History 156: U.S. History to 1865 – Instructor: Scott Wagner

Welcome to History 156: U.S. History since 1865, the first course in the introductory survey series. For history majors, it is a stepping-stone to upper level courses. For non-history majors, this course meets the general education requirement of your degree program. To get you off to a great start, review the syllabus and read the following material. If you have questions, post them to the FAQ Course forum. 

Scope of Course

This course uses primary and secondary sources to trace the development of American society from Columbus’ accidental voyage into the West Indies through the American Civil War. It gives you an opportunity to see how historians weigh information and will help you critically analyze current events. To understand the problems of today’s economy, for example, you must first discover how the economy has changed over time and how people have reacted differently during times of economic growth and bust. To comment thoughtfully on America’s role in the world, you must first understand the context of past foreign policy decisions. Thus, this course is more than a study of yesterday. It is an examination of contemporary society in a larger historical continuum.

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

locate, organize, evaluate, and use primary and secondary sources to describe U.S. historical events

interpret and articulate current events and ideas within the U.S. historical context from the first settlements through the Civil War

demonstrate civic responsibility by making informed ethical decisions based on U.S. historical evidence and concepts

bring a logical and informed U.S. historical perspective to discussions of potentially controversial issues related to diversity

analyze options and make choices with an informed understanding of the role and perception of the United States within a global society

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