HISTORY OF WYOMING
History 1251, Autumn Term, 2007
Dr. Phil Roberts M, W, F 11-11:50 a.m.
Office: 356 History Bldg., 766-5311 or 766-5101 Education Auditorium
Office Hours: Mon., 2:30-3:30 p.m., Wed., 1:10-3 p.m.; and by appointment E-mail: philr@uwyo.edu
TEACHING ASSISTANTS: Xiaoyan Zhou, Miles Mathews, Karl Snyder, Julie Stidolph
Please note that Prof. Roberts will NOT be available on Tuesdays due to research commitments.
For purposes of grading exams and exercises, we have divided the class into five groups, alphabetically by last name. Check the list below for who will be grading your papers:
A-D: Xiaoyan
E-Hi: Miles
Hj-Mo: Julie
Mu-Si: Karl
Sj-Z: Phil
OBJECTIVE: The course is a survey which will 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. Students will be expected to understand the main events in the state’s history as well as recognize the context in the wider national/international perspective. The lectures and readings are designed to provide a general overview and to encourage further reading in Wyoming and Western history. The course will NOT be taught entirely chronologically, but with a strong topical component as well as reference to biographies of well-known people in the state’s history. Consequently, it will be important for the student 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. This course satisfies the University Studies V1 requirement and, consequently, study of the Wyoming and United States Constitutions are an important part of the class. Also, the class will include an opportunity for you to work with primary documents in the American Heritage Center, providing training on how historians work with one-of-a-kind original documents.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: The readings for this class are neither difficult nor extensive. The main “text” actually is a book of readings, available on the web. These readings will be particularly important to understand the various themes in the state’s history while the lectures are designed to provide the chronological context. The lectures will provide context and continuity, but they will NOT duplicate the readings. Consequently, 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.
Also assigned will be 17 brief biographies from the recently published series titled “Made in Wyoming: Our Legacy of Success.” All assigned biographies will be read from the webpage that is provided on the assigned dates.
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. If 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.
REQUIRED BOOKS: Copies of all books (and the State Constitution) are on reserve in Coe Library.
Robert Righter. Crucible for Conservation: The Struggle for Grand Teton National Park. (Moose: Grand Teton Natural History Assoc., 1982, 2000)
Phil Roberts, editor. Readings in Wyoming History. (5th edition, published in 2007), available entirely on the web. The fifth edition contains a number of essays not included in earlier editions. There is a strong possibility that the book will not be ready in time for use in this class. Consequently, students will be expected to read the articles on the webpage, essentially exact duplication of the printed materials..
Helena Huntington Smith. War on Powder River: The History of an Insurrection. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1966). A reliable and lively account of the Johnson County Invasion.
Elinore Pruitt Stewart. Letters of a Woman Homesteader. (Lincoln: Bison Books, 1989). Other editions also OK.
The Wyoming Constitution. (Available for purchase, but also on reserve at Coe Library circulation and on the web). You may also find it at the following web address-- http://soswy.state.wy.us/informat/const.htm
The United States Constitution. (On reserve at Coe Library circulation and on the web).
“Made in Wyoming: Our Legacy of Success,” joint publication/web pages of the Casper Star-Tribune and Casper Journal, available on the web at: http://www.madeinwyoming.net/
RECOMMENDED BUT NOT REQUIRED:
Annals of Wyoming: The Wyoming History Journal. The quarterly journal of the Wyoming State Historical Society contains important articles about Wyoming and Western history. The journal is sent to all society members. Membership is open to all. Students may join for just $15 annually. For additional information about membership, ask your professor or consult his website.
T. A. Larson. History of Wyoming. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2d rev. ed., 1990). Dr. Larson was the foremost authority on Wyoming history. A copy of this book is on reserve in Coe Library.
Mike Mackey. Remembering Heart Mountain: Essays on Japanese American Internment in Wyoming. (Powell: Western History Publications, 1998). ISBN 0-9661556-1-0
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).
Phil Roberts, David L. Roberts, and Steven L. Roberts. Wyoming Almanac. (Laramie: Skyline West Press, 2007).
Samuel Western. Pushed Off the Mountain, Sold Down the River: Wyoming’s Search for Its Soul. (Moose: Homestead Pub., 2002).
