HST 113 : United States History to 1877

This course is a survey of the American past from the Age of Exploration to the end of Reconstruction. It examines the major forces, personalities, events, and institutions that shaped the American experience through 1877. Topics include the development of colonial society, the American Revolution, the Constitution (Federal and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts), the growth of the new nation, westward expansion, the rise of sectionalism, and the Civil War and Reconstruction era. Students develop the ability to think, read, and write critically and analytically and to understand the various forms of human interaction through a study of the creation and growth of the United States through 1877. The course aids students in their efforts to understand the principles of group behavior and social organizations and how power is wielded in society. Prerequisite: A passing score on the college's reading and writing placement tests or, C or better or concurrent enrollment in ENG 091 or ENG 092. Three lecture hours per week. Gen. Ed. Competencies Met: Critical Thinking, Ethical Dimensions, Global and Historic Awareness and Multicultural and Social Perspectives.