History means different things to different people, but many have been taught to think of history as only being about the "particulars." These particulars are the names, dates, etc. that were supposed to be committed to memory. The weakness of this approach is that one is called upon to recite/recall these particulars in a very exact fashion leaving little room for error; meanwhile the strength of this approach is that one knows exactly what to recite/recall. The problem is that if history remains stuck at this stage, greater meaning and understanding of history's significance eludes us. Using Benjamin Franklin's categorization, history remains merely "ornamental" and we never ascertain how it might become "useful."
By establishing the learning of "particulars" as this course's secondary goal while establishing the primary goal as going beyond the facts to elicit meaning and significance, the risk is incurred that one might conclude that the "particulars" are not important. That is a mistaken conclusion: without the particulars there is no meaning or significance. One must have a firm grasp of the particulars before embarking on the next stage of eliciting meaning and significance. Therefore below you have a link that serves as an overview/review of the particulars of this course.
U.S. History
l. Exploration and Colonization (1450-1763)
A. The opening of new worlds was associated with the "Age of Discovery."
1. European explorers in search of Asia discovered a new continent.
2. The "Age of Discovery" resulted in renewed European rivalry.
3. Spain, France, England, Portugal, and the Netherlands competed for land.
B. England developed permanent colonies in North America.
1. Geographic diversity helped to create distinct economic regions.
a. The New England colonies were associated with shipbuilding and commerce. b. The middle colonies were associated with farming and commerce.
c. The southern colonies were associated with tobacco, cotton, and slavery.
2. The English colonies began to develop self-government.
a. The Mayflower Compact (1620) was the basis for government by the consent of the governed.
b. The House of Burgesses (1619) was an early colonial attempt at representative self-government.
c. The colonists demanded their rights as Englishmen.
3. The population of the colonies steadily increased.
a. Large families of 10 or more were common.
b. Steady immigration from abroad increased the overall population.
c. Europeans and Africans were the major population groups.
4. The idea of free public education started in the colonies.
5. Class distinctions were less rigid than in England, and a strong middle class emerged.
6. The most prevalent religion in the colonies was Protestant.
a. A single, established church was not practical in America.
b. The decline of Puritanism led to greater religious tolerance.
II. The Formation of the New Nation (1763-89)
A. The French and Indian War (1756-63) was a key turning point in England's domination over North America.
1. The English victory ended the French threat in America.
2. The English victory encouraged colonial America to seek a more active voice in its own affairs.
B. Background to the American Revolution (1763-76).
1. The English mercantile policy discouraged colonial economic independence.
2. Colonial concepts of political and economic freedom were key factors leading to the American Revolution.
3. Colonial opposition to British actions steadily increased during this period.
4. The colonies used a variety of methods to change British actions; petitions, boycotts, and other measures were used. 5. The Declaration of Independence stated the purposes for the colonies' break with England.
C. The American Revolution (1776-81) was fought to obtain independence.
1. Problems of military effectiveness hindered the early colonial effort.
a. Colonial armies were under-equipped.
b. There was widespread opposition to fixed military terms.
2. Washington's leadership turned the tide of battle.
a. The French alliance (1778) brought needed men, equipment, and money to the American cause.
b. The defeat of Cornwallis at Yorktown (1781) brought victory to the colonies.
D. The Articles of Confederation (1781-89) proved inadequate as a central government.
1. The Articles held the nation together during the critical period. 2. The Articles were limited by major weaknesses.
a. The national government did not have the power to regulate foreign trade.
b. The national government did not have a court system.
c. The national government did not have an independent taxing power.
E. The need for a strong central government led to the framing of the Constitution (1789).
F. The government under the Constitution solved many major problems.
1. A federal system was created that divided federal and state power.
2. Separation of powers and checks and balances were included to limit the power of the central government.
a. The legislative, executive, and judicial branches were established to divide the power of the new government.
b. The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution to protect the rights of the people.
III. The New Nation (1787-1823)
A. The early national period tested the new federal government.
1. Hamilton's financial plan placed the national government on a sound financial basis.
a. The national government paid back the state, national, and foreign debts to demonstrate the credibility of the new government.
b. The national government encouraged American business expansion by passing excise taxes and a tariff.
c. The national government raised revenue by initiating a tax on domestic whiskey.
d. The national government authorized the use of coins and paper money to encourage the growth of commerce. e. The national government encouraged the development of a national bank to facilitate the expansion of business.
2. Hamilton's financial plan led to the development of political parties.
a. The Federalist Party believed in the concept of a strong central government ruled by the manufacturing interests of the country. (Hamilton)
b. The Antifederalist Party believed in the concept of limited federal power based on the farming interests of the country. (Jefferson)
c. The Federalist Party favored the rich and the wealthy.
d. The Antifederalists developed a political philosophy that believed in the worth of the individual.
