HISTORY OF WYOMING
History 1251, Autumn Term, 2009
Fairness Policy re: 1st Exam
General Instructions for AHC Visits
Dr. Phil Roberts T, Th, 9:35-10:50 a.m.
Office: 356 History Bldg., 766-5311 or 766-5101 129 Classroom Bldg.
Office Hours: W, 1-3 p.m., Th., 11-Noon, and by appointment E-mail: philr@uwyo.edu
Andrea Binder, 766-4333, 56 History Bldg., abinder@uwyo.edu
Office Hours: T-Th, 11-12:30, and by appointment. Andrea will be grading papers for students with last names beginning with the letters H-O
Robert Lang, 766-4333, 56 History Bldg., rlang4@uwyo.edu
Office Hours: T-Th, 11-12:30, and by appointment. Robert will be grading papers for students with last names beginning with the letters P-Z
Phil will be grading papers for students with last names beginning with the letters.A-G.
OBJECTIVE: The course is a general thematic survey to encourage an understanding of Wyoming history, how it relates to the history of the West and the rest of America, and how it has influenced the present.
While strict chronological progression of the state’s history, This course will be set up thematically, although generally, events occurring before 1940 will be discussed in the first half of the semester and later events, in the second half. In neither half, however, will the course be taught in terms of strict chronology. Students will be provided with sufficient chronological context, given that, in history, past actions influence later events. 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.
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 to have a clear understanding of the chronology of Wyoming events, particularly those since 1890. Also, the class will include an opportunity for each student to work with primary documents in the American Heritage Center, 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: The readings for this class are not difficult although, for those unfamiliar with history courses, initially, they may seem to be extensive. The main “texts” actually are sets of articles, available on the web. These readings will be particularly important to understand the various events in the state’s history while the lectures are designed to provide the thematic framework. The readings will provide context and continuity, but they will NOT duplicate the lectures. Successful completion of the class requires careful reading of the assigned texts and good note-taking during lectures.
Readings in Wyoming History is a compilation of scholarly articles with footnote citations and well-developed historical arguments. Don’t be deceived by the brevity of some of the readings, thinking they will be particularly easy to read and understand. Each article will require careful reading. The other assigned books were written for the popular audience and, consequently, are neither extensively footnoted nor difficult to read.
Written outlines may be provided for some lectures although students will be required to develop better note-taking skills to satisfy the requirements for the course. On the rare occasions when PowerPoint is used, the emphasis will be on photographic images and maps—not on repeating what is said in the lectures or duplicating student notes. Consequently, relentless attendance will be required in order to succeed in this class. Along with exams and quizzes, a short research paper, based on primary sources, will be required.
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 or showing images that distract from full attention in the class and bother students in the proxity. Violations of this behavior may be reflected in verbal request to go elsewhere to conduct viewing and/or penalty assessment of the final grade, particularly the portion respecting participation.
REQUIRED BOOKS: Copies of all books (and the State Constitution) are on reserve in Coe Library.
Geoffrey O’Gara. What You See in Clear Water: Indians, Whites, and A Battle Over Water in the American West. (New York: Random House, 2000).
Robert Righter. Crucible for Conservation: The Struggle for Grand Teton National Park. (Moose: Grand Teton Natural History Assoc., 1982, 2000)
Phil Roberts, A New History of Wyoming. (currently available only on the web)
Phil Roberts, Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming's Past (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.
Elinore Pruitt Stewart. Letters of a Woman Homesteader. (Lincoln: Bison Books, 1989). Other editions also OK.
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).
EXAMS: One exam, 100 points each (0%); the final exam, 150 points (20%); Constitution exam, 100 points (20%); research exercises, AHC research paper, 75 points (10%); five unannounced quizzes, 25 points, (5%).. Absolutely no make-up quizzes will be given. 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, beginning in mid-September. Each student will be assigned one of these days to go during the regularly scheduled class period. The names/dates will be noted on the webpage for this class. When preparing the essay for completion of the AHC assignment, go to this page for General Instructions. 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.
AHC scheduled visits:
Group 1: A-C (Sept. 17)
Group 2: D-G: (Sept. 22)
Group 3: H-I: (Sept. 24)
Group 4: J-L: (Sept. 29)
No one goes Oct. 6--mid-term exam that day.
Group 5: M-O: (Oct. 8)
Group 6: P-Ri: (Oct. 13)
Group 7: Ro-S: (Oct. 15)
Group 8: T-Z: (Oct. 20)
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 20 points may be earned in this fashion.
