US in the Sixties – 43:381
(Fall 2009 – Wednesdays, 2-4:30)

 


Prof. Chad Montrie
306 Coburn Hall (ext. 4275)
chad_montrie@uml.edu
Office Hours: Tues., 12-1, Thurs., 12-2,
and by appointment          


This course examines the United States during the 1960s.  Because history does not actually fit into neat packages of ten-year periods, however, our investigation must range more widely, from the late1950s to the early 1970s.  Also, rather than make a comprehensive study of that period, we will focus our attention on three topics in particular: (1) the black civil rights movement, (2) suburbanization, and (3) the war in Vietnam .  Each of these will give us a unique window on the past and, at the same time, reveal the interconnected nature of various transformations in American life.

 

Required Reading (available in South Campus bookstore):

Daisy Bates, The Long Shadow of Little Rock
Timothy Tyson, Radio Free Dixie
Adam Rome, The Bulldozer in the Countryside
Lisa McGirr, Suburban Warriors
Christian Appy, Working-Class War
Michael Foley, Confronting the War Machine


Assignments
:

Analytical Essays (3) – 75%
Film Review – 15%
Attendance (4) – 10%

Analytical Essays – Using the assigned readings and lectures for the course you will write three analytical essays, responding to prompts that I will give you.  The papers should be 6-8 pages in length, typed and double-spaced, using standard (CMS) footnotes or endnotes, and draw on all relevant sources (readings, lectures, films, class discussions, and etc.).  I will assess them in terms of grammar, organization, and argument.  They are worth 25 % of your final course grade, for a total of 75%. 

Film Review: You must also write one film review (your choice from the three scheduled for the course), 3-4 pp. in length.  This should provide a brief summary (not more than one full paragraph) and include favorable as well as critical observations that draw on relevant readings, lectures, and class discussions.  The review, graded by the same criteria as the analytical essays, is worth 15% of your final course grade.

Attendance: At four points during the semester, unannounced, I will take attendance for the class.  This will be worth 2.5% of your final course grade, for a total of 10%.

Late Assignment Policy: For this course you are allowed two late submissions of an assignment (or missed class meetings when attendance was taken) due to excused absences.  These must be documented with the attached form (see below) and some other written record of the reason for your absence (e.g., a doctor’s note, a relative’s obituary, court papers, etc.).  Any assignment you missed as a result of your absence must be turned in during the next class meeting, when you return, in which case it will receive no penalty.  Once you have used your two excused absences, however, any assignment not submitted on the day it is due, in class, will receive an “F”.  Over-sleeping, family vacations, and other such reasons for missing class and failing to turn in an assignment are not legitimate as grounds for an excused absence, even with documentation.

Grading Scale: On all assignments the grading scale is as follows: A (92.5 and above), A- (89.5 to 92.4), B+ (87.5 to 89.4), B (82.5 to 87.4), B- (79.5 to 82.4), C+ (77.5 to 79.4), C (72.5 to 77.4), C- (69.5 to 72.4), D+ (67.5 to 69.4), D (62.5 to 67.4), and F (62.4 and below).  If at any time you have questions about the grading on an assignment and/or wish to dispute a grade you should come see me during office hours.  I will only consider serious and well-reasoned arguments for changing a grade.

Plagiarism and Cheating:  When you use the words or ideas of others, you must document your source with the proper method of citation.  For this course, you will be expected to use footnotes or endnotes to indicate your sources.  The one exception to this rule is the use of lecture material.  Evidence of plagiarism or cheating during exams—in violation of University policy—will result in an F on the assignment or exam and might lead to a formal disciplinary procedure (refer to the University’s course catalog for more details).

Classroom/Course Accommodations: If you have any special learning needs please let me know and I will see about making the course and/or classroom more accommodating (typically you must have documentation from Disability Services).  Also notify me if your religious observances conflict at some point with assignment due dates or examinations and we will make different arrangements if necessary.

 

Tentative Lecture and Reading Schedule


Civil Rights

Sept. 2 – Syllabus Review and Introductions; Lecture and Discussion: Movement Roots

Read Bates, The Long Shadow


Sept. 9 – Discuss Analytical Essays and Film Reviews; Lecture and Discussion: Federal Government

Read Bates, The Long Shadow


Sept.16 – Discuss Bates; View Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin

Read Tyson, Radio Free Dixie


Sept. 23 – Lecture and Discussion: Beloved Community; Film Review #1 due

Read Tyson, Radio Free Dixie


Sept. 30 – Lecture and Discussion: Black Power; Discuss Tyson

Read Rome , The Bulldozer in the Countryside

 

Suburbanization

Oct. 7 – Lecture and Discussion: Facilitating White Flight; Civil Rights Essay due

Read Rome , The Bulldozer in the Countryside


Oct.14 – Lecture and Discussion: From Dairy Farms to Housing Tracts; Discuss Rome

Read McGirr, Suburban Warriors


Oct. 21 – View The Graduate

Read McGirr, Suburban Warriors


Oct. 28 – Lecture and Discussion: Seeding the New Right; Discuss McGirr; Film Review #2 due

Read Appy, Working-Class War

 

Vietnam

Nov. 4 – Lecture and Discussion: Colonialism and Cold War; Suburbanization Essay due

Read Appy, Working-Class War


Nov. 11 – Veteran’s Day (no class meeting)

Read Appy, W.orking-Class War


Nov. 18 – Discuss Appy; Lecture and Discussion: Bringing the War Home

Read Foley, Confronting the War Machine


Nov. 25 – View Sir, No Sir!

Read Foley, Confronting the War Machine


Dec. 2 – Discuss Foley; Film Review #3 due


Dec. 9 – Lecture and Discussion: Things Fall Apart; Vietnam Essay due

 

 


Petition for Excused Absence

Name:

Date of Absence:

Assignment Submitted Late/Class Meeting Missed:

Reason for Absence:

 

Please also attach written documentation indicating the reason for your absence (e.g., doctor’s note, a relative’s obituary, court papers, etc.).