Sugar, Rum & Slaves: British Empire in the Atlantic World Beyond 1776
HST 397-702/597-702 (1 hr.)
Winter Intersession 2007
Prof.
F. Thornton Miller
Email: FTMiller@missouristate.edu
Office: Strong 417
Phone: 417-836-5917
Office Hours for Winter Intersession 2007: Monday-Friday
2:00-3:00
Class time: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-12:00 Noon (January
8-12)
Course Objective
To study the development of the
British empire in America after the American Revolution in the context of the
18th and 19th-century Atlantic world focusing on such topics as economic,
social, cultural, religious, constitutional, and political development, Latin
American revolutions, ending slavery, the development of Canadian and West
Indies confederations, and the movement to home rule and independence.
Required Reading
No textbook is required.
Course Policies
Students are required to have their own email account.
Students using English as a second language should see me to discuss
accommodations.
The course is too short to have a makeup exam.
For the course grade, you must have at least a 90% average for an A, 80% for a
B, 70% for a C, and 60% for a D.
Academic Dishonesty. Any student participating in any form of academic
dishonesty will be subject to sanctions as described in the Student Academic
Integrity Policies and Procedures, which can be found at
http://www.smsu.edu/acadaff/AcademicIntegrity.html (also available at the
Reserves Desk in Meyer Library).
Disability accommodation. To request accommodations
for disability, students must contact Disability Services (http://www.smsu.edu/disability),
Plaster Student Union Suite 405, (417) 836-4192; TTY (417) 836-6792. Students
must provide documentation of disability to Disability Services prior to
receiving accommodations.
SMSU Office of Academic Affairs Policy on Use of Cell Phones in Classes:
As a member of the learning community, each student has a responsibility to
other students who are members of the community. When cell phones or pagers ring
and students respond in class or leave class to respond, it disrupts the class.
Therefore, the Office of Academic Affairs prohibits the use by students of cell
phones, pagers, or similar communication devices during scheduled classes. All
such devices must be turned off or put in a silent mode and cannot be taken out
during class. At the discretion of the instructor, exception to this policy is
possible in special circumstances. Sanctions for violation of this policy are
determined by the instructor and may include dismissal from the class – see
Class Disruption (http://www.smsu.edu/recreg/classdis.html).
In testing situations, use of cell phones or similar communication devices may
lead also to a charge of academic dishonesty and additional sanctions under the
Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures (http://www.smsu.edu/acadaff/AcademicIntegrity.html).
There are two appeal processes available to students. A sanction for class
disruption may be appealed using the appeal process stated in the Class
Disruption policy; however, a violation that involves a charge of academic
dishonesty must be appealed using the process described in the Student
Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures. Students have the right
to continue attending class while an appeal is in progress.
Nondiscrimination. SMSU policy on nondiscrimination:
http://www.smsu.edu/eoaa.htm.
Class drop policy. If you stop attending this class but do not follow proper
procedure for dropping the class, you will receive a failing grade and will also
be financially obligated. To drop a class anytime after the first week, you
must turn in a drop slip at an authorized registration center (see 2002/2003
SMSU Undergraduate Catalog, pp. 51-52;
http://www.smsu.edu/recreg/chnsched.html). You do not need to obtain any
signatures on the drop slip.
Lecture Topics
Overview of pre-1763 Colonial
America and the British Empire
Development of Nova Scotia/Expulsion of the
Acadians/Acadian Migration
Treaty of 1763, to Britain: Quebec, the Floridas, Dominica, Grenada, St.Vincent
British Compromise with the Canadian French:
Quebec Act
War of Independence: Canadian and Caribbean theatres
Loyalist Migration to Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Bahamas
Development of British Honduras (Belize)
American Migration to Ontario
Indian Relations and the American-Canadian Frontier
Atlantic Economy, North America-West Indies trade
Wars of the French Revolution and Napoleon/War of 1812
St. Lucia, Tobago, Trinidad to Britain; Louisiana and West Florida to the US
Multi-racial, Multi-tiered Society in the British West Indies
Development of British Guiana
Ending the Atlantic Slave Trade
Britain, US, and Spain: Florida and Spanish-American Independence
Emancipation of Slaves in British America
Post-Slavery Economy and Society in British America
Anglo-American Relations: trade, boundaries, and Oregon
19th-Century Immigration to British America
Canadian and British West Indies Confederations
British West Indies Lose Autonomy
Canadian Home Rule
Postlude: 20th-Century Independence for the British West Indies
Breakdown of the Course
Undergraduates:
Exam
Graduate students:
Book Reviews: 1/3
Exam: 2/3
Exam
There will be an exam on the lectures and readings on the last day of class. The
exam will consist of
terms to identify, multiple choice or matching questions,
and one or two essays. You will have two hours to take the exam. Bring an
examination or blue book. There will be a review before the exam.
Attendance and Discussion
This is
a short one-week class. Perfect
attendance is expected and will be
essential to get the information for the exam. Good class participation will
help you in a borderline situation.
Book Reviews for
Graduate Students
Write two reviews of books approved
by the instructor on aspects of the British Empire in
the Atlantic World, 18th-19th centuries. They
should each have 500 to 750 words (about 2-3 pages), and include the following
information about the book: author, title, and date of original publication.
Each review should consist of three parts: a statement of the book's thesis or
themes; a brief summary of the book; and a critical evaluation of the work. In
being critical of the book, consider the following: how well it is written in
terms of style, clarity, and organization; how well the material is documented
with citations to sources; to what extent primary sources are used; are there
charts, tables, or maps that assist the reader; does the author use logical
arguments and present sufficient information to prove or support the thesis;
does the author appear biased and lack objectivity; does the author make a
significant contribution to the scholarship in the field.
Turn in the essays by email.
Due date: January 19