SYLLABUS FOR FALL, 2014
M, W, 9-9:50 a.m., 133 Classroom Bldg.
Discussion Sections: F
Dr. Phil Roberts
Office: 356 History Bldg., 766-5311
Office Hours: Mon., Wed., 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m., and by appointment
E-mail: philr@uwyo.edu
Teaching Assistants:
Kathryn McKee, Disc. Sections 20 & 23
Office Hours: M, W, 10-11:30 a.m., and by appointment
E-mail: kmckee7@uwyo.edu
Office: 56 History Bldg., 766-4333
Henry Busby, Disc. Sections 21 & 22
Office Hours:T, 10-11:30; F, 11-12:30 and by appointment
E-mail: hbusby@uwyo.edu
Office: 56 History Bldg., 766-4333
Discussion Sections:
Sec. 20, 9-9:50 a.m., 209 Business
Sec. 21, 11-11:50 a.m., 10 Business
Sec. 22, 9-9:50 a.m., 121 Classroom
Sec. 23, 10-10:50 a.m., 10 Business
OBJECTIVE: This course will study Wyoming history, how it relates to the history of the West and the rest of America, and how it influences the present. Students will be expected to understand the main themes in the state’s history as well as to recognize the context in the wider national/international perspective.
This course will be set up thematically. Students need to be aware of general chronology, provided through reading the assignments in New History of Wyoming. The chronological context is important because, in history, past actions influence later events, but in this class, the history of the state will be studied theme by theme.
The lectures and readings will provide a general overview and encourage further reading in Wyoming and Western history. Consequently, it is essential for the student to keep up with the reading assignments (both printed and on the web) and participate in the various scheduled activities. It is ESSENTIAL for students to attend discussion sections on Fridays. Failure to attend will result in a failing grade for the class. The sections will be where students take exams, and quizzes as well as working with primary documents in the American Heritage Center. Other special activities will be presented in sections, for instance, providing training on how historians work with one-of-a-kind original documents.
This course satisfies the University Studies V1 requirement. Study of the Wyoming and United States Constitutions is an important part of the class.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS.
Careful reading of FOUR books will be required for this course as well as chapters and articles from two internet-based texts. One internet-only text actually contains a series of articles on main themes in Wyoming history. Titled Readings in Wyoming History, the work is a compilation of scholarly articles and, in most cases, containing footnote citations and well-developed historical arguments. Each article will require careful reading. These readings will be important to understand the various events in the state’s history and provide the thematic framework. The second internet-only text, A New History of Wyoming, will provide the chronological context. Therefore, together with the lectures, the internet readings will provide context and continuity. Each set of readings do NOT duplicate the other, nor will either of them duplicate materials discussed in the lectures. Successful completion of the class requires careful reading of the assigned books, the internet texts and good note-taking during lectures.
All four of the printed books were written for the popular audience and, consequently, are not difficult to read and are not excessively analytical. Nonetheless, reading of all four will require more than mere accumulation of bits of information. Students are expected to be able to identify the main themes in each book and follow the authors’ arguments along with understanding how the events under consideration fit into the broader history of Wyoming.
Readings will be assigned from three other internet-only sites. One such site is Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming’s Past, a compilation of newspaper-length feature stories published over the past several decades. Another site is Made in Wyoming: Our Legacy of Success, a series of biographical sketches that appeared in Wyoming newspapers in the middle of the last decade. The third is the Online Encyclopedia of Wyoming History. Articles assigned from these sites will be linked directly from this syllabus. One chapter from Building Up Wyoming will be read, too.
Written outlines will NOT be provided for lectures. Most lectures will be accessible through WyoCast, but students are expected to develop better note-taking skills to satisfy the requirements for the course. (More information will be provided on how to access WyoCast). In the course of the lectures, photographic images and maps will be emphasized. Consequently, relentless attendance will be required, for lectures in order to succeed in this class.
