HIS 201 - American History: Discovery to 1877

The REACH Act passed by the SC General Assembly in 2021 requires students graduating with a baccalaureate degree from an SC public college complete at least three semester credit hours that include reading in their entirety the following documents: the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation, five Federalist Papers, and at least one document that is foundational to the African American Freedom struggle. It is recommended that technical college students who intend to transfer to an SC public college complete this requirement prior to transfer. HIS 201 and PSC 201 meet the requirements of the REACH Act.

• Cultural collision between European and Native American.
• English patterns of colonization and settlement.
• Society and culture in the New England, Middle and Southern colonies.
• America’s transition from empire to independence, including coverage of the Declaration of Independence.
• American and British roles/strategies in the War of Independence.
• Failure under the Confederation and success under the Constitution, including the Federalist papers.
• Federalist era.
• Rise of Democratic-Republicans.
• Primary traits of Jacksonian society.
• Reform and politics in the Age of Jackson.
• African American Freedom Struggle documents.
• Antebellum South.
• Factors and incidents placing the Union in a position of crisis.
• War Between the States, including coverage of the Emancipation Proclamation.
• Presidential and Congressional Reconstruction.

A =  90 - 100
B =   80 - 89
C =   70 - 79
D =   60 - 69
F =     0 - 59

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Meet South Carolina’s REACH Act requirements by reading the entirety of the United States’ Founding Documents including the United States Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation, five Federalist Papers, and one document foundational to the African American freedom struggle.
2. Articulate the impact of the Atlantic Slave Trade and the institution of slavery on the American experience.
3. Explain the political developments in early American history including the republican system, interpretation of the Constitution, the evolution of the two-party system, and early American foreign policy.
4. Describe how religion and the social, cultural, and intellectual interactions of Europeans, Native Americans, and African Americans shaped the development of America’s national identity over time.
5. Analyze the development and impact of regionalism/sectionalism on the American experience.
6. Analysis the development and impact of westward expansion on the American experience.
7. Trace the sectional conflicts leading to the Civil War and Reconstruction.

• Identity Verification
• Required materials for all online courses
• Mandatory Attendance Requirement
• Orientation and Support
• Proctored Exams

• Academic Integrity
• Add/Drop period
• Attendance
• Classroom Conduct
• Equal Access
• IT Access
• Online Behavior
• Online Confidentiality
• Services For Students with Disabilities
• Student Concerns
• Student Help Services
• Withdrawals