HIST 107H: History of the United States before 1877 - Honors

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2025
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 54
Lecture Hours : 54
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 108
Total Student Learning Hours: 162
Prerequisite: Student must be eligible for the Citrus College Honors Program or obtain a recommendation from an Honors instructor.
District General Education: D1. History and Political Science
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter

Catalog Course Description

A survey of the political, economic and social development of the United States to 1876. This course meets the state requirement for American history and is designed for college transfer students. It is offered as an Honors Program course. 54 lecture hours.

Course Objectives

  • compare and contrast the experiences and contributions of major ethnic and social groups in American history
  • describe the influences of political, economic, cultural, religious and social factors to interpret events in early American history
  • identify important developments, events and individuals in early American history

Major Course Content

  1. Early American, 1500-1750
    1. Pre-Columbian American
    2. European exploration and colonization
    3. English colonies in North America
    4. Africans in America
  2. The American Revolution, 1750-1828
    1. Origins of the American Revolution
    2. The War of Independence
    3. The Confederation Period
    4. The Constitution
    5. Federalist Administrations
    6. Revolution of 1800
    7. Jeffersonian Democracy
  3. The Ante-Bellum Period, 1828-1850
    1. Jacksonian democracy
    2. US-American Indian relations
    3. Jacksonian democracy
    4. Sectionalism, slavery and ante-bellum America
    5. Ante-bellum reform movements
    6. Westward expansion
    7. US-Mexican War
  4. The Civil War, 1850-1865
    1. Political crisis of the 1850s
    2. Origins of the Republican Party
    3. Southern values and states rights
    4. Election of 1865 and secession
    5. The Confederate States of America
    6. Civil War
  5. Reconstruction, 1865-1876
    1. Restoring the Union
    2. The Freedmen
    3. Andrew Johnson and the Radical Republicans
    4. The Grant Administration
    5. Election of 1876

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

Essays and articles on themes in early American history provided by the instructor.

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

A two to three page review of an essay on early American history. The review should focus on identifying an author's thesis and include key quotes that reflect the author's main points and analysis.
A ten to fifteen page research paper that focuses on a theme in early American history. The research paper should feature a minimum of five sources and include both primary and secondary sources. Examples of research paper topics include; The Grimke sisters and the connection between the anti-slavery movement and feminism, Henry David Thoreau and the anti-war movement during the US-Mexico War and Abraham Lincoln's spirituality and the Civil War.

Examples of Outside Assignments

Students will be required to complete the following types of assignments outside of the regular class time:
Readings from course text, journal articles, primary documents and other assigned readings.
Write reviews of articles or films.
Create an original research paper on an aspect of early American history.

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Online Education Lecture

IGETC Area 3: Arts and Humanities

3B. Humanities

IGETC Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences

4F. History