Because class attention will be necessary for successful completion of the course, all students are asked to turn off cell phones and pagers during lectures.. It is expected that students will be using computers, if desired, for note-taking and not for playing games, interacting on Facebook, or showing images that distract from full attention in the class and bother students in the proximity. Violations of this behavior may be reflected in verbal request to go elsewhere to conduct viewing and/or penalty assessment of the final grade.
EXAMS:
Total of 500 points possible. Two mid-term exams (200), 100 points each; the final exam, 100 points; Constitution exam, 100 points; research exercises, American Heritage Center research paper (requiring attendance, during class time, and at an orientation session at the AHC), total of 100 points. Make-up exams will be given ONLY IF the student informs the professor or TA before the exam is to be administered with a valid reason for missing the scheduled time. Students are expected to be familiar with the university rules governing plagiarism and academic dishonesty which will be enforced in this class. This applies to the AHC assignments as well as to the exams.
American Heritage Center visits will be scheduled throughout the semester and handled by discussion leaders. When preparing the essay for completion of the AHC assignment, students will be given specific instructions during the visit to the AHC. When the American Heritage Center assignments are made, students are expected to attend on the date they are assigned. Unless PRIOR approval of the instructor is given, missing the date will result in losing all credit for the AHC assignment.
Extra Credit: Additional “extra-credit” points may be earned, from time to time, by attending history-related lectures outside regularly scheduled classes. These opportunities will be announced in advance and will require proof of attendance at the event and a brief statement about the lecture program. Points given will be determined by the event. Up to a maximum of 25 points may be earned in this fashion. Maximum points in the class will be 500, but those gaining full credit for all exams/exercises and all extra-credit points could earn up to 525 points.
GRADING PROCEDURE: The final grade will be calculated on the 500 total “points” earned during the semester, tentatively based on the following scale: A: 450-500 points (90%-100%) B: 400-449 points (80%-89%) C: 350-399 points (70%-79%) D: 300-349 points (60%-69%) F: 299 or fewer. The grades in this course will not be “curved.” You will earn your own grade regardless of what others in the class may do. Everyone could earn the grade of “A,” but also the grade of “F.”
PLAGIARISM AND ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Students are expected to know and understand the university’s policies on plagiarism and academic dishonesty. The university rules will be strictly enforced in this class. Academic honesty policy
WYOCAST: Outlines of lectures will NOT be posted. All students will be expected to attend and take notes, using WyoCast for general review or to check on items missed during the lecture. The student will be required to use WyoCast for the lecture on any day on which she/he has a university-sanctioned excuse. Remember that WyoCast is not available for discussion sections.
For access to Wyocast, go to WyoCast, go to the upper right of the page and Log in (using your university e-mail name and password) and then go to “Arts and Sciences” and click. Below you will find the link to “HISTORY” and below that, the link to “HIST 1251.” Click on that and you are there and ready to view the recorded lectures.
EXAMS:
Total of 500 points possible. Two mid-term exams (200), 100 points each; the final exam, 100 points; Constitution exam, 100 points; research exercises, American Heritage Center research paper (requiring attendance, during class time, and at an orientation session at the AHC), total of 100 points. Make-up exams will be given ONLY IF the student informs the professor or TA before the exam is to be administered with a valid reason for missing the scheduled time. Students are expected to be familiar with the university rules governing plagiarism and academic dishonesty which will be enforced in this class. This applies to the AHC assignments as well as to the exams.
American Heritage Center visits will be scheduled throughout the semester and handled by discussion leaders. When preparing the essay for completion of the AHC assignment, students will be given specific instructions during the visit to the AHC. When the American Heritage Center assignments are made, students are expected to attend on the date they are assigned. Unless PRIOR approval of the instructor is given, missing the date will result in losing all credit for the AHC assignment.
Extra Credit: Additional “extra-credit” points may be earned, from time to time, by attending history-related lectures outside regularly scheduled classes. These opportunities will be announced in advance and will require proof of attendance at the event and a brief statement about the lecture program. Points given will be determined by the event. Up to a maximum of 25 points may be earned in this fashion. Maximum points in the class will be 500, but those gaining full credit for all exams/exercises and all extra-credit points could earn up to 525 points.
