US History through Film

UNITED STATES HISTORY THROUGH FILM
SYLLABUS
SPRING 2021

Some notes are the same as those used in earlier semesters, while some are updated more frequently. Be sure to check the date on each page.

* Recently updated or uploaded items are marked with a red asterisk. *

Instructor:    Dr. Jerry Alan Sayers
E-mail:        School: sayersd@jcschools.org
               Home:    dusty@sayersnet.com

Course Web Page:    http://www.sayersnet.com/history

Textbook: None assigned; printed or on-line reading assignments will be provided throughout the semester.

Objective: The purpose of this course is to use theatrical and documentary films to illustrate important or interesting topics in United States History, in order to supplement the United States History class curriculum.

Fee: The Social Studies Department collects a $5 fee payable in cash or a check made out to Science Hill High School.

Evaluation:

1. Objective Tests
2. Essay Tests
3. Long-Term Research Projects and Presentations (test grade)
4. Quizzes, Homework, Classwork and other Daily Grades (20% of a test grade)
5. Short-Term research Projects and Presentations (20% of a test grade)
6. The final exam will count as 15% of the semester grade.

The standard grading scale will be used:

A: 93-100
B: 85-92
C: 75-84
D: 70-74
F: Below 70

Extra credit will not be assigned to improve a grade.

Work is late if it is not ready to be handed in at the beginning of class (unless otherwise instructed). Late work will receive a penalty of 5 points per day, and must be submitted within five days of the due date. Missed tests must be made up within three days of a student’s return to school. Tests may require an hour and a half, so always be present on test days!

Classroom Rules:

1. Be in assigned seat when bell rings.
2. Have class materials ready and personal items put away when the bell rings.
3. Only speak with permission.
4. Be respectful of others.
5. Turn in work on time.
6. Keep the room tidy.
7. Only leave the room with a hall pass.
8. Quid pro quo

2021 Spring Session
—subject to change based on health and other conditions

In case of inclement weather, classes will still be held on-line and on-line assignments should be completed at home, unless otherwise announced. If you miss a lesson or assignment due to illness or other issues, please contact Dr. Sayers as soon as possible to discuss how to make up the missing work.

Video lectures for some topics can be found on the YouTube playlist Dr Sayers Teaches US History through Film.

JAN 4    NO SCHOOL
JAN 5    Introduction; Colonizing America; The Natives and the English; The Quakers, the Dutch, and the Ladies
JAN 6    The French and Indian War (The Last of the Mohicans) (Introduction)
JAN 7    The French and Indian War (The Last of the Mohicans) (Worksheet)
JAN 8    The French and Indian War (The Last of the Mohicans) (Worksheet Discussion and Afterward)

JAN 11    Taxation Without Representation (John Adams) (Introduction) (Worksheet)
JAN 12    Taxation Without Representation (John Adams) (Worksheet Discussion and Afterward)
JAN 13    The Declaration of Independence (1776) (Introduction) (Worksheet)
JAN 14    The Declaration of Independence (1776) (Worksheet)
JAN 15    The Declaration of Independence (1776) (Worksheet)

JAN 18    NO SCHOOL
JAN 19    The Declaration of Independence (1776) (Worksheet Discussion)
JAN 20    Washington Crossing the Delaware (The Crossing) (Introduction) (Worksheet)
JAN 21    Washington Crossing the Delaware (The Crossing) (Worksheet Discussion and Afterward)
JAN 22    The Saratoga Campaign (The Revolution) (Introduction, Worksheet Discussion, and Afterward) (Workseet)

JAN 25    The World Turned Upside Down (The Revolution and other selections) (Introduction part 1, part 2, part 3) (Worksheet)
JAN 26    The World Turned Upside Down (The Revolution and other selections) (Worksheet Discussion and Afterward)
JAN 27    Test 1: The American Revolution / Slavery and the Anti-Slavery Movement (Amistad) (Introduction part 1, part 2) (Worksheet)
JAN 28    Slavery and the Anti-Slavery Movement (Amistad) (Introduction part 1, part 2) (Worksheet) / Test 1: The American Revolution
JAN 29    Slavery and the Anti-Slavery Movement (Amistad) (Worksheet)

FEB 1   Slavery and the Anti-Slavery Movement (Amistad) (Worksheet)
FEB 2     Slavery and the Anti-Slavery Movement (Amistad) (Worksheet Discussion and Afterward)
FEB 3     The War Between the States (Antietam) (Introduction part 1, part 2)
FEB 4     The War Between the States (Antietam) (Worksheet) (Afterward)
FEB 5     A New Birth of Freedom (Glory) (Introduction) (Worksheet)

FEB 8     A New Birth of Freedom (Glory) (Worksheet Discussion and Afterward part 1, part 2, and part 3) (Worksheet)
FEB 9     Abolishing Slavery (Lincoln ) (Introduction) (Worksheet)
FEB 10    Abolishing Slavery (Lincoln ) (Worksheet)
FEB 11    Abolishing Slavery (Lincoln ) (Worksheet Discussion part 1, part 2, and Afterward); Reconstruction (Worksheet)
FEB 12    NO SCHOOL

