HIS1012
American History 1876 to the Present
The course introduces the cultural, social, political, economic, history of the United States from 1876 to the present. The course is designed to help students understand and evaluate their society in the context of the historical experience. Topics include history events such as the settling of the American West, definition of the “New South,” the Great Depression, the New Deal, World War II, the Cold