GRADING PROCEDURE: The final grade will be calculated on the 500 total “points” earned during the semester, tentatively based on the following scale: A: 450-500 points (90%-100%) B: 400-449 points (80%-89%) C: 350-399 points (70%-79%) D: 300-349 points (60%-69%) F: 299 or fewer. The grades in this course will not be “curved.” You will earn your own grade regardless of what others in the class may do. Everyone could earn the grade of “A,” but also the grade of “F.”
PLAGIARISM AND ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Students are expected to know and understand the university’s policies on plagiarism and academic dishonesty. The university rules will be strictly enforced in this class. Academic honesty policy
WYOCAST: Outlines of lectures will NOT be posted. All students will be expected to attend and take notes, using WyoCast for general review or to check on items missed during the lecture. The student will be required to use WyoCast for the lecture on any day on which she/he has a university-sanctioned excuse. Remember that WyoCast is not available for discussion sections.
For access to Wyocast, go to WyoCast, go to the upper right of the page and Log in (using your university e-mail name and password) and then go to “Arts and Sciences” and click. Below you will find the link to “HISTORY” and below that, the link to “HIST 1251.” Click on that and you are there and ready to view the recorded lectures.
EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES
Periodically throughout the semester, we will list history-related talks and presentations from which attendance may gain you some additional points. The following procedure must be followed in order to gain extra credit:
1) the program must be noted here (or special permission must be obtained from your grader);
2) you must attend, at times asked to sign in at the presentation/program
3) you must complete a one-page review of the event, noting the speaker(s) and what the main points were;
4) you must submit the report to your grader no later than one week after the program.
5) you may earn up to five points per program, with the limitation of 25 total points (five programs) for the term.
LIST OF FORTHCOMING PROGRAMS
Dec. 10, 9 a.m., (in class):
Stump the Professor, An Extra-Credit Exercise. (Look at the bottom of this column for details and rules)
Past Programs:
Wed., Sept. 10, 6:30 p.m., “The Wyoming Wilderness Act: History, Politics and Perceptions.” The program will feature panelists involved in various aspects of the act over the years. Free and open to the public. Place: College of Agriculture Auditorium
Thurs., Sept. 18, morning and afternoon sessions. Immigration Symposium, featuring various state and national speakers talking about U. S. immigration policy and history behind it. Place: Hilton Garden Inn. (Exact details to be provided by Sept. 12) Maximum of 10 points for attending entire symposium..
Mon., Oct. 13, 5 p.m., “Clowning Around and Turning the World Upside Down: History and Satire,” lecture by Dr. William H. Beezley, Univ. of Arizona, and Dr. Steven B. Bunker, Univ. of Alabama, Cone Family Distinguished Lecture in History, 2014. Place: 138 Berry Center
Tues., Oct. 21, 7:30 p.m., “Meaningful Places: Landscape Photography in the 19th Century American West,” presentation by Dr. Rachel Sailor, UW Department of Art. Place: Alice Hardee Stevens Center, Laramie Plains Museum (the small building on University Ave. behind the Ivinson Mansion).
Friday, Nov. 14, 4 p.m., “An afternoon with Garry Kasparov, Russian pro-democracy leader, global human rights activist, business speaker, and author, and former world chess champion.” UW International Programs, the UW College of Business, and the Wyoming Business Alliance Place: Business Auditorium
Friday, Nov. 21, noon. “November 9 in German History and Memory: How Germans Became Pacifists.” Presentation by Christian Frey, ZDF documentary producer: Place: 103 Classroom Bldg.