GRADING PROCEDURE: The final grade will be calculated on the total "points" earned during the semester, tentatively based on the following scale: A: 405-450 points B: 360-404 points C: 315-359 points D: 270-314 points 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. http://www.uwyo.edu/DOSsupport/docs/Policies%20and%20Resources/Academic%20Honesty.docx
Outlines of lectures will be posted to the web. These are intended to supplement, but not replace student notes. Except for the one time during which each student will be at the AHC, all students will be expected to attend and take notes, using the outlines and WyoCast for general guidance on the main ideas presented and for review.
For access to Wyocast, click on the below listed link and go to "Wyoming History" and click again.
Then go to "Fall 2009" and click. Below you will find the link to History 1251. Click on that and you are there and ready to view the recorded lectures.
OUTLINE OF TOPICS, MEETINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS (subject to minor change)
Aug. 25: Introduction. .
Thurs., Aug. 27: Organizing Concepts in Wyoming History
Readings in Wyoming History, Introduction
Tues., Sept. 1: Early Exploration and the Fur Trade.
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 1: Original Residents, Explorers and the Fur Trade
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 2: Lessons from the Fur Trade
Thurs., Sept. 3: Wyoming as a Trail to Somewhere Else
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 3: Trails Across Wyoming
Fort Laramie treaties (1851, 1868)
Tues., Sept. 8: Only Workers and Managers: The Problem of Absentee Ownership
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 4: Coming of Rails
Readings in Wyoming History, Selections from John Crowley’s Diary
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 6: Public Lands
Thurs., Sept. 10: Women Suffrage and Issues of Equality
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
Reading: Stewart, Letters of a Woman Homesteader (entire book).
Tues., Sept. 15: Nine Booms, Eight Busts: Wyoming’s Economy Across Time
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 7: Minerals in Territorial Wyoming
Readings in Wyoming History, Cowboys Form a Health Cooperative
Thurs., Sept. 17: Statehood and the “Grand Old Men of Wyoming Politics”
Readings in Wyoming History, Wyoming’s Estelle Reel
Readings in Wyoming History, School Bells and Winchesters
Readings in Wyoming History, The Contest for the Capital.
Group 1 goes to the American Heritage Center (A-C)
Tuesday, Sept. 22: Unified/Divided: The Issues of Sectionalism
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 8, The War, The Invasion
Group 2 goes to the American Heritage Center (D-G)
Thurs., Sept. 24: Wilderness Conundrum: Preservation, Conservation, Development
Robert Righter. Crucible for Conservation: The Crusade to Save Grand Teton National Park. (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, Commodification of Wildlife
Readings in Wyoming History, Harvard Cook in the Wyoming Badlands
Group 3 goes to the American Heritage Center (H-I)
Tues., Sept. 29: Bucking Horse and Buffalo: Significance of Symbols in Wyoming History and Myth
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 10: Wyoming’s Self-Image
Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming's Past: Edison, the Light Bulb and the Eclipse
Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming’s Past: Equality State? Cowboy State?
Group 4 goes to the American Heritage Center (J-L)
THE EXAM SCHEDULED FOR OCT 1 HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO OCT 6.
Thurs., Oct. 1: Review of Lectures. Please bring questions you have from the lectures and readings. This will NOT be a complete repeat or summary of lectures so far. The professor will be responding to specific questions you may have about the lectures and readings to this point.
Tues., Oct. 6: MID-TERM EXAM--on all readings (including two books), lectures and materials covered so far. Click here for Review Sheet.
The exam will be essay in style. Please bring an examination "blue-book" to class. No electronic devices are allowed today and students are reminded to keep cell phones turned off during the exam. The exam will be designed for completion in 80 minutes and you will not be given additional time due to scheduling commitments in this room. Keep this in mind as you prepare for the exam.
Please note schedule change: Group 5 goes to the American Heritage Center (M-O) ON OCT. 8
Thurs., Oct. 8: Issues of Diversity
Readings in Wyoming History, Ethnicity in Wyoming
Readings in Wyoming History, The Wyoming Experience: Chinese in Wyoming
Readings in Wyoming History, Lovell's Mexican Colony
Readings in Wyoming History, My One Hobby
Group 5 goes to the American Heritage Center (M-O)
Tues., Oct. 13: Wyoming from 1890-1920
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 12: Into the 20th Century
Readings in Wyoming History, Evolution of Roads
Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming's Past, Lovejoy's Toy: Wyoming's First Car
Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming's Past: Torrey's Roughriders
History of Wyoming Oil
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 9: History of Wyoming Oil
Group 6 goes to the American Heritage Center (P-Ri)
Thurs., Oct. 15: Drought More Than Flood: Water in Wyoming
Reading: O’Gara, What You See in Clear Water (entire book).
