Course Syllabus

Fall 2025 | HIS-1212-VU01 - U.S. History Since 1865

In Person Class

Standard courses meet in person at CCV centers, typically once each week for the duration of the semester.

Faculty

Patrick Gallagher
View Faculty Credentials

Hiring Coordinator for this course: Gilberto Diaz Santos

General Education Requirements

Humanistic Perspectives

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

Beginning with Reconstruction, this course traces the social, economic, political, and cultural forces that have shaped the history of the United States to the present day. The course emphasizes understanding of contemporary issues in light of historical events.

Essential Objectives

1. Describe the military, economic, social, and political elements of the Reconstruction period and the evolution of structural racism.
2. Discuss efforts to expand or restrict civil rights from Reconstruction to the present.
3. Assess the role of the Supreme Court in determining the rights and opportunities of disenfranchised demographic groups.
4. Discuss the significance of western expansion and the idea of the American frontier, along with its implications for indigenous peoples, immigrants, and other historically disadvantaged populations.
5. Analyze the diverse effects of urbanization, industrialization, and technological innovation in the United States.
6. Compare and contrast major social reform movements in the United States since the Civil War, including their lasting impacts on American society.
7. Analyze the immediate and lasting consequences of the Great Depression, including its influence on the evolving role of government in people’s lives in the modern age.
8. Explain how successive waves of immigration shaped culture and affected the diversity of American society and analyze how immigrant populations have been perceived, portrayed, and treated by dominant cultures over time.
9. Trace the development of American foreign policy and analyze America’s role in global affairs.
10. Analyze the theses, context, values, perspectives, and facts in primary and secondary sources.
11. Engage in and evaluate historical research using information literacy skills.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV computer recommendations Support page.

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

*** This is a no cost textbook or resource class. ***

HIS-1212-VU01 Link to Textbooks/Resources Information for this course in eCampus.

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.

Artificial Intelligence(AI) Policy Statement

CCV recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI tools are widely available and becoming embedded in many online writing and creative applications.

Prohibited: The use of generative AI is not allowed in this course, with the exception of spellcheck, grammar check and similar tools. This course rests in the value of students engaging in the learning process without relying on AI-generated content. Students will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills independently, owning their learning journey from start to finish. If you use these tools, your actions would be considered academically dishonest and a violation of CCV's Academic Integrity Policy.

Methods

This course is a mix of in-person discussion and lecture. Students are expected to participate in analysis and discussion of assigned materials and questions from the Professor.

• Reading the assigned core textbook.
• Reading additional textbook and primary source documents available on https://library.schlagergroup.com.
• Reading/Viewing additional material assigned on Canvas.

Evaluation Criteria

Grades will be based upon the completion of all the following:

• Participation = 30%
• Midterm Essay = 20%
• Weekly Reaction Papers = 20%
• Final Project = 30

Participation in this class involves critically analyzing course material and engaging in class discussion. Student are required to come to class prepared to do so, and to engage in respectful academic discussion with each other as well as with the Professor. Disagreement is acceptable as long as it does not degenerate into disrespect, and students can expect that on some matters, we will not reach consensus. Discussion will count for 30% of each students' final grade, and consequently should not be neglected.

Additionally, students are expected to submit short reaction papers for each week's indicated primary source assignments. These are to be at least two but no more than three pages in length, very briefly summarizing the works and, more importantly, critically analyzing the theses and arguments of each week's assigned readings. These papers count for 20% of each students’ final grade.

The Midterm essay will be a take-home writing assignment, with a prompt sheet made available several weeks prior to the due date.

Students will have a choice for the Final Project, either to accept a second essay on the same format as the Midterm, or to write a Term Paper on a subject of their own choosing. Students wishing to take the Term Paper option will need to consult with the Professor well in advance of the due date to ascertain the viability of their subject.

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Participation Expectations

Participation in this class involves critically analyzing course material and engaging in class discussion. Student are required to come to class prepared to do so, and to engage in respectful academic discussion with each other as well as with the Professor. Disagreement is acceptable as long as it does not degenerate into disrespect, and students can expect that on some matters, we will not reach consensus. Discussion will count for 30% of each students' final grade, and consequently should not be neglected.

Additionally, student are expected to submit short reaction papers for each week's indicated primary source assignments. These are to be at least two but no more than three pages in length, very briefly summarizing the works and, more importantly, critically analyzing the theses and arguments of each week's assigned readings. These papers count for 20% of each students final grade.

Missing & Late Work Policy

• Assignments are due by the date indicated on the course syllabus, prior to the class meeting scheduled for that date. Submissions after the due date are potentially subject to lateness penalties, contingent on specific circumstances.
• Extensions may be granted at the discretion of the Professor. Students seeking an extention are strongly advised to do so before the due date in question.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity

Apply Now for this semester.