Thurs., Dec. 4, 3 p.m., “Balancing the Gap: Contested Protocols of US Federal Development in American Samoa,” Research Presentation by Dr. JoAnna Poblete, UW Dept. of HIstory.Place: Classroom Bldg 209
REQUIRED BOOKS:
John W. Davis, Wyoming Range War: The Infamous Invasion of Johnson County. (U of Oklahoma Press. 2010). The book is available in hard cover, paperback and Kindle. Any edition is OK.
Geoff O’Gara,What You See in Clear Water: Indians, Whites and a Battle Over Water in the American West. (Vintage, 2002). Paperback. ISBN-10: 9780679735823
Robert Righter. Crucible for Conservation: The Crusade to Save Grand Teton National Park. (Moose: Grand Teton Natural History Assoc., 1982, 2000)
Laura Gibson Smith, Almost Pioneers: One Couple’s Homesteading Adventures in the West. Ed. by John J. Fry. (2013). Paper. ISBN: 978-0-76278439-4
REQUIRED WEB-BASED READINGS:
Michael Cassity, Building Up Wyoming. (SHPO, Cheyenne), Chap. 3
Phil Roberts, A New History of Wyoming. (currently available only on the web)
Phil Roberts, editor. Readings in Wyoming History. (web edition), available entirely on the web.
Other editions are still available, but the fifth edition contains a number of essays not included in earlier editions.
“Made in Wyoming: Our Legacy of Success,” joint publication/web pages of the Casper Star-Tribune and Casper Journal.
Phil Roberts, Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming’s Past (available only on the web)
Online Encyclopedia of Wyoming History is a website containing a number of significant articles about Wyoming history. Sponsored by the Wyoming State Historical Society, the site is edited by Casper historian Tom Rae.
OTHER REQUIRED READINGS:
Wyoming Constitution. (Available for purchase, but also on reserve at Coe Library circulation and on the web).
United States Constitution. (On reserve at Coe Library circulation and on the web).
HISTORY OF WYOMING
OUTLINE OF TOPICS, MEETINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS
Wed., Sept 3: Introduction.
Fri., Sept 5: Discussion Sections, Introduction.
Mon., Sept. 8: Organizing Concepts in Wyoming History
Readings in Wyoming History, Introduction
Wed., Sept. 10: Indians, Land and Water
O’Gara, Geoff. What You See in Clear Water: Indians, Whites and a Battle Over Water in the American West. (entire book)
Readings in Wyoming History: Same Decision, Different Result?
Readings in Wyoming History, Reflecting Community: Case Studies of Three Wyoming Museums and the Impact of Each on the Community
Fri., Sept. 12: Discussion Sections.
Mon., Sept. 15: Boom and Bust/Trails to Somewhere Else: Early Exploration
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 1: Original Residents, Explorers and the Fur Trade
“Made in Wyoming” profile of Chief Washakie
Wed., Sept. 17: Ethnicity and Immigration
Readings in Wyoming History, Ethnicity in Wyoming
Readings in Wyoming History, My One Hobby
Readings in Wyoming History, Lovell’s Mexican Colony
Fri., Sept. 19: Discussion Sections.
Section 20 goes to the American Heritage Center.
Mon., Sept. 22: The Fur Trade and the Trails.
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 2: Lessons from the Fur Trade
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 3: Trails Across Wyoming
Wed., Sept. 24: The Coming of Rails
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 4: Coming of Rails
Readings in Wyoming History, Selections from John Crowley’s Diary
Fri., Sept. 26: Discussion Sections.
Section 21 goes to the American Heritage Center.
Mon., Sept. 29: Women Suffrage and the Creation of the Territory.
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 5: Establishing the Territory and Granting Women Equal Rights
Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming’s Past: The 1st Woman Juror
Readings in Wyoming History, Near Repeal of Women Suffrage
“Made in Wyoming” profile of Esther Morris
Readings in Wyoming History, Wyoming’s Estelle Reel
Wed., Oct. 1: History of Wyoming Coal
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 7: Minerals in Territorial Wyoming
Fri., Oct. 3: Discussion Sections.
Section 22 goes to the American Heritage Center.
