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. Attendance at the Lecture Series is mandatory; a written assignment will be given for each lecture.
Three Exams (one for each section of the course) 20% each, or 60% total
Final Exam 10%
Three Reports (two pages) 10% each, or 30% total

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. In addition, we will be reading Richard Rodriguez’s Hunger of Memory and William Adler’s Mollie’s Job, which should be brought to class on the days of scheduled discussions.

Course Schedule:

SECTION ONE: September 3 - October 1 AMERICAN POLITICS
     Reading: These United States, chs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

	Wednesday 3 September	Introduction to the Course (3S 112)
	Thursday 4 September	Orientation to Speaker Series – “The Rule of Law”(Williamson Theater)
	Readings: These United States, chs. 1 and 2.

	Monday 8 September	The Structure of American Government (3S 103)
	Wednesday 10 September	American Origins and Independence (3S 112)
	Thursday 11 September	“The Rule of Law Throughout History,” Professor Richard Gid Powers (Williamson Theater)
	Readings: These United States, ch. 3.

	Monday 15 September	The American Constitution (3S 103)
	Wednesday 17 September	Rights, Freedoms, and the Constitution (3S 112)
	Thursday 18 September	“The Influence of Roman Law,” Professor Eric Ivison (Williamson Theater)
	Readings: These United States, ch. 4.

	Monday 22 September	The Presidency (3S 103)
	Wednesday 24 September	American Politics: Summing Up (3S 112)
	Thursday 25 September	“The English Legal Tradition,” Professor Stephen Stearns (Williamson Theater); DUE: Report #1: “The Constitution – Success or Failure?” (3S 112)
	Readings: These United States, ch. 5.

	Monday 29 September	Review for First Exam (3S 103)
	Wednesday 1 October	EXAM #1 (3S 112)
	Thursday 2 October	“Comparative Legal Traditions, China,” Professor Richard Lufrano (Williamson Theater)
	Readings: Review These United States, chs. 1-5.

SECTION TWO: October 7 - October 30 AMERICAN SOCIETY
     Reading: These United States, chs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10; Richard Rodriguez, Hunger of Memory.

	Monday 6 October	CUNY Closed
	Tuesday 7 October	Classes follow Monday schedule; The Origins of Slavery (3S 103)
	Wednesday 8 October	American Slavery and American Freedom (3S 112)
	Thursday 9 October	“Comparative Legal Traditions, Islamic Law,” Professor Samira Haj (Williamson Theater)
	Readings: These United States, chs. 6 and 7; Rodriguez, Hunger of Memory.

	Monday 13 October	CUNY Closed
	Wednesday 15 October	Emancipation (3S 112)
	Thursday 16 October	“Comparative Legal Traditions, African Law,” Professor François Ngolet (Williamson Theater)
	Readings: These United States, ch. 8; Rodriguez, Hunger of Memory.

	Monday 20 October	Reconstruction (3S 103)
	Wednesday 22 October	Civil Rights in the Twentieth Century (3S 112)
	Thursday 23 October	Panel Discussion: Professors Samira Haj, Richard Lufrano, and François Ngolet (Williamson Theater)
	Readings: These United States, chs. 9 and 10; Rodriguez, Hunger of Memory.

	Monday 27 October	Review for second exam; DUE: Report #2: “Reconstruction – Success or Failure?” (3S 103)
	Wednesday 29 October	EXAM #2 (3S 112)
	Thursday 30 October	“Law Enforcement in America,” Professor Richard Gid Powers (Williamson Theater)
	Readings: Review These United States, chs.6-10; Rodriguez, Hunger of Memory.

SECTION THREE: November 3 - December 10 AMERICAN ECONOMY
     Reading: These United States, chs. 11, 12, 13; Adler, Mollie’s Job.

	Monday 3 November	The “Invisible Hand” of Capitalism (3S 103)
	Wednesday 5 November	The Family Economy (3S 112)
	Thursday 6 November	“The Role of Judges,” Judge Kevin McKay (Williamson Theater)
	Readings: These United States, ch. 11; Adler, Mollie's Job.

	Monday 10 November	Industrialization (3S 103)
	Wednesday 12 November	Labor and Class in America (3S 112)
	Thursday 13 November	“The Rule of Law in Time of War,” Professor Daniel Kramer (Williamson Theater)
	Readings: These United States, ch. 12; Adler, Mollie's Job.

	Monday 17 November	Consumerism (3S 103)
	Wednesday 19 November	The Great Depression (3S 112)
	Thursday 20 November	“International Law,” Professor Casey Johnson, Brooklyn College (Williamson Theater)
	Readings: These United States, ch. 13; Adler, Mollie's Job.

	Monday 24 November	The New Deal (3S 103)
	Wednesday 26 November	Classes follow Friday schedule; No Class Meeting.
	Thursday 27 November	CSI Closed; No Class Meeting
	Readings: Review These United States, chs. 11-13; Adler, Mollie's Job.

	Monday 1 December	Globalization (3S 103)
	Wednesday 3 December	Globalization; DUE: Report #3: “The New Deal – Success or Failure?”(3S 112)
	Thursday 4 December	“Civil Disobedience,” Professor Michael Foley (Williamson Theater)
	Readings: Review These United States, chs. 11-13; Adler, Mollie's Job.

	Monday 8 December	Review for third exam (3S 103)
	Wednesday 10 December	EXAM #3 (3S 112)
	Thursday 11 December	Panel Discussion: Professors Michael Foley, Daniel Kramer, Eric Ivison, and Richard Gid Powers (Williamson Theater)
	Readings: Review These United States, chs. 11-13; Adler, Mollie's Job.

	Monday 15 December	Review for Final Exam (3S 103)
	Wednesday 17 December	Final Exam (3S 112)

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
Fall Semester 2003. Last modified: 5/25/2006.