3. Foreign policy during the early national period was weak and ineffectual.
4. The Louisiana Purchase (1803) became the greatest real estate purchase in U.S. history.
B. The War of 1812 (1812-15) was fought between the United States and Great Britain.
1. Among the causes of the War of 1812 were violations of U.S. neutrality and impressment of U.S. sailors.
2. The U.S. victory resulted in national pride, self-sufficiency, and foreign credibility.
C. The new nationalism (1816-23) followed the War of 1812.
1. The scope and authority of the Supreme Court were established during this period.
2. The Era of Good Feelings characterized the political successes of the Republican Party.
3. The Monroe Doctrine defined American interests in the Northern Hemisphere.
4. The new nationalism led to the development of a new American culture.
IV. The Rise of Democracy and the Western Movement
A. Jacksonian democracy (1826-36) symbolized the rise of the "common man:'
1. Jackson's war against the bank and the tariff were key issues for the new Democratic Party.
2. Jackson initiated the spoils system in which political enemies are replaced by political friends.
3. Jackson pursued nationalistic policies.
B. The Whig Party opposed the Democratic Party's belief in states' rights and instead favored a strong national
government.
C. The territorial expansion of the United States reached from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean.
1. The rise of the new West created opportunities in transportation, education, politics, mining, and agriculture.
2. Manifest Destiny encouraged U.S. expansion to the Pacific.
a. Texas was annexed to the United States in 1837.
b. The Oregon Territory was added to the United States in 1846 and encouraged settlement of the Far West.
c. The Mexican War (1848) added California and parts of the Southwest to the United States.
V. The Background of the Civil War and Reconstruction (1800-76)
A. Geographic and economic factors contributed to the growth of slavery.
1. The dependence on slavery and cotton created a unique Southern economy.
2. The development of the "Cotton South" led to sectionalism.
B. The expansion of slavery was a political issue prior to the 1850s.
1. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 limited the spread of slavery.
2. The annexation of Texas (1837) added potential slave territory to the United States.
3. The Mexican War (1848) was criticized as a proslavery, expansionist war.
C. The failure of the politics of compromise led to war.
1. The Compromise of 1850 failed to hold the nation together.
2. In the 1850s, slavery and sectionalism continued to threaten the Union.
3. The failure of the Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) led to bloodshed over the expansion of slavery.
4. The bred Scott decision failed to solve the slavery question.
5. The election in 1860 of Lincoln, a sectional candidate, made secession inevitable.
D. The Civil War threatened the Union (1861-65).
1. The North and South prepared for war.
a. The North had an overall superiority in manpower, firepower, and economic resources.
b. The South had advantages in leadership and territory.
2. The Union strategy of isolating the South proved successful.
a. The Union blockade economically strangled the South.
b. The defeat at Gettysburg (1863) ended the Southern chances for foreign recognition.
c. Economic and military weaknesses led to Lee's surrender at Appomattox (1865).
E. Reconstruction attempts to reunite the nation (1865-66).
1. Following the Civil War, the economic, political, social, and military reconstruction of the South was necessary.
2. The president and Congress differed on how to reconstruct the South.
a. The presidential plan emphasized tolerance for the defeated South.
b. The congressional (Radical) plan emphasized the use of military force in treating the South like a conquered territory.
3. Reconstruction was under Radical control from 1868 to 1876.
a. The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments were passed.
b. Civil rights bills were passed.
c. Military rule supported Radical Reconstruction.
d. President Johnson was impeached for opposing Radical Reconstruction.
4. The disputed election of 1876 ended Radical Reconstruction.
a. Social justice for blacks received a setback.
b. The national commitment to equal opportunity was delayed 100 years.
VI. A New Economy (1876-1910)
A. The industrial development of the United States was encouraged by western expansion.
1. The settlement of the West was aided by the Homestead Act (1862) and the transcontinental railroad (1869).
2. Western industries were based on mining, cattle, and grain.
3. Farmers and ranchers settled the Great Plains.
B. The industrial growth of the United States was greatly expanded.
1. Inventions promoted industrial growth.
2. Raw materials and geographic factors contributed to regional economic diversity.
3. The development of communication and transportation aided the industrial growth of America.
4. New methods of production such as division of labor, standardized parts, the assembly line, and mass production
fostered the expansion of industry.
5. Expanding markets at home and abroad encouraged industrial expansion.
6. The development of the steel, mining, electric, petroleum, textile, and food-processing industries characterized the period.
C. Industrialization reflected changing attitudes and conditions.
1. Mechanization and the factory system were introduced.
2. The growth of labor unions resulted from problems caused by industrialization.
3. Social, economic, and political changes became evident.
4. The rise of cities paralleled the industrial growth of America.
5. The need for government intervention increased.
a. The Sherman (1890) and Clayton (1914) Antitrust Acts restricted the power of giant corporations.
b. Workmen's compensation laws, child labor laws, and regulations on working conditions and minimum wages were part of the congressional reform movement to improve the plight of the working man.
6. The need for the conservation of natural resources was a result of the continued industrial growth of America.