History 163: Online Lecture Notes
To view the lecture notes, right click on the pdf links below, save the files to your desktop, and open them with Adobe Acrobat Reader [ free download ]. Supplemental links may be followed by clicking on them.

Unit I: Worlds Collide
The first quarter of this course examines 1) human evolution and migration; 2) the development of two hemispheric worlds around 10,000 years ago; 3) the development and diversity of Amerindian culture in the Americas; 4) the development and diversity of European culture in Eurasia; 5) the contact experience; 6) the establishment of the Spanish colonial system in the Americas; 7) the English delay in coloniazation between 1497 and 1558; and 8) the beginnings of the English colonial effort.

I. The Creation of Two Worlds [ pdf ]

II. Human History for the Last 13,000 years [ Jared Diamond ]

III. The Amerindian World [ pdf ]

III. The European World on the Eve of Contact and
The Age of Exploration and Contact [ pdf ]

IV. The Spanish Colonial System [ pdf ]

V. The English Delay, 1497-1558 [ pdf ]

VI. British Colonial Stirrings [ pdf ]

Topic Two: British Colonial America
The second quarter of this course examines the British colonial system in North America. Instead of covering every one of the thirteen colonies, we will examine the three dominant colonies -- Virginia, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania -- in detail. Virginia will be our representative for the Southern colonies; Massachusetts will be our representative for the New England colonies; and, Pennsylvania will be our representative for the middle colonies. On your exam, you will be asked to compare and contrast these three colonial types.

I. Virginia Settlement, 1607-24 [ pdf ]

II. Virginia Development, 1642-1750 [ pdf ]

III. Massachusetts Settlement, 1629-1640 [ pdf ]

IV. Massachusetts Development, 1640-1750 [ pdf ]

V. Pennsylvania Settlement, 1681-1690 [ pdf ]

VI. Pennsylvania Development, 1690-1750 [ pdf ]

VII. British North America in 1750 [ pdf ]

 

Topic Three: The American Revolutionary Era, 1763-1789
The third quarter of this course covers the cause, course, and outcome of the American Revolution. We will pay special attention to the early "conservative" arguments made by the colonials. Then, we will cover in detail the natural rights/social contract philosophy of the Declaration of Independence. In addition, we will cover the Revolutionary War, the Confederation Era, and Shay's Rebellion. Finally, we will examine the creation of the American Constitution and the early workings of the new republican government in America.

I. British Colonial Theory and Practice [ pdf ]

II. New British Measures & the Conservative Colonial Stance [ pdf ] [ outline ]

A. Stamp Act & Virtual Representation [ here ]

B. Townshend Duties & John Dickinson [ here ]

III. The Radical Revolution [ pdf ]

IV. The War of Independence [ pdf ]

A. Weapons and Tactics [ pdf ]

B. Movie Review: The Patriot [ here ]

V. The Confederation Period [ pdf ]

VI. The Philadelphia Convention and U.S. Constitution [ pdf ]

VII. The Battle over Ratification [ pdf ]