EXAMS: Two exams, 100 points each (40%); the final exam, 100 points (20%); Constitution exam, 100 points (20%); research exercises, AHC research paper, 75 points (10%); a map exercise and four 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. 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. 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 early October. 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. To find the AHC, look on the website: http://ahc.uwyo.edu/
Extra Credit: Up to 25 additional “extra-credit” points may be earned 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.
GRADING PROCEDURE: The final grade will be calculated on the total "points" earned during the semester, tentatively based on the following scale: A: 450-500 points B: 400-449 points C: 350-399 points D: 300-349 points F: 299 or fewer
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://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/dos/programservices/judicial/Academic_Honesty.doc
Outlines of lectures will be posted periodically to the web. These are intended to supplement, but not replace student notes. Instead, students will be expected to attend and take notes, using the outlines for general guidance on the main ideas presented.
OUTLINE OF TOPICS, MEETINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS (subject to minor change)
Mon., Aug. 27: Introduction. .
Wed., Aug. 29: Organizing Concepts in Wyoming History
Reading: Readings in Wyoming History, "Introduction,"
Fri., Aug. 31: Original Residents and Explorers
Readings in Wyoming History, Chapter 1 Original Residents, Explorers and the Fur Trade
“Made in Wyoming” profile of Chief Washakie: http://www.madeinwyoming.net/profiles/washakie.php
Mon., Sept. 3: NO CLASS. Labor Day.
Wed., Sept. 5: The Fur Trade.
Readings in Wyoming History, Chapter 2: The Fur Trade
Fri., Sept. 7: Trails Across Wyoming I: Oregon/California/Mormon Trails.
Readings in Wyoming History, Chap. 2: Trails Across Wyoming, including Fort Laramie treaties
Mon., Sept. 10: Conflict on the Plains
Wed., Sept. 12: Trails Across Wyoming II: The Bozeman Trail
Fri., Sept. 14: Coming of Rails
Readings in Wyoming History, Chap. 3: Coming of Rails, including Pacific Railway Act and Selections from John Crowley’s Diary
Mon., Sept. 17: Establishing the Territory: South Pass City, “Hell-on-Wheels” Towns and Governor Campbell.
Wed., Sept. 19: Women Suffrage and the Origins of the "Equality State"
Readings in Wyoming History, Chap. 4: Establishing the Territory and Granting Women Equal Rights, including “!st Woman Juror,” and John Hoyt on Suffrage
“Made in Wyoming” profile of Esther Morris:
http://www.madeinwyoming.net/profiles/morris.php
Map Exercise (See list below)
Sample map showing county divisions
Fri., Sept. 21: Homesteading and Land Grants: Getting Free Land from the Federal Government
Readings in Wyoming History, Chap. 5: Public Lands
Mon., Sept. 24: Wyoming's Third Boom and Bust: Cattle Ranching, 1867-87
Readings in Wyoming History, “Cowboys Form a Health Coop”
Wed. Sept. 26: Coal, Locomotives and the Rock Springs Massacre
Readings in Wyoming History, Chap. 6: Minerals in Territorial Wyoming
Readings in Wyoming History, The Wyoming Experience: Chinese in Wyoming
Fri., Sept. 28: Johnson County War.
Helena Huntington Smith, War on Powder River. (entire book).
Readings in Wyoming History, Chap. 7, including “The War, The Invasion”
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR EXAM #1.
Mon., Oct. 1: Johnson County War (continued)
Wed., Oct. 3: Statehood and the End of the 19th Century: End of the Frontier?
Readings in Wyoming History, Chap. 9: Wyoming’s Self-Image, including “Powder River, Let ‘er Buck,” and “Buffalo Bill Takes His Wild West Show to Europe”
“Made in Wyoming” profiles of Willis Van Devanter and William F. Cody:
http://www.madeinwyoming.net/profiles/van.php
http://www.madeinwyoming.net/profiles/buffalo_bill.php
Fri., Oct. 5: 1st Exam
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 50 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.
