Colonial America to 1763
Department of History
The College of William and Mary

Objectives: In this class we will explore the history of North America from the period of initial European and Native American contact through the end of the Seven Years’ War in 1763. We will focus primarily on the colonies that would later become the United States, but we will also examine Spanish and French colonization. In part, then, this class will study the different ways in which European countries colonized, and how those imperial powers interacted in, North America. In contrast to this broad, imperial analysis, we will also trace the various sorts of cultural conflicts that arose within English North America, especially as the colonies matured and became more populous and diverse. Finally, we will examine regionalism within the English colonies and contrast the ways in which the various regions developed.

One of my goals in this class, in other words, is to provide you with a sound introduction to colonial America, a foundation you can apply to future history classes you might take. My second goal is to introduce you to some of the important works, both books and essays, about the period. Through close and careful readings of these studies you will first unravel and then, in written assignments and oral discussions, critique scholars’ arguments. Furthermore, as you progress through the readings you will become familiar with some of the different methodologies and sources historians use, and you will assess the strengths and weaknesses of them. In short, your critical analysis of these works should help you become a better historian.

Required Books:

Jill Lepore, The Name of War
James Axtell, The Indians’ New South
Fred Anderson, A People’s Army
Coursepack

Office Hours: Please feel free to stop by my office during scheduled hours, or make an appointment if those hours are inconvenient for you. I welcome any questions or concerns you might have about the readings, the assignments or the course generally. You can also contact me via email or call me at my office number.

Course Requirements:

I: Attendance and Participation

Your regular attendance is essential, particularly in a condensed, shortened course during the summer. This class will be a combination of lectures and discussions, with a heavy emphasis on discussions. You are required to do ALL of the readings before class.

As you can see below, participation is an important part (20%) of your grade. All of you, I’m sure, will have interesting and insightful things to say about the readings, and sharing your ideas leads to an environment in which we all learn from each other. Discussions are not meant to embarrass you or put you on the spot. So relax, think critically, and contribute!

Journal: In order to help guide your reading of the secondary sources, and allow me to assess how you are analyzing them, each of you will keep a journal, an intellectual record of your reactions to what you’ve read. Often I will give you an assignment for your journal based on the day’s reading, other times you are free to write what you like. The journal is designed to help you become a better critical reader. I will collect them at random several times during the semester.

I will assess your participation each day, and your journal entries, on a p-/p/p+ system.

II: Papers

There are three papers, each due on a Friday (see course outline below) and each 3-4 pages in length. I will pass out the specific assignments on the Mondays before the papers are due. Essentially, each paper will be a different type of book review. For the first paper, I will be happy to read a draft of your work, as long as you get it to me by Wednesday the 5th.

III: Exam

There will be one, comprehensive exam on the last day of the session. I will hand out three potential exam questions at the beginning of that last week, but you will have to answer only one of them that Friday. You will have all week to think about and prepare your answers, but the exam itself will be closed-book. You may NOT bring any prepared materials—notes, outlines, readings, etc.—into class the day of the final.

Grading:

Each paper: 20% (60% total)
Final exam: 20%
Participation: 20%

Course Outline