Mon., Oct. 6: The Rock Springs Massacre and Ethnic Conflict
Readings in Wyoming History, The Wyoming Experience: Chinese in Wyoming
Wed., Oct. 8: Boom and Bust Wyoming: Ranching
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 6: Public Lands
Readings in Wyoming History, Cowboys Form a Health Cooperative
Fri., Oct. 10: Discussion Sections.
Reading: Rea, “Covering Cattle Kate: Newspapers and the Watson-Averell Lynching”
Mon., Oct. 13: Free Grazing, Free Land: Open-range Cattle Companies
Wed., Oct. 15: 1st Mid-term Exam.
Fri., Oct. 17: Discussion Sections.
Section 23 goes to the American Heritage Center.
Mon., Oct. 20: Sectionalism at the Extreme: The Johnson County Invasion
Reading: Davis, Wyoming Range War: The Infamous Invasion of Johnson County (entire book)
Wed., Oct. 22: The Wyoming Constitution
Reading: The Wyoming Constitution
Readings in Wyoming History: Wyoming Constitutional Convention and Adoption of Wyoming’s Constitution, 1889, and the Aftermath
Online Encyclopedia of Wyoming: Wyoming Constitution Details
Readings in Wyoming History, The Contest for the Capital
Fri., Oct. 24: Discussion Sections. The Two Constitutions.
Mon., Oct. 27: The U. S. Constitution
The U. S. Constitution. (Available through numerous sources); commentaries on the Constitution available online through the professor’s homepage.
Wed., Oct. 29: Wyoming Constitutional Amendments and Current Status
Fri., Oct. 31: Discussion Sections. Constitution Exams.
Mon., Nov. 3: Civil Rights in Wyoming
Readings in Wyoming History, The Emerging Civil Rights Movement
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 18: The 1960s
Readings in Wyoming History, Fired by Conscience
Readings in Wyoming History, The Black 14: Williams v. Eaton
Online Encyclopedia of Wyoming: Mel Hamilton on the Black 14 Incident
“Made in Wyoming” profile of James Reeb
“Made in Wyoming” profile of Liz Byrd
Wed., Nov. 5: Conservation, Preservation, Development: Establishing National Parks and Forests
Reading: Righter, Crucible for Conservation. (Entire book).
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 11: Conservation and National Parks
Readings in Wyoming History, Progressivism Comes to Yellowstone: Theodore Roosevelt and Professional Land Management Agencies in the Yellowstone Ecosystem
Readings in Wyoming History, Harvard Cook in the Wyoming Badlands
Fri., Nov. 7: Discussion Sections. Smith, Almost Pioneers (entire book).
Mon., Nov. 10:Into the 20th Century
Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming’s Past: Edison, the Light Bulb and the Eclipse
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 12: Into the 20th Century
Readings in Wyoming History, School Bells and Winchesters
Online Encyclopedia of Wyoming, Tom Horn
Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming’s Past: Torrey’s Roughriders
Readings in Wyoming History, Evolution of Roads_
Wed., Nov. 12: History of Wyoming Oil: Gushers, Dry Holes and Teapot Dome
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 9: History of Wyoming Oil
Teapot Dome interview on C-SPAN, Aug. 2014
Online Encyclopedia of Wyoming: Teapot Dome
“Made in Wyoming” profile of John B. Kendrick
Fri., Nov. 14: Discussion Sections. 2nd Mid-term Exam.
—————————————————————
The Final Exam will consist of questions from readings/lectures from this point to the close of the term.
Mon., Nov. 17: The Great Depression of the 1920s:
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 14: The 1920s in Wyoming
Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming’s Past: Wyoming’s First License Plates
Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming’s Past: Somewhere West of Laramie
Readings in Wyoming History, Give Them What They Want
Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming’s Past: The Builder of the World’s Oldest Cabin
Online Encyclopedia of Wyoming, Nellie Tayloe Ross
“Made in Wyoming” profile of Nellie Tayloe Ross
Wed., Nov. 19: The New Deal Influence in the State
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 15: Depression and New Deal
History of Wyoming’s Sales Tax
Fri., Nov. 21: Discussion Sections.
