Course Requirements:
A. Journals
Each student will write 8 journal entries on readings, integrating them with previous class discussion and videos (and
with individual research projects wherever possible).
Four specific questions should inform journal discussions. How do cities and suburbs affect U.S. history in general? How does U.S. history affect the development of cities and suburbs? What are the general patterns of U.S. urban history? How has race, class and ethnicity affected urban and suburban patterns?
Due each week (see course outline for specific dates), these entries will form the basis for discussion and for the book review. No late journal entries will be accepted. Students who do not attend class will not receive credit for any written material. Each journal entry is worth 2 points (16% of the final grade for 8 entries).
B. Evaluation of a Primary Source
Working from U.S. Census statistics for cities between 1790 and 1980 (xerox provided to students), write a 2-page overview of U.S. urban history. Base your discussion on the 20 largest cities in any decade. Questions which you might want to consider: does the size of the largest cities change over time; do you see regional growth; when do cities reach
500,000 or 1 million (create a generational grid).
Then craft one table from these statistics that provides evidence for the overview you have crafted. Be ready to share this
table with the rest of the class (xerox copies or an overlay). Due September 14. (4 points)
C. Evaluation of a Secondary Source
Each student with craft an 8-10 page book review (on the model of the JUH) of the four required texts for the term. The review should contain a short synopsis of the thesis and argument of each of the books. It should evaluate how successful each author is at arguing their thesis. The review should explore the ways in which these four books relate to the questions raised for journal entries (in paragraph two of A. above). Book reviews are due during the regularly scheduled final examination period. (30 points)
D. Metropolitan research
Each student will choose a metropolitan area in the United States for specific research. Research is divided into several parts. Total points for metropolitan research is 50.
Due October 5: Choose a metropolitan area. Write a 4-5 page examination of the popular treatment of the history of this city. In other words, what does a tourist learn about the history of the city? Use guidebooks such as Frommers or Michelin, travel web sites, newspaper and magazine articles, and other sources. I will expect a bibliography with at least four (4) sources. (20 points)
Due November 2:
Taking the same city, compile a bibliography of scholarly sources, including at least five (5) books and three (3) journal articles. Find and read the three journal articles. Find and read a review of each of the books. Write a 6-8 page
bibliographic essay on the scholarly exploration of your chosen metropolitan area. (30 points)
Due November 14:
Prepare a 5-minute formal presentation on the history of your metropolitan area. Compares the scholarly and
popular treatment of the history of your chosen metropolitan area. Are they similar or different? Why? Do you think tourists should go to other sites? Do you think historians should research other topics? Use at least one audio-visual aid in your presentation. (10 points)
Course Outline
Week 1: Sept 12-14
Overview of U.S. urban history
Tues: Introductions, colonial beginnings
Thurs: Primary Source Evaluation Due
Week 2: Sept. 19-21
Commercial Cities
Tues: Rosenberg, introduction, ch. 1-5
(downtown Naperville walking tour)
(Journal 1)
Thurs: Rosenberg, ch. 6-13
(Journal 2)
Week 3: Sept. 26-28
Industrialization and Immigration
Tues: Discuss Bodnar, pp. 1-151
(Journal 3)
Thurs: Harlem/Research help
Week 4: Oct 3-5
Industrial Cities
Tues: Bodnar, pp. 173-272
(Journal 4)
Thurs: Riverside tour, Metropolitan research, paper one due
Week 5: Oct. 10-12
Crabgrass Frontier
Tues: Jackson, introduction, ch. 1-8
(Journal 5)
Thurs: work on scholarly research, no regular class meeting
Week 6: Oct 17-19
Suburbanization and Civil Rights
Tues: Jackson, ch. 9-16
(Journal 6)
Thurs: Civil Rights in the Deep South Eyes on the Prize: Selma, Birmingham, Chicago
Week 7: Oct. 24-26
Deindustrialization
Tues: Wilson, introduction, ch. 1-5
(Journal 7)
Thurs:
Week 8: Oct. 31-Nov 2
Research
Tues: Research day
Thurs: Metropolitan research, paper two due
Week 9: Nov. 7-9
Post-industrial cities
Tues: Wilson, ch. 6-8
(Journal 8)
Thurs: Kroehler plant tour
Week 10: Nov. 14-16
Metropolitan research presentations
Book reviews due during the regularly scheduled final examination period.
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