Phone: 565-3340 (office)

383-9278 (home--if you really need to talk to me...)

Office Hours: Monday-Thursday, 1:00-2:00, and by appointment.

Statement of Intent: This course is an intensive examination of Texas History from 1821 until 1846. Its goal is to teach basic facts and examine important events and people in this era of Texas history; to master the historiography of the period; to develop critical thinking skills; to become more enlightened citizens of Texas and the United States by achieving an understanding of the forces that have shaped our state's and nation's history. The course will be conducted as a lecture class, with significant amounts of outside reading and class discussion. Emphasis will be placed on developing writing and critical-thinking skills.

EXAMS and ATTENDANCE: Students will read four books during the term and take brief "short-answer" quizzes over each. Two major exams will also be given on the dates listed below. Grading will be conducted as follows:
 
            book quizzes:   40% (10% each)
            first major exam:   30%
            second major exam:   30%

BOOKS: The following books are required reading:

Gregg Cantrell, Stephen F. Austin, Empresario of Texas

Paul D. Lack, The Texas Revolutionary Experience

Stephen Hardin, Texian Iliad

Sam Haynes, Soldiers of Misfortune

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE^*:

    May 13    Course introduction.  Read and discuss Turner essay.
    May 14    Mexican Texas.
    May 15    Quiz over Stephen F. Austin.  Anglo colonization.
    May 16    Background to Revolution.

    May 20    Quiz over Texas Revolutionary Experience.  Historiography.
    May 21    First exam.  The Revolution.
    May 22    The Revolution (cont.).
    May 23    Quiz over Texian Iliad.  The Republic.

    May 27    The Republic (cont.).
    May 28    Quiz over Soldiers of Misfortune.  Annexation.  Course summary and review.
    May 29    Second Exam

^*Please note that this schedule is tentative; dates of exams or quizzes could change if we get ahead or behind. It is your responsibility to know when quizzes and exams are being given.

Words of advice and warning:

This is a heavy reading load--especially for a Maymester class. It is a fact of life that in Maymester you cannot take a day off. The key to doing well is to read a significant amount every day. Your book quizzes are timed so that you have at least two afternoons and evenings to read each of the books. Staying caught up with your reading will also enable you to participate in class discussions and understand the books better. You cannot do well on the exams and quizzes without having read each book. The second key to doing well is to come to class faithfully. That means arriving on time and staying until the class is over. The exams draw heavily from the lectures, and much of the lecture material is not to be found in your books. The third key to doing well in this class is to ask questions when you don't understand something. The only dumb question is the one you didn't ask! If the question can't be answered to your satisfaction in the class period, come see me in my office. I'll be happy to explain something that was unclear the first time around. And please don't hestitate to challenge something I've said in class--I may be wrong!

Special Accommodation Request Procedure

Any person with special circumstances covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act should register with the Office of Disability Accommodation, Suite 318A, University Union Building, and also inform the intrsuctor. Reasonable adjustments will be made to accommodate the special needs of students with disabilities where such adjustments are necessary to provide equality of educational access. Professor Harland Hagler is the History Department's liaison to the Office of Disability Accommodation and can provide further information and/or assistance.