| US Military History to 1898 HIST 3323 University of Houston FALL 2008 |
Instructor: Prof. Clayton
Lust Phone: 713-743-3093 Office - AH-557 Office Hours: T Th 10AM - noon |
Course Description:
This course is a survey of the American military experience. It is a study of the evolving nature of the military establishment both in peacetime and in wartime. We will examine the role wars and the societies in which they exist create change. This is not simply an examination of tactical machinations, or military personalities, or different types of weaponry, nor will we simply chronicle battlefield happenings. Topics will include the formation of militia; the development of universal military obligation for white males; colonial wars; the American Revolution; the military and the Constitution; the frontier experience; War of 1812; social portraits of the army; military reform movements prior to the Civil War; the War with Mexico; the Civil War and Reconstruction; the post-Civil War frontier army; professionalism; the “New Navy”; and the Spanish American War.
Required readings:
Martin and Lender, A Respectable Army: The Military Origins of the Republic, 1763-1789 (second edition).
McCaffrey, Army of Manifest Destiny: The American Soldier in the Mexican War 1846-1848.
Davis, Duel Between the First Ironclads.
McPherson, Abraham Lincoln and the Second American Revolution.
Rickey, Forty Miles a Day on Beans amd Hay.
Utley, The last Days of the Sioux Nation.
Grading:
40% - two (2) midterm exam, closed-book, closed-note. 25 September and 6 November
10% - book essays on McCaffrey and Davis – 23 October
40% - Final examination 16 December 2-5PM. It is mandatory.
10% - Paper. It will be approximately three typed pages, due by the final exam. Students will choose a book from the list (on the reverse of this page) with professor’s approval, and write an essay along the following structure. In the opening paragraph explain why the topic of the book is important, and then place the book in that context. Then devote a paragraph to explaining the thesis (argument) of the book. See if you can tease out the overarching theme or model that the author uses in the next paragraph. Finally, give your assessment of the book. Students will choose their book no later than 2 September 2008.
All examinations are mandatory and will include essays and objective questions.
Make up examinations are given with the permission of the instructor and ONLY in cases of dire emergencies such as a serious illness. All make ups will be given on 9 December at 8:00AM in 520-AAH, and will be in an all-essay format.
SCALE:
| A = 93 and up | C = 73-76 |
| A- = 90-92 | C- = 70-72 |
| B+ = 87-89 | D+ = 67-69 |
| B = 83-86 | D = 63-66 |
| B- = 80-82 | D- = 60-62 |
| C+ = 77-79 | F = Below 60 |
Academic Honesty:
All work is expected to be your own. I have a ZERO TOLERANCE policy for cheating. This includes turning in work that is not your own, looking onto another student's exam, using crib/cheat sheets, using electronic devices (i.e. cell phones with text features, side kicks, two-way pagers), and anything that any reasonable person would recognize as cheating. If I catch you cheating I will seek the maximum penalty allowable according to UH policy. If you have questions about cheating please see me or consult the student handbook.