HIS-113: United States History I: 1607-1865

HIS-113 is Southern New Hampshire University's first US history survey, running from the founding of Jamestown to the end of the Civil War.

The catalog says the development of regionalism, and its effect on the coming of the Civil War, provides the framework for the course. That framework matters: instead of treating events as a flat list, you are expected to trace how North, South and West grew apart.

The course is required for history majors and social studies education majors with a history concentration.

What HIS-113 Covers

The phases follow the date range and framework in the catalog; your syllabus sets the detailed order.

Key Concepts Explained

Regionalism

Regionalism means that areas developed distinct economies, politics and cultures. The New England, Mid-Atlantic and Southern colonies grew differently, and later conflict over slavery and westward expansion deepened those differences.

Perspective and Voice

Colonial and early national history is not only the story of leaders. Enslaved people, Native nations, women and workers had their own experiences. Good papers show whose voice a source represents.

Contingency

Historians debate whether the war was inevitable. Showing that outcomes depended on choices, not only forces, adds depth.

Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them

Where Students Get Stuck

• Memorizing instead of arguing. Use events as evidence for a claim.
• Treating regions as uniform. Note differences within regions too.
• Presentism. Explain choices in their historical context before judging.
• Imprecise terms. Define words such as sectionalism and secession.

Study Plan Across the Period

What a Strong Essay Looks Like

Survey essays reward clear organization. The table shows how weaker and stronger essays tend to differ in this course.

A Second Illustration

Invented prompt: "How did the economies of the North and South differ by 1850?" A strong answer compares labor systems, main products and attitudes to government, then argues how those differences made compromise harder, with a document or speech named for each point.

Before You Submit

A final read against the rubric keeps an essay focused.

• Is the thesis a claim, not a topic?
• Does the essay use the regionalism framework where it helps?
• Does each paragraph include a named event, person or document?
• Are different perspectives represented?

Checking dates and spellings of names is quick and prevents easy loss of credibility.

Where HIS-113 Fits in the Program

HIS-113 is the first half of the US history survey, with HIS-114 following. It is required for history majors and social studies education majors with a history concentration, and its regionalism framework gives you a thread to hold the material together.

Think of each unit as adding evidence to the question of how and why the nation divided. That keeps the course from becoming a list of events.

When you read feedback on a first essay, note whether comments are about argument, evidence or style, and focus your next effort on the weakest of those.

Study Tips for HIS-113

• Link each event to a region so the framework stays visible.
• Read primary sources aloud to catch tone and purpose.
• Start essays with a question, not a topic.
• Cite page numbers when quoting.

How We Help with HIS-113

Send the prompt, readings, rubric and any draft. We can explain historical context, help build a thesis around regionalism, prepare a custom essay for study, or review your draft for structure, evidence and citations.

Work you submit must be your own under SNHU's academic integrity policy. GradeEssays is independent and not affiliated with Southern New Hampshire University.