations, viewing DVD/Videos, etc.

Aug. 24 INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE Review of Syllabus

Aug. 26 Chapter #1 - Ancestral Africa African Empires,

Kingdoms & Cultures

 

Aug. 31 Chapter #2 - Africans in the Atlantic World African Explorers,Slaves

and Servants

 

Sep. 2 Chapter #2 - CONTINUED The Middle Passage

**NO CLASS - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 2015 - LABOR DAY**

Sep. 9 Chapter #3 - Establishing North The Spanish, Dutch and

American Slavery English Slave Traders

 

Sep. 14 Chapter #3 - CONTINUED DVD Africans in America

Sep. 16 Chapter #4 - 18th Century Slave Societies Slavery North & South

Sep. 21 Chapter #5 - Give Me Liberty American Independence

Sep. 23 Chapter #5 - CONTINUED **TEAM #1 Presentation

Movement to free the

slaves

Sep. 28 Chapter #6 - Building Communities in the The War of 1812

Early Republic

Sep. 30 Chapter #6 - CONTINUED Black Colonization

*Handout Take Home

Test - Chapters 1-6

RETURN OCT. 7*

Oct. 5 Chapter #7 - Southern Slavery DVD Slave Rebellions

Oct. 7 Chapter #8 - Antebellum Free Blacks A Culture of Racism &

Black Education

Oct. 12 Chapter #9 - Abolition in Black Black Abolitionists &

and White Pro-Slavery Backlash

Oct. 14 Chapter #9 - CONTINUED **TEAM #2 Presentation

Underground Railroad

Oct. 19 Chapter #10 - Civil War Inconsistent Federal

Policies & Emancipation

Proclamation 1863

Oct. 21 Chapter #10 - CONTINUED Video: Glory (1989)Part 1

Oct. 26 Chapter #11 - Promises & Pitfalls Radical Reconstruction

Amendments 13,14 & 15

Oct. 28 Chapter #11 - CONTINUED **TEAM #3 Presentation

Klu Klux Klan -1868

 

Nov. 2 Chapter #11 - CONTINUED Sharecropping & The

Freedmen’s Bank

Nov. 4 Chapter #12 - The Color Line Legalizing Segregation

Plessy vs Ferguson

Nov. 9 Chapter #12 - CONTINUED America’s Empire of

Color & Violence

Nov. 11 Chapter #13 - The Era of Self-Help Philanthropy

Nov. 16 Chapter #13 - CONTINUED Economic & Social

Striving

Nov. 18 Chapter #13 - CONTINUED Intellectual & Cultural

Endeavors

 

Nov. 23 **IN CLASS MAKE UP TEST** IF YOU DID NOT TURN IN THE

‘TAKE HOME TEST’

 

***THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY - NO CLASSES NOVEMBER 25 THRU 29, 2015

 

Nov. 30 HAND IN FINAL TEST WRITTEN PAPERS & ORAL PRESENTATIONS

 

Dec. 2 HAND IN FINAL TEST WRITTEN PAPERS & ORAL PRESENTATIONS

 

Dec. 7 HAND IN FINAL TEST WRITTEN PAPERS & ORAL PRESENTATIONS

 

Dec. 9 HAND IN FINAL TEST WRITTEN PAPERS & ORAL PRESENTATIONS

11. FINAL NOTE:  Please do not hesitate to ASK FOR HELP immediately by contacting the professor if you have any problems with the course requirements, do not understand something or need academic assistance.  If you have a question don’t wait, ask it during or after class.