U.S. Social
Movements
PS 386, CRN 14994
Fall 2009, M/W 2-3:20 229 MCK
Instructor Jennifer Hehnke
Office: PLC 261
Office Hours: Tuesdays 2-4, or by
appointment (Starting Week 2)
During certain periods in American history, normal politics breaks from
its usual reliance on elections, legislative action, and interest group
bargaining. In these moments, groups of
people decided institutionalized political channels of governance have not met
their specific needs. These disempowered
groups rise up and challenge the fundamental power structures of America
politics and find creative and innovative ways to remind those in power that
not everyone is benefiting within U.S. democracy. However, as routinely as these social
movements arise, they disband and politics returns to normal. Therefore, this class explores the questions
of the rise and fall of social movements, and what stories these movements tell
about the possibilities for democracy in the United States. What is the source of these periodic
upheavals? How do movements progress and
change? What do their aspirations,
successes, and failures tell us about the system we live in and the
possibilities for reform?
This class will explore three episodes in U.S.
history: the labor movement, civil rights movement, and “New Social Movements”
of the 1960s through the 1980s, which have shaped our “culture wars” of
today.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Readings: Students are
expected to complete required readings for the day they are discussed in class.
3-4
page Essay on the Labor Movement. Due October 21th (Week 4) in class -25%-
3-4
page Essay on the Civil Rights Mov.. Due
November 9th (Week 7) in class. -25%-
3-4
page Essay on New Social Movements: Due December 10, 3:15pm. -30%-
Course Reading Journal: Reading log
Due December 10, 3:15pm- 20%
Reading journal to be hand-written or typed, pages stapled together (or
connected within bound notebook). For
those of who you like page numbers- this should be at least 8 pages typed, or
10 pages hand-written to incorporate entry for each assigned reading. Can be as many pages as you like as well. See
full directions on Blackboard. Must
follow requirements to get credit.
READINGS: All required readings are available from the
bookstore or Blackboard. These books are available for purchase in the
bookstore. May be found at Smith Family
Bookstore as well.
BLACKBOARD: The course syllabus, all assignments, quizzes,
overhead slides from lectures, and external course readings will be posted on
blackboard.
DUE DATES:
PAPER
ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS.
If you need to
turn a paper in EARLY OR LATE- you need to turn it into my LOCKED BOX ON THE 9TH
FLOOR OF PLC.
NO PAPERS
ACCEPTED UNDER ANY DOORS OR OVER EMAIL.
·
ONE EXCEPTION:
If you are sick you should NOT come to class. In this case, please EMAIL me your paper by
the due date. In this case, when you are
well enough to come to campus, bring a HARD COPY of your paper to class or to
the Instructor’s locked box (not the GTFs).
Late
Papers:
Late papers
will be docked one full letter grade per day late. After 3 days, the papers will not be accepted
unless approved prior to due date.
If you must
turn a paper in late, please put it in Jenny’s locked box, on the 9th
floor of PLC. Then, please email me to
let me know it is there.
Worried
you have the flu? If you have the flu or worry you are
experiencing symptoms of flu, please email at your first worry that you might
not be able to turn your paper in on time so we can make other
arrangements. If you are sick on the day
it’s due, again, just EMAIL the paper so it will be on time and you won’t have
to come to class.
Academic Dishonesty:
You
are expected to do your own work and credit others whose work you use in your
papers. Getting caught cheating or
plagiarizing will result in failure of the class. You can challenge this through academic
affairs only. Plagiarism is using someone else’s words without giving them due
credit (including published works, internet sites, and other student’s
work). If in doubt, always cite! If you
have any questions about plagiarism, please contact the professor or GTF before
you submit your paper, or refer to the Student Conduct Code of Conduct or
the Office of Student Judicial Affairs:
http://studentlife.uoregon.edu/judicial/judicial_mainpage.htm.
Students with disabilities:
If you have a documented disability and anticipate
needing accommodations in this course, please make arrangements to meet with me
as soon as you have time this term.
Mutual Respect:
I hope for the class to be a safe learning environment for the
expression of a wide variety of views, beliefs, arguments, and
perspectives. Please display respect for
all opinions, viewpoints, personal histories, and arguments posed by other
students. The university should provide
a safe and creative learning environment for the expression and production of a
multiplicity of viewpoints and beliefs.
If you do not express respect for alternate opinions from your own and
therefore create an unsafe learning space, the instructor has the authority to
dismiss you from class. Likewise, if you
feel that the instructor is not providing a safe space for beliefs and
viewpoints, please contact me either in office hours, after class, or by email
and I will address your concern.
Introduction
to class, expectations, assignments, and exam questions.
Reading:
Week 2- October 5 and 7
The
Labor Movement
Essay
Topic Distributed October 7
(Due October 12)
Reading:
Week 3- October 12 and 14
The
Labor Movement
Film-
with Babies and Banners
Reading:
Decline of the Labor Movement
Reading:
Week 5- October 26 and 28
Civil
Rights in South
Essay
Topic Distributed October 28
(Due November 9)
Reading:
Week 6- November 2 and 4
Civil
Rights in the North
Film: Eyes on the Prize, the Chicago Freedom
Movement
Reading: -
Week 7- November 9 and 10---ESSAY (Civil Rights) DUE NOVEMBER 9
The
Grassroots Right- Anti-busing as a Social Movement?
Reading:
New Social Movements
Week 8- November 16 and 17
New
Social Movements-
Film: Berkeley in the 60s
Reading:
Week 9- November 23 and 25 (Thanksgiving Week)
Gay Liberation
and AIDS
Reading:
Week 10- November 30 and December 2
Beyond
Identity Politics
Reading: