History of the United States from 1870 - 3rd year
Study of American political, social and economic history from the Reconstruction Era. This course traces the growth of the United States after the Civil War, through the rise of industrialism and imperialism, the two world wars and modern social and political history.
Objectives:
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Recognize and define the political, social, economic and cultural institutions of the United States;
2. Recognize and recall important events and people of American History from the dominant as well as minority cultures within the United States;
3. Compare and contrast the cultures, which comprise American society and examine the impact of diverse ethnic groups such as Native Americans, and European and African immigrants on the culture of the United States;
4. Identify political, social, economic and religious values, analyze the impact of these values on U.S. institutions, and recognize the difficulties inherent in applying ideologies to practical government;
5. Identify assumptions about American culture and institutions;
6. Identify stereotypes and biases, recognize facts, opinions and generalizations, separate fact from opinion and synthesize historical data in order to draw conclusions about American society and ideals;
7. Evaluate American values as they are applied (or not applied) in historical situations and show how they were synthesized from many cultures by the various peoples who settled in the United States.
Topics:
Course topics will include the following:
1. Reconstruction
2. Societies of the Far West
3. Industrialism and the emergency of modern America
4. Imperialism
5. Progressivism
6. Wilsonianism and the Great War
7. The Great Depression
8. The New Deal
9. World War II
10. The Cold War
11. Vietnam
12. Modern problems and challenges
Method of Instruction:
1. Lecture
2. Discussion
3. Group activities
4. Debate
5. Role playing
6. Audio visual
7. Research projects
Types of Assignments:
1. Chapter length assignments
2. Appropriate assignments may include library research in preparation for debates
3. Role-playing presentations
4. Short papers
5. Book reports
6. Term papers or individual projects
7. Taking notes from reading and lecture materials
8. Well-organized essays and/or reports reasonably free of major errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation
9. Debate, speeches and class discussion.
Sample Text:
1. Unfinished Nation. Alan Brinkley. McGraw Hill, 2000.