Michael Cassity, Building Up Wyoming. (SHPO, Cheyenne), Chap. 3
Mon., Nov. 24: Legends and Self-Image
Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming’s Past: Equality State? Cowboy State?
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 10: Wyoming’s Self-Image
Online Encyclopedia of Wyoming, Kenny Sailors
Online Encyclopedia of Wyoming, Rulon Gardner
Wed.-Fri., Nov. 26-28: NO CLASSES. Thanksgiving Vacation.
Mon., Dec. 1: World War II Impact on the State
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 16: World War II in Wyoming
Readings in Wyoming History, The 100-Octane Fuel Plant
Readings in Wyoming History, O’Mahoney and Japanese RelocationIrrigation
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 13, Water and Irrigation
Wed., Dec. 3: Post-War Wyoming
Readings in Wyoming History, The Textbook Controversy at the University of Wyoming
Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming’s Past, Sleeping with the Nuclear Genie
Readings in Wyoming History, Quest for Public Television
Readings in Wyoming History, Visions Beyond an Arrow of Fire
Online Encyclopedia of Wyoming: Wyoming’s Nuclear Might: Warren AFB in the Cold War
Fri., Dec. 5: Discussion Sections.
Readings in Wyoming History, ‘Mrs. Barriers’ and the Crusade to Make Wyoming Public Buildings Accessible
“Made in Wyoming” profile of Helen Bardo
“Made in Wyoming” profile of Olaus and Mardie Murie
Online Encyclopedia of Wyoming: The Muries and Wilderness
Readings in Wyoming History, The Virginian Meets Matt Shepard
Online Encyclopedia of Wyoming: Matt Shepard legacy
Mon., Dec. 8: Energy Boom and Bust
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 19: Boom and Bust Again: The 1970s
Readings in Wyoming History, Project Wagon Wheel: A Nuclear Plowshare for Wyoming
Online Encyclopedia of Wyoming: Whipple, “Coal Slurry: An Idea that Came and Went”
Readings in Wyoming History, Home on the Range No More
“Made in Wyoming” profile of Stan Hathaway:
“Made in Wyoming” profile of Tom Stroock
Wed., Dec. 10: Modern Issues of Economic Diversification
“Made in Wyoming” profile of Mike Sullivan:
Online Encyclopedia of Wyoming: Oral History of Ed Herschler:
“Made in Wyoming” profile of Marilyn Kite
Online Encyclopedia of Wyoming: Harnessing Wyoming’s Wind.
Fri., Dec. 12: Discussion Sections.
Review Questions for Final Exam
FINAL EXAM: Friday, Dec. 19, 8 a.m.
The exam will be essay in style. Please bring an examination “blue-book” to the exam. No electronic devices are allowed and students are reminded to keep cell phones turned off during the exam. Exam will be in our regular classroom, Presentation Hall, 133 Classroom Bldg.
_______________________________________
Stump the Professor, An Extra-Credit Exercise, Wed., Dec. 10
The Rules
–Write down a question concerning any aspect of Wyoming history on the front of a sheet of paper, along with your name
–You can ask about anything except no numbers, no dates, no long recitations, nothing “genealogical” (no names of obscure relatives–of yours or other famous people, etc.) and question that would require a SINGING ANSWER!!!
–On the back of the sheet of paper, write down the answer AND your source for the information
-You must turn in your question before the class starts on Wednesday, Dec. 10. We will read the questions in class that day.You MUST be present for the entire class period to receive credit.
-If the professor correctly answers the question, you receive five extra-credit points for submitting the question (as long as you also included the answer and the source on the back of the sheet of paper)
-If the professor can’t answer the question or answers it wrong, you get ten extra-credit points (as long as you also included the answer and the source on the back of the sheet of paper).