History 139B Syllabus

Schedule of Important Dates and Assignments

Course Introduction

UNITED STATES HISTORY 1865-1900: In this class, students examine the era of history known as "The Gilded Age." This was a time of unparalleled economic expansion that profoundly altered political and social arrangements by the late nineteenth century. After the Civil War (1861-65) America completed a transportation and communications network, which in turn facilitated the tremendous growth of the industrial sector. Thus, identifying and understanding the causes of "industrialization," is a major focus of the reading and lectures in 139B. Additionally, the consequences are explored as well. Students will be required to analyze the impact of economic change on politics, society, religion and culture.

Course Requirements

139B students should attend every lecture, do all the assigned readings, study hard for the exams, and turn in the final exam on the due date! Students must complete all assignments to pass the course. Please come to lectures on time. Turn off all beepers and cell phones. During lectures, do not talk, watch movies or play games on your computer or Blackberry, eat, make a call or text message on your cell phone, or read a newspaper. If you are going to be distracted by your computer leave it at home and take notes the old-fashioned way. There are no class notes available. Students who cheat on exams or plagiarize essays will receive an "F" grade, and their tests/papers given to the authorities. UCLA takes academic integrity very seriously. A short and easy version of the university's academic integrity policy is posted on the 139B website.

Assignments and Grading

The assignments are as follows. An in-class mid-term will comprise 30% of the grade, a paper worth 30% and the in-class final will be worth 40%.

Schedule of Important Dates and Assignments

April 30: Midterm

May 21: Paper Due

June 8, 3-6 p.m.: In-class final exam

Required Readings

Glenn Porter, The Rise of Big Business
Thomas Schlereth, Victorian America
History 139B Electronic Reader

For your paper assignment, select one of the following two novels:
Kate Chopin, The Awakening
Thomas Bell, Out of This Furnace: A Novel of Immigrant Labor in America

Schedule of Classes
Week 1: Introduction to the Gilded Age
Mar 31 April 2	Nothing Like It in the World: The Iron Highway West Victorian Manners and Morals Reading: Schlereth, xi-31 and 243-293 Website: Grenville Dodge, "The Construction and Completion of the Railroad" Website: "The Chinese Exclusion Act" Website: Lee Chew, "Life of a Chinese Immigrant"
Week 2: The Industrial Economy Takes Shape
April 7 April 9	Man Of Steel: Andrew Carnegie The Homestead Strike Reading: Schlereth, 33-85; Porter, 1-120 Website: "American Workers and the Labor Movement in the Late Nineteenth Century" Website: Terence Powderly, "The Purposes And Programs Of The Knights Of Labor" Website: Andrew Carnegie, "Wealth" Website: "The Sherman Anti-Trust Act"
Week 3: The Great Barbecue: Fact Or Fiction?
April 14 April 16	The Urban Political Machine Popular Politics in the Gilded Age Reading: Website: "The Political Culture of the Gilded Age" Website: Julius Bing, "The Need For Civil Service Reform" Website: "The Spectacle Of American Politics", from The Associated Press Website: George Washington Plunkitt, "Honest Graft" Website: Lincoln Steffens, "The Shame Of The Cities" Website: Roscoe Conkling Website: Grover Cleveland Website: The Election of 1884 Website: The Election of 1888
Week 4: How The West Was Lost And Won
April 21 April 23	Resistance And Accommodation: The Plains Indians The Pioneers On The Plains Reading: Website: "The Closing of the Frontier" Website: Red Horse, "The Battle Of Little Big Horn" Website: George Herendon, "Carnage At the Little Big Horn" Website: "The Custer Massacre", from Harper's Weekly Website: Geronimo, "The Coming Of The White Man" Website: Chester A. Arthur, "The Need To Turn Indians Into U.S. Citizens" Website: Philip Wells, "The Battle Of Wounded Knee" Website: Benjamin Harrison, "Report On Wounded Knee" Website: Catherine Calk McCarthy, "Life As A Homesteader"
Week 5: Gilded Age Technology and Science
April 28 April 30	The Way Things Work: The Brooklyn Bridge IN-CLASS MID-TERM Reading: Schlereth, 177-207 Website: Thomas Edison, "The Electric Light" Website: Abram S. Hewitt, "The Wonder Of The Brooklyn Bridge" Website: Henry George, "Progress And Poverty" Website: Jacob Riis, "How The Other Half Lives"
Week 6: The New South And The Old
May 5 May 7	The World of the New South African-Americans Up From Slavery Reading: Website: "The African-American Experience in the Gilded Age" Website: Frederick Douglass, "A Legacy of Race Hatred" Website: Booker T. Washington, "The Atlanta Compromise" Website: Ida B. Wells-Barnett, "A Red Record"
Week 7: Angels In The Machinery
May 12 May 14	The Trial Of The Century The New Woman Reading: Schlereth, 87-139 Website: "Women in Industrializing America" Website: Jane Addams, "The Subjective Necessity for Social Settlements"
Week 8: Land Of Desire
May 19 May 21	Baseball Becomes Professional Christmas Every Day Reading: Schlereth, 141-167 and 209-241 Website: 'Gilding Christmas' section in "Christmas in America" Website: Theodore Dreiser, "Sister Carrie Visits A Department Store" Website: "The Players' Rebellion"
Week 9: Gates Of Silver And Bars Of Gold
May 26 May 28	The Populist Moment The Battle To Govern America Reading: Website: "The Agrarian Revolt" Website: "The People's Party Platform" Website: William Jennings Bryan, "The Cross Of Gold"
Week 10: The End Of The Century
Mar 11 Mar 13	Theodore Roosevelt And The Strenuous Life The Spanish American War And The End Of The Century Reading: Website: "Democratic Imperialism" Website: Theodore Roosevelt, "The Strenuous Life" Website: P.L. Carmouche, "African-Americans Are Ready for Service" Website: N. C. Twining, "Our Victory Was Complete and Overwhelming" Website: John Greenway, "Up San Juan Hill with Col. Roosevelt" Website: Charles King, "We Should Not Be in the Philippines"

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