FEB 15    NO SCHOOL
FEB 16    American Imperialism (Rough Riders) (Introduction) (Worksheet) / Test 2: Slavery and the Civil War
FEB 17    Test 2: Slavery and the Civil War / American Imperialism (Rough Riders) (Introduction) (Worksheet)
FEB 18    American Imperialism (Rough Riders) (Introduction) (Worksheet)
FEB 19    American Imperialism (Rough Riders) (Introduction) (Worksheet)

FEB 22    American Imperialism (Rough Riders) (Video Worksheet Discussion and Afterward)
FEB 23    The Kingdom of Hawai'i (Princess Ka'iulani) (Introduction) (Worksheet)
FEB 24    The Kingdom of Hawai'i (Princess Ka'iulani) (Video Worksheet Discussion)
FEB 25    Big Stick Diplomacy (A Man, a Plan, a Canal, Panama) (In troduction) (Video Worksheet)
FEB 26    Big Stick Diplomacy (A Man, a Plan, a Canal, Panama) (Video Worksheet Discussion and Afterward)

MAR 1     The War to End All Wars (Sergeant York) (Introduction) (Video Worksheet)
MAR 2    The War to End All Wars (Sergeant York) (Video Worksheet Discussion)
MAR 3     The War to End All Wars (Sergeant York) (Afterward)
MAR 4     Test 3: America Becomes a World Power
MAR 5     Test 3: America Becomes a World Power
End of Term 3

SPRING BREAK

MAR 15    The Labor Movement (The Homestead Strike) *
MAR 16    The Labor Movement (Matewan) *
MAR 17    The Labor Movement (Matewan) *
MAR 18    The Labor Movement (Matewan) *
MAR 19    The Women's Movement (Iron Jawed Angels) *

MAR 22    The Women's Movement (Iron Jawed Angels) *
MAR 23    The Women's Movement (Iron Jawed Angels) *
MAR 24    The 1920s *
MAR 25    The Monkey Trial (Inherit the Wind) *
MAR 26    The Monkey Trial (Inherit the Wind) *

MAR 29    Organized Crime (Al Capone); The Great Depression *
MAR 30    The Dust Bowl and the Okies (The Grapes of Wrath) *
MAR 31    The Dust Bowl and the Okies (The Grapes of Wrath) *
APR 1     The Dust Bowl and the Okies (The Grapes of Wrath) *
APR 2     NO SCHOOL

APR 5   NO SCHOOL
APR 6     The New Deal; Huey Long *
APR 7     The New Deal (O Brother, Where Art Thou?) *
APR 8     The New Deal (O Brother, Where Art Thou?) *
APR 9     Test 4: The Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression *

APR 12    A Date Which Will Live in Infamy (Pearl Harbor) *
APR 13    The Home Front *
APR 14    The Home Front; The War in Europe (To Hell and Back) *
APR 15    The War in Europe (To Hell and Back) *
APR 16    The War in Europe (To Hell and Back) *

APR 19    The War in Europe (To Hell and Back) *
APR 20    The Tuskegee Airmen (Red Tails) *
APR 21    The Tuskegee Airmen (Red Tails) *
APR 22    The War in the Pacific (Unbroken) *
APR 23    The War in the Pacific (Unbroken) *

APR 26    The War in the Pacific (Unbroken) *; Island Hopping (Hacksaw Ridge) *
APR 27    Island Hopping (Hacksaw Ridge) *
APR 28    Island Hopping (Hacksaw Ridge) *
APR 29    Test 5: World War II *
APR 30    The Cold War Begins (The Berlin Airlift) *

MAY 3    The 1960s *
MAY 4     The Arms Race and Espionage (Bridge of Spies) *
MAY 5     The Arms Race and Espionage (Bridge of Spies) *
MAY 6     The Arms Race and Espionage (Bridge of Spies); The Cuban Missile Crisis (Thirteen Days) *
MAY 7     The Cuban Missile Crisis (Thirteen Days) *

MAY 10    The Cuban Missile Crisis (Thirteen Days) *
MAY 11    The Civil Rights Movement (Eyes on the Prize *
MAY 12    The Civil Rights Movement (Eyes on the Prize)*
MAY 13    The Space Race and Civil Rights (Hidden Figures) *
MAY 14    The Space Race and Civil Rights (Hidden Figures) *

MAY 17    The Cold War in Asia; The 1970s *
MAY 18    Life in the 1950s and 1960s (Forrest Gump) *
MAY 19    Life in the 1970s and 1980s (Forrest Gump) *
MAY 20    Mutual Assured Destruction (WarGames) *
MAY 21    Mutual Assured Destruction (WarGames) *

MAY 24    Test 6: The Cold War *
MAY 25    Review *
MAY 26    Final Exam

This page last updated 15 March, 2021.