HIST 2605 - Turning Points in United States History 1
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 42034,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Kyle Starkey
Email: ktstarkey@ysu.edu
Course Description
2605. Turning Points in United States History 1. Key episodes in the social, economic, political and cultural developments of the United States to 1877, exploring how diverse peoples shaped the growing nation. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | U.S. History (OpenStax) | P. Scott Corbett, Ventura College Volker Janssen, California State University, Fullerton John M. Lund, Keene State College Todd Pfannestiel, Clarion University Sylvie Waskiewicz Paul Vickery, Oral Roberts University | 978-1-947172-08-1 |
| Required | Colonial Models of and For English Society | ||
| Required | Individualism and Community in Colonial North America | ||
| Required | Virginia Slave Laws (1662, 1667) | ||
| Required | Joseph Ball Instructs His Nephew on Managing Enslaved Workers (1743) | Joseph Ball | |
| Required | Enslaved Blacks Working on a Tobacco Plantation (1750) | ||
| Required | Richard Corbin Describes How to Become a Successful Planter (1759) | Richard Corbin | |
| Required | Lieutenant Governor William Gooch to the Board of Trade (1729) | William Gooch | |
| Required | On George Whitefield Coming to Connecticut (1740) | Nathan Cole | |
| Required | On George Whitefield, the Great Revivalist (1739) | Benjamin Franklin | |
| Required | Common Sense (1776) | Thomas Paine | |
| Required | Federalist No. 10 | James Madison | |
| Required | Antifederalist Argument at the NY State Convention (1788) | Melancton Smith | |
| Required | Federalist Argument at the NY State Convention (1788) | Alexander Hamilton | |
| Required | Antifederalist Argument at the NY State Convention(1788) | John Williams | |
| Required | Expanding American Democracy for Whom? | ||
| Required | Protesting the Missouri Compromise | ||
| Required | Founding a Female Anti-Slavery Society (1836) | Elizabeth Emery & Mary P. Abbott | |
| Required | Congressional Pastoral Letter (1837) | ||
| Required | Response to the Pastoral Letter (1837) | Sarah Grimke | |
| Required | Families in Slavery | ||
| Required | On the Treaty of New Echota (1836) | John Ross | |
| Required | Why Union Soldiers Fought the Civil War | ||
| Required | Letter to His Brother Henry (1861) | Frederick Spooner | |
| Required | The Civil War in America (1863) | Clement L. Vallandigham | |
| Required | Race and Reconstruction | ||
| Required | Mississippi Black Code (1865) | ||
| Required | Support for Indian Extermination (1868) | James Michael Cavanaugh | |
| Required | Challenges to Indian Policy (1881) | Helen Hunt Jackson | |
| Required | Views on Indian Affairs (1879) | Chief Joseph |
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Course Schedule
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | U.S. History (OpenStax) - Ch(s) 2-4 YouTube - The Columbian Exchange (Crash Course) |
Module 1: First Contact | Media Response #1 (Due: 08/31) |
| 8/31 | U.S. History (OpenStax) - Ch(s) 2-4 Colonial Models of and For English Society Individualism and Community in Colonial North America Virginia Slave Laws (1662, 1667) |
Module 1: First Contact | Discussion #1 (Due: 09/06) Primary Source Analysis #1 (Due: 09/06 |
| 9/7 | U.S. History (OpenStax) - Ch(s) 2-4 Joseph Ball Instructs His Nephew on Managing Enslaved Workers (1743) Enslaved Blacks Working on a Tobacco Plantation (1750) Richard Corbin Describes How to Become a Successful Planter (1759) Lieutenant Governor William Gooch to the Board of Trade (1729) |
Module 1: First Contact | Essay #1 (Due: 09/13) |
| 9/14 | U.S. History (OpenStax) - Ch(s) 5-8 YouTube - American Revolution (Crash Course) |
Module 2: Rebellion | Media Response #2 (Due: 09/20) |
| 9/21 | U.S. History (OpenStax) - Ch(s) 5-8 On George Whitefield Coming to Connecticut (1740) On George Whitefield, the Great Revivalist (1739) Common Sense (1776) |
Module 2: Rebellion | Discussion #2 (Due: 09/27) Primary Source Analysis (Due: 09/27) |
| 9/28 | U.S. History (OpenStax) - Ch(s) 5-8 Federalist No. 10 Antifederalist Argument at the NY State Convention (1788) Federalist Argument at the NY State Convention (1788) Antifederalist Argument at the NY State Convention(1788) |
Module 2: Rebellion | Essay #2 (Due: 10/04) |
| 10/5 | U.S. History (OpenStax) - Ch(s) 9-13 YouTube - The Market Revolution (Crash Course) |
Module 3: Antebellum Era | Media Response #3 (Due: 10/11) |
| 10/12 | U.S. History (OpenStax) - Ch(s) 9-13 Expanding American Democracy for Whom? Protesting the Missouri Compromise |
Module 3: Antebellum Era | Discussion #3 (Due: 10/18) Primary Source Analysis #3 (Due: 10/18) |
| 10/19 | U.S. History (OpenStax) - Ch(s) 9-13 Founding a Female Anti-Slavery Society (1836) Congressional Pastoral Letter (1837) Response to the Pastoral Letter (1837) |
Module 3: Antebellum Era | Essay #3 (Due: 10/25) |
| 10/26 | U.S. History (OpenStax) - Ch(s) 14-16 YouTube - War & Expansion (Crash Course) |
Module 4: Civil War | Media Response #4 (Due: 11/01) |
| 11/2 | U.S. History (OpenStax) - Ch(s) 14-16 Families in Slavery On the Treaty of New Echota (1836) |
Module 4: Civil War | Discussion #4 (Due: 11/08) Primary Source Analysis (Due: 11/08) |
| 11/9 | U.S. History (OpenStax) - Ch(s) 14-16 Why Union Soldiers Fought the Civil War Letter to His Brother Henry (1861) The Civil War in America (1863) |
Module 4: Civil War | Essay #4 (Due: 11/15) |
| 11/16 | U.S. History (OpenStax) - Ch(s) 16-17 YouTube - Reconstruction & 1876 (Crash Course) |
Module 5: Reconstruction | Media Response #5 (Due: 11/22) |
| 11/23 | U.S. History (OpenStax) - Ch(s) 16-17 | Module 5: Reconstruction (Thanksgiving Break) | No Assignments Due |
| 11/30 | U.S. History (OpenStax) - Ch(s) 16-17 Race and Reconstruction Mississippi Black Code (1865) |
Module 5: Reconstruction | Discussion #5 (Due: 12/06) Primary Source Analysis #5 (Due: 12/06) |
| 12/7 | U.S. History (OpenStax) - Ch(s) 16-17 Support for Indian Extermination (1868) Challenges to Indian Policy (1881) Views on Indian Affairs (1879) |
Module 5: Reconstruction | Essay #5 (Due: 12/10) |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.