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 13, Water and Irrigation
Readings in Wyoming History: Same Decision, Different Result?
Colorado River compact.
Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming's Past: 'Drizzling Rain Kept All Indoors': Wyoming’s First Arbor Day, 1888
Group 7 goes to the American Heritage Center (Ro-S)
Tues., Oct. 20: Wyoming’s Great Depression (1920-1935)
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 14: The 1920s in Wyoming
Readings in Wyoming History, Give Them What They Want
Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming's Past: Somewhere West of Laramie
Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming's Past: The Builder of the World's Oldest Cabin
Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming's Past: Wyoming's First License Plates
Group 8 goes to the American Heritage Center (T-Z)
Thurs., Oct. 22: The Wyoming Constitution.
Reading: Wyoming Constitution
Reading: U. S. Constitution.
Readings in Wyoming History,: Wyoming Constitutional Convention and Adoption of Wyoming’s Constitution, 1889, and the Aftermath
Tues., Oct. 27: WYOMING CONSTITUTION EXAM
Discussion of The United States Constitution will be on Oct. 29.
Thurs., Oct. 29:
Constitution Exam..
THE WYOMING EXAM WILL BE ADMINISTERED ON OCT. 27.
Tues., Nov. 3: New Deal in Wyoming
New History of Wyoming, Chapter 15: Depression and New Deal
History of Wyoming's Sales Tax
Thurs., Nov. 5: World War II in Wyoming
Readings in Wyoming History, The 100-Octane Fuel Plant
Readings in Wyoming History, O’Mahoney and Japanese Relocation
Tues., Nov. 10: The Quiet Decade: Wyoming in the 1950s
Readings in Wyoming History, The Textbook Controversy at the University of Wyoming
Readings in Wyoming History, The Emerging Civil Rights Movement
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
Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming's Past: President Kennedy's Visit to Wyoming, 1963
Readings in Wyoming History, Fired by Conscience
Readings in Wyoming History, The Black 14: Williams v. Eaton
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 18: The 1960s
Tues., Nov. 17: Minerals Boom and Issues of Impact
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 19: The 1970s
Readings in Wyoming History, Project Wagon Wheel: A Nuclear Plowshare for Wyoming
Readings in Wyoming History, 'Mrs. Barriers' and the Crusade to Make Wyoming Public Buildings Accessible
Thurs., Nov. 19: Wyoming’s Second Great Depression, (1983-1998)
New History of Wyoming, Chap. 20: The End of the 20th Century
Readings in Wyoming History, Home on the Range No More
Tues., Nov. 24: Boom Again?: Wyoming from 1998 to Today
Readings in Wyoming History, The Virginian Meets Matt Shepard
Readings in Wyoming History, Reflecting Community: Case Studies of Three Wyoming Museums and the Impact of Each on the Community
Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming's Past: No Turkeys at the Post
Also: Drawing for door prizes (you must be present to win) and a special guest speaker! Not a good day to miss class!
Thurs., Nov. 26: NO CLASS. THANKSGIVING VACATION.
Tues., Dec. 1: The 21st Century Boom and the Quest for Economic Diversification
Thurs., Dec. 3: Review for final exam and final remarks.
End of semester review session may be made possible, location and exact time: TBA
Thursday, Dec. 10, 10:15 a.m., Final Exam, to be administered in our regular classroom.
The final exam will be essay in style and you will have two hours to answer the questions (until 12:15 p.m.). Please bring an examination "blue-book" to class. No electronic devices are allowed today and students are reminded to keep cell phones turned off during the exam. The exam will be designed for completion in 80 minutes, but you will have two hours for this exam, consistent with university final exam policies.
NOTE: Throughout the semester, the lectures will be recorded and available on Wyocast. (See the link above). These are intended to supplement your attendance in class, but not replace your own diligent attendance and note-taking. Students will be expected to attend and take notes, using the Wyocast lectues for general guidance on the main ideas presented and review.