Mon., Oct. 8 and Wed., Oct. 10, National Parks Issues of Wilderness. 1st group, 2nd group go to American Heritage Center (Monday and Wednesday)
Reading: Righter, Crucible for Conservation (all); Readings in Wyoming History, Chap. 10: Conservation and National Parks, including“ Progressivism Comes to Yellowstone: Theodore Roosevelt and Professional Land Management Agencies in the Yellowstone Ecosystem; “Commodification of Wildlife,” “Harvard Cook in the Wyoming Badlands”
“Made in Wyoming” profile of Olaus and Mardie Murie:
http://www.madeinwyoming.net/profiles/Murie.php
Fri., Oct. 12: Populism, Progressivism and the “Grand Old Men.” 3rd group goes to American Heritage Center.
Readings in Wyoming History, Chap. 11: Into the 20th Century, including “Edward Gillette Describes How Gillette Was Named,” "Evolution of Roads," “Wyoming’s Estelle Reel,” “School Bells and Winchesters”.
Reading: “Made in Wyoming” profiles of John B. Kendrick and J. C. Penney:
http://www.madeinwyoming.net/profiles/kendrick.php
http://www.madeinwyoming.net/profiles/jcpenney.php
Mon., Oct. 15: Introduction to Wyoming Oil
Readings in Wyoming History, Chap. 8: History of Wyoming Oil
4th group goes to American Heritage Center
Wed., Oct. 17: Homesteaders and Crop Agriculture in the Early 20th Century 5th group goes to American Heritage Center
Reading: Stewart, Letters of a Woman Homesteader (entire book).
Readings in Wyoming History, Chap. 12, Water and Irrigation, including “Colorado River compact”.
“Made in Wyoming” profile of Elinore Pruitt Stewart:
http://www.madeinwyoming.net/profiles/pruitt.php
Fri., Oct. 19: Diversity: Internationalizing Wyoming 6th group goes to American Heritage Center
Reading: Readings in Wyoming History, Chap. 13: including “Ethnicity in Wyoming”; "Lovell's Mexican Colony,” “My One Hobby,”
Mon., Oct. 22: The 1920s: The Beginning of Wyoming’s “Great Depression” 7th group goes to American Heritage Center
Reading: Chap. 14: The 1920s in Wyoming, including "Teapot Dome" and "Wyoming's Other Governor Ross," “Give Them What They Want,” “Be Our Guest: Wyoming Dude Ranching.”
“Made in Wyoming” profile of Nellie Tayloe Ross:
http://www.madeinwyoming.net/profiles/ross.php
Wed., Oct. 24: The 1930s : Depression and New Deal. 8th group goes to American Heritage Center
Reading: Readings in Wyoming History, Chapter 15: Depression and New Deal, including“The Wyoming Sales Tax
Fri., Oct. 26: The Great Depression and New Deal (continued) 9th group goes to American Heritage Center
Mon., Oct. 29: Wyoming in the 1930s: The Griffenhagen Report, the Sales Tax and New Deal Programs in Wyoming 10th group goes to AHC
Wed., Oct. 31: Review and end of New Deal portion.
Fri., Nov. 2: Second Exam. This exam will cover materials from all readings and lectures since Oct. 8.
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
Mon., Nov. 5: The Wyoming Constitution.
Reading: Wyoming Constitution: http://soswy.state.wy.us/informat/const.htm
Also, Readings in Wyoming History, Chap. 22: Statehood, including The Contest for the Capital, Overview of the Wyoming Constitution,
Wed., Nov. 7: The United States Constitution.
Reading: U. S. Constitution..
Fri., Nov. 9: Comparing Constitutions
Mon., Nov. 12: Bill of Rights: Contemporary Issues of Civil Liberties.
Wed., Nov. 14: Constitution Exam.
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Fri., Nov. 16: World War II in Wyoming. 11th group goes to American Heritage Center.
Reading: Readings in Wyoming History, ,The 100-Octane Fuel Plant, and O’Mahoney and Japanese Relocation
For an excellent overview of the Heart Mountain camp, see the Heart Mountain Digitization Project
http://www.northwestcollege.edu/Library/hmdp/index.cfm
Be sure to read Mike Mackey's excellent history of Heart Mountain on that website.
Mon., Nov. 19: The Aftermath of World War II: Wyoming Transformed?
Readings in Wyoming History, "The Textbook Controversy at the University of Wyoming"
“Made in Wyoming” profile of W. Edwards Deming:
http://www.madeinwyoming.net/profiles/deming.php
DRAWING FOR DOOR PRIZES!!1
Wed., Nov. 21-Fri., Nov. 23: NO CLASS. THANKSGIVING VACATION.
Mon., Nov. 26: The 1950s: Red Scare and Yellow Stripes: Assessing the Silent Decade.
Reading: Readings in Wyoming History, Chapter 17: The 1950s,, “Visions Beyond an Arrow of Fire,” "Quest for Public Television."
“Made in Wyoming” profile of Bill Daniels:
http://www.madeinwyoming.net/profiles/daniels.php
Wed., Nov. 28: The 1960s: Issues of Civil Rights, the “Black 14” and Severance Taxes.
12th (and final) group goes to American Heritage Center
Reading: Readings in Wyoming History, Chap. 18: The 1960s, including“The Emerging Civil Rights Movement,”
Fired by Conscience, The Black 14: Williams v. Eaton. “Mrs. Barriers” and the Crusade to Make Wyoming Public Buildings Accessible,
President Kennedy's Visit to Wyoming, 1963
“Made in Wyoming” profiles of James Reeb, Liz Byrd, Helen Bardo and Stan Hathaway:
http://www.madeinwyoming.net/profiles/reeb.php
http://www.madeinwyoming.net/profiles/byrd.php
http://www.madeinwyoming.net/profiles/bardo.php
http://www.madeinwyoming.net/profiles/hathaway.php
Fri., Nov. 30: Boom and Bust in the Post-war Years: Social Dislocations and Coping with Impact.
Reading: Readings in Wyoming History, Chap. 19: The 1970s, and “Project Wagon Wheel: A Nuclear Plowshare for Wyoming," and Readings in Wyoming History, “Home on the Range No More” .
Mon., Dec. 3: Wyoming and the Depression of the 1980s.
Reading: Readings in Wyoming History, “Cabinet Confirmation,” pp. 236-241
“Made in Wyoming” profiles of Mike Sullivan and Tom Stroock:
http://www.madeinwyoming.net/profiles/msullivan.php
http://www.madeinwyoming.net/profiles/stroock.php
Wed., Dec. 5: The 21st Century Boom and the Quest for Economic Diversification
Reading: Readings in Wyo. History, Chap. 20: The End of the 20th Century, and “The Virginian Meets Matt Shepard”
Fri., Dec. 7: Review and "Stump the Professor" exercise (time permitting)
Optional Review Session, 3 p.m., Place TBA
Dec. 10-15: FINAL EXAM WEEK. Final exam is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 14, 10:15 a.m., Education Auditorium.
FOR THE MAP QUIZ, KNOW THE FOLLOWING:
Counties, county seat towns: Albany (Laramie); Big Horn (Basin); Campbell (Gillette); Carbon (Rawlins); Converse (Douglas); Crook (Sundance); Fremont (Lander); Goshen (Torrington); Hot Springs (Thermopolis); Johnson (Buffalo); Laramie (Cheyenne); Lincoln (Kemmerer); Natrona (Casper); Niobrara (Lusk); Park (Cody); Platte (Wheatland); Sheridan (Sheridan); Sublette (Pinedale); Sweetwater (Green River); Teton (Jackson); Uinta (Evanston); Washakie (Worland); Weston (Newcastle).
Non-county seat towns: Riverton, Rock Springs, Powell, Greybull, Afton, Kaycee, South Pass City, Medicine Bow, Guernsey.
Major rivers: Big Horn-Wind, Green, Sweetwater, North Platte, Powder River, Yellowstone, Laramie.
Significant mountains and ranges: Big Horns, Tetons, Absarokas, Wind River Range, Laramie Range, Black Hills, Gannett Peak.
National parks/monuments: Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Devils Tower
Forts: Russell (Warren), Laramie, Bridger, Phil Kearny, Washakie, McKinney.
Lakes and reservoirs: Buffalo Bill, Pathfinder, Alcova, Glendo, Flaming Gorge, Yellowstone Lake, Jackson Lake.
Major roads and trails: I-80, I-25, I-90, Union Pacific Railroad route, Oregon-California-Mormon trails, Texas Trail, Bozeman Trail, Overland stage route.
The following "special sites": Medicine Wheel, Como Bluff, Heart Mountain Relocation Center site, Wind River Indian Reservation, South Pass, Teapot Dome, Salt Creek oil field