HS2O62: From Revolution to Reconstruction: A Social History of the Nineteenth-Century USA

Module code: HS2O62

Module provider: History; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Elizabeth Maeve Barnes, email: e.barnes@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to develop an understanding of the main social changes in the nineteenth-century USA (from Revolution to Reconstruction). Its purpose is to evaluate continuities and changes in people’s lives during this time frame.  

This module will: 

• Survey the social history of the USA in the nineteenth century
• Reflect on the ways in which people’s lives changed over time
• Consider differing interpretations of history offered by primary and secondary sources

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. appraise critically the primary sources and historiographical interpretations of the subject
2. assess the nature of continuities and changes and the particular methodologies associated with tracing them
3. organise material and articulate arguments effectively in different kinds of written exercises and orally
4. Organise primary research into appropriate quantitative forms

Module content

This module examines social changes in the nineteenth century USA (from Revolution to Reconstruction) and evaluates continuities and changes in people’s lives during this time frame. It begins with a mapping of colonial North America before exploring the revolutionary War of Independence and the establishment of a new republican political system. It analyses the expansion of the franchise and women’s political activism. The module addresses the development of slavery in the Southern states and the ‘peopling’ of the USA through immigration across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It tackles Westward expansion and its impact upon Native Americans. Finally, the module considers the upheaval of the Civil War and attempts to ‘Reconstruct’ the South prior to the emergence of legal segregation.  

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching and learning will be by a variety of methods, which may include:

• Lectures
• Seminars, which rely on structured group discussion and may also include seminar papers by students, discussion of evidence, team-based exercises, and debates
• Online exercises, including quizzes and worksheets
• Discussion boards
• Independent study

Study hours

At least 33 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

1,000 words or 2 pages of A4 maximum to include, at the module convenor's discretion, an essay plan, bibliography, book review or other preparatory work towards each of the summative essays.

Reassessment

Additional costs