Syllabus for HIS-113



American History I provides a broad-based history of the origin and growth of the United States from the arrival of the first European settlers up to and including the period of the Civil War. The story of the United States is about diversified cultures and great public events, many peoples living together in a single land, and a war that is still being fought in many sections of the land.


After completing this course, you should be able to:

  1. Summarize Native American history before the arrival of Columbus and the efforts of the English to establish a colony.
  2. Identify reasons for the founding of each of the original thirteen colonies.
  3. Describe disagreements among historians about the origins of slavery
  4. Identify causes of the French and Indian War and reasons for the French defeat.
  5. Explain the aim of the Declaration of Independence, the reasons for its issuance, and its influence throughout the world since 1776.
  6. Define federalism and explain how the Constitution is designed to make it work.
  7. Identify Washington, Jefferson, and Adams, and explain the resurgence of nationalism.
  8. Describe widening differences between the labor systems of the North and the South and the effect of these systems.
  9. Discuss Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.
  10. Distinguish between primary and secondary sources and between general and specialized sources.



Required Textbook

ISBN-13: 978-0-07-737950-6

Audio Programs

Sound Studies in American History I, The Annenberg/CPB Project (13 half-hour audio programs).

Audio links to these half-hour programs are provided in the Study Materials section of each Module.



Consult the course Calendar for assignment due dates.


For your formal work in the course, you are required to participate in online discussion forums, complete written assignments, take a proctored midterm examination, and a proctored final exam. See below for more details.

Consult the course Calendar for assignment due dates.

Discussion Forums

In addition to posting a discussion thread in the Introductions Forum introducing yourself to the class, you are required to participate in five (5) graded online discussions. These class discussions, like the written activities, are an opportunity to share your insights about and understanding of history.



Written Assignments

You are required to complete ten (10) written assignments. The written assignments are on a variety of topics associated with the course modules.

Each of the first four modules includes two written assignments and the last two modules include one written assignment each. Each activity consists of an essay.


Responses to written assignment questions are expected to be well developed and reasonably detailed. Formulate responses in your own words (do not merely copy answers from your reading or listening materials), citing text materials where appropriate and in an appropriate manner.





Midterm Examination

The midterm is a closed-book, proctored online exam. It is two hours long and covers all reading and activities from Modules 1–3 of the course. It consists of multiple choice, short essay, and essay questions.

Final Examination

The final is a closed-book, proctored online exam. It is two hours long and covers all material in Modules 4–6 of the course. It consists of multiple choice, short essay, and essay questions.

Statement about Cheating




Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:































Below 60



First Steps to Success

To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:

Study Tips

Consider the following study tips for success:





Academic Dishonesty









Examples of Unintentional Plagiarism

When to Quote and When to Paraphrase

Writing Assistance at Smarthinking

Originality Report Checking at Turnitin

Disciplinary Process for Plagiarism




Possible sanctions include:
