American Women’s History (History and GWS 259)

Tuesday and Thursday 3:30-4:45

210 Douglas Hall

 

Instructor:  Jennifer Brier

Office: 1822 University Hall

Office Phone: 312-413-2458

Office Hours: Tuesday 2:00-3:00, Thursday 10:30-11:30, and by appointment

Email: jbrier@uic.edu

 

Welcome to the American women’s history survey. This class focuses on the changing experiences of women in the United States from colonization to the present. Throughout the course of the semester we will study historical change by examining the emergence of social, cultural, economic and political ideologies to maintain “appropriate” gender roles in the past.  We will also learn about women’s work, both in and outside the home, the role women played in their families, as well as the ways in which women addressed social and political problems. To that end, we will explore and think about differences among women, looking at the intersections of race, class, nationality, sexuality and gender throughout the historical period covered by the course.

 

In addition to learning about the history of women and gender, it is my hope that you will work on critical and constructive reading and writing skills in this class. Over the course of the semester we will read and discuss a wide range of historical documents, including secondary academic articles, short primary documents, and historical memoirs.  You will also do historical research at four points during the semester, and share your findings with the class.  The writing assignments are designed to encourage active learning and engagement with all the course materials.  While I will give brief lectures in almost every class session, I expect you to come to each class ready to discuss the assigned materials. 

 

REQUIRED BOOKS

All the books have been ordered at the University Bookstore.  I strongly suggest you purchase all three books.  If this is not possible, please let me know immediately so we can arrange for you to get the necessary materials. 

 

Jacqueline Jones Royster editor, Southern Horrors and Other Writings: The Anti-Lynching Campaign of Ida B. Wells, 1982-1900 (Bedford, 1997).

 

Linda Kerber and Jane Sherron Du Hart editors, Women’s America: Refocusing the Past, Sixth Edition, (Oxford, 2004). You may not use an earlier edition. (WA on the schedule)

 

Karla Jay, Tales of the Lavender Menace (Basic, 2000).

 

Articles that appear on the syllabus with (x) are on the blackboard site.  For those of you without fast modem connections, I suggest using the campus computer labs to download and print the articles.

           

 

 

 

COURSE MECHANICS
Attendance/Class Participation: This is not a lecture class.  While I will give brief lectures as background, most of our class meetings will consist of discussions.  For these conversations to work everyone must come to class, do the reading, and regularly engage in class discussions.  It is important to practice speaking in public spaces.  This forces you to develop clear and concise arguments, a skill that will serve you well in academic and non-academic environments alike.  I know that some people have a harder time with talking in class than others, but I encourage you to try.  If this remains difficult, you should see me during office hours.  If you miss more than 3 class periods, you risk receiving a failing grade for class participation.  Class participation will be worth 20% of the final grade. 

 

Writing Assignments:

Paper 1 (Parts A-D) Primary Source Research:

At four points during the semester you will do digital historical research.  While I have chosen the websites you must visit, you will need to spend time navigating the site to locate a specific document that interests you.  Each of the sites is designed to allow students to find historical documents that illuminate particular moments in the past.  You may choose a written document such as a diary entry, a personal letter, or a newspaper article or a visual document such as a photograph.  After choosing your primary document, you will need to write a short paper providing an introduction to the document for the other members of the class.  Your introduction should include a brief summary of the document, no more than one paragraph, and two or three paragraphs on the significance of the document in relation to the historical context.  Paper 1 will be worth a total of 30% of your final grade.

 

The sites also appear on the schedule below on their due dates.

            For Early Nineteenth Century America

            http://dohistory.org/home.html

 

            For the Civil War

            http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amhome.html or

            http://valley.vcdh.virginia.edu/choosepart.html

 

            For the Progressive Era           

            http://www.uic.edu/jaddams/hull/urbanexp/index.htm

 

            For the Great Depression

http://www.newdeal.feri.org/index.htm or http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/wpahome.html

 

Paper 2 Ida B. Wells and Anti-Lynching:

In this paper you will write about the Ida B. Wells anti-lynching activism described in Southern Horrors and Other Writings.  The specific topic will be handed out in class.  Paper 2 will be worth 20% of your final grade.

 

Take Home Final Exam:

One question will focus on Tales of the Lavender Menace, the other will be cumulative and will require analysis of a combination of primary documents and secondary materials. The final exam will be worth 30% of your final grade.

Academic Integrity: Please read the University policy on academic integrity at www.uic.edu/depts/sja/integrit.htm.  If you have any questions about this policy or about proper citations, please ask during class time.  Academic dishonesty will endanger your standing in the class and at UIC.

 

SCHEDULE

 

January 11

            Introductions

 

January 13

            Why study Women’s and Gender History?

De Hart and Kerber, “Introduction” (WA)

 

January 18

            Contact/Conquest: Borderlands in the Southwest

            Brooks, “This Evil Extends” (WA)

           

January 20

            Slavery and Race in Colonial America

            Berkin, “African American Women in Colonial Society” (WA)

            Documents: The Law of Slavery (WA)

 

January 25

            Gendered Bodies in Early America

            Norton, “Searchers again Assembled” (WA)

 

January 27

            Witchcraft

            Karlsen, “The Devil in the Shape of a Woman” (WA)

 

February 1

            Women and the American Revolution

            Kerber, “The Republican Mother” (WA)

            Documents: Supporting the Revolution (WA)

 

February 3

            Martha Ballard

Visit http://dohistory.org/home.html to learn about Ballard.  Choose one document from the website and bring it to class.

           

February 8

            Women’s Work in Antebellum America

            Boydston, “The Pastoralization of Housework” (WA)

            Document: Working Conditions (WA)

 

Paper 1-A due at the beginning of class