American Issues, Ideas & Institutions

The purpose of Core 100 is to introduce students to the major issues, ideas, and institutions which serve as foundations to the United States as a nation in order to foster an understanding of the American government, society, and economy. More specifically, we will address how the United States developed the form of government we have today; why our society suffers from conflict among races and its efforts to create a diverse society with equal justice for all, regardless of their race, religion, or gender; and how the United States economy combines elements of the free market with the social services of the welfare state.

Course Requirements:

All students are required to attend lectures and take part in discussions. Exams will require students to synthesize lecture materials as well as readings. Students must also read and assimilate required readings, and be prepared to discuss readings on the schedule given below. Students will submit all assignments on time; late papers will not be accepted without prior arrangement with the professor. Further, no student with more than four unexcused absences will receive a passing grade for the course.
A Note About Academic Integrity: Integrity is fundamental to the academic enterprise. It is violated by acts such as borrowing or purchasing term papers, essays, reports, and other written assignments; using concealed notes or crib sheets during examinations; copying others' work and submitting it as one's own; and misappropriating the knowledge of others. The sources from which one derives one's ideas, statements, terms, and data must be fully and specifically acknowledged in the appropriate form; failure to do so, intentionally or unintentionally, constitutes plagiarism. Violations of academic integrity may result in failure in the course and in disciplinary actions with penalties such as suspension or dismissal from the College.

Assignments:

Attendance and Participation in the Course: Any person with more than four unexcused absences will not receive a passing grade in this course.
Three Exams (one for each section of the course) 10% each, or 30% total
Final Exam 20%
Three Reports (two pages) 10% each, or 30% total
Research Paper (four pages) 20%

Required Texts:

The text has been specifically produced for this course. It is titled These United States (Third Edition) with a companion volume of documents. They are available at the campus bookstore. You should purchase them now and bring them with you to the next class. The documents reader should be brought to every class meeting on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Course Schedule:

SECTION ONE: January 30 - February 28 AMERICAN POLITICS
     Reading: These United States, chs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

	Wednesday 30 January	Introduction to the Course (3S 116)
	Thursday 31 January	Orientation to Speaker Series – “The Rule of Law” (Williamson Theater, Performing Arts Center)
	Readings: These United States, chs. 1 and 2.

	Monday 4 February	The Structure of American Government (3 S 112)
	Wednesday 6 February	American Origins and Independence (3S 116)
	Thursday 7 February	Study Skills Workshop I: Computer-Based Research (3S 112)
	Readings: These United States, ch. 3.

	Monday 11 February	The American Constitution (3S 112)
	Wednesday 13 February	Rights, Freedoms, and the Constitution (3S 116)
	Thursday 14 February	“The Rule of Law Throughout History,” Professor Richard Gid Powers (Williamson Theater, Performing Arts Center)
	Readings: These United States, ch. 4.

	Monday 18 February	CSI Closed – No class
	Wednesday 20 February	Classes follow Monday schedule; The Presidency (3S 112)
	Thursday 21 February	American Politics: Summing Up (3S 112). DUE: Report #1: “The Constitution – Success or Failure?”
	Readings: These United States, ch. 5.

	Monday 25 February	Review for first exam (3S 112)
	Wednesday 27 February	EXAM #1 (3S 116)
	Thursday 28 February	“The Influence of Roman Law,” Professor Eric Ivison (Williamson Theater, Performing Arts Center)
	Readings: Review These United States, chs. 1-5.

SECTION TWO: March 4 - April 4 AMERICAN SOCIETY
     Reading: These United States, chs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

	Monday 4 March	The Origins of Slavery (3S 112)
	Wednesday 6 March	American Slavery and American Freedom (3S 116)
	Thursday 7 March	“Comparative Legal Traditions, China,” Professor Richard Lufrano (Williamson Theater, Performing Arts Center)
	Readings: These United States, chs. 6 and 7.

	Monday 11 March	Emancipation (3S 112)
	Wednesday 13 March	Reconstruction (3S 116)
	Thursday 14 March	“Comparative Legal Traditions, Islamic Law,” Professor Samira Haj (Williamson Theater, Performing Arts Center)
	Readings: These United States, ch. 8.

	Monday 18 March	Civil Rights in the Twentieth Century (3S 112)
	Wednesday 20 March	Labor and Class in America (3S 116)
	Thursday 21 March	“Comparative Legal Traditions, African Law,” Professor François Ngolet (Williamson Theater, Performing Arts Center)
	Readings: These United States, chs. 9 and 10.

	March 25 - March 31	Spring Break

	Monday 1 April	Review for second exam (3S 112); DUE: Report #2: “Reconstruction – Success or Failure?”
	Wednesday 3 April	EXAM #2 (3S 116)
	Thursday 4 April	Study Skills Workshop II: Using the Library (3S 112)
	Readings: Review These United States, chs.6-10.

SECTION THREE: April 8 - May 14 AMERICAN ECONOMY
     Reading: These United States, chs. 11, 12, 13.

	Monday 8 April	The “Invisible Hand” of Capitalism (3S 112)
	Wednesday 10 April	The Family Economy (3S 116)
	Thursday 11 April	“Comparative Legal Traditions, Native American Law,” Professor Catherine Lavender (Williamson Theater, Performing Arts Center)
	Readings: These United States, ch. 11.

	Monday 15 April	Industrialization – Small Scale (3S 112)
	Wednesday 10 April	Industrialization – Large Scale (3S 116)
	Thursday 11 April	“Law Enforcement in America,” Professor Richard Gid Powers (Williamson Theater, Performing Arts Center)
	Readings: These United States, ch. 12.

	Monday 22 April	The Great Depression (3S 112)
	Wednesday 24 April	The New Deal (3S 116)
	Thursday 25 April	“The Rule of Law in Time of War,” Professor Daniel Kramer (Williamson Theater, Performing Arts Center)
	Readings: These United States, ch. 13.

	Monday 29 April	Globalization (3S 112)
	Wednesday 1 May	America in the World Economy (3S 116) DUE: Report #3: “The New Deal – Success or Failure?”
	Thursday 2 May	“Civil Disobedience,” Professor Michael Foley (Williamson Theater, Performing Arts Center)
	Readings: Review These United States, chs. 11-13.

	Monday 6 May	Review for third exam (3S 112)
	Wednesday 8 May	EXAM #3 (3S 116)
	Thursday 9 May	TBA (Williamson Theater, Performing Arts Center)
	Readings: Review These United States, chs. 11-13.

	Monday 13 May	Review for Final Exam (3S 112)
	Wednesday 15 May	Review for Final Exam (3S 116)
	Monday 20 May	Final Exam (3S 112)
	Readings: Review These United States, chs. 11-13.

Prepared by Professor Catherine Lavender for CORE 100 (American Issues, Ideas & Institutions), The Department of History, The College of Staten Island of The City University of New York. Send email to lavender@mail.csi.cuny.edu
Spring Semester 2002. Last modified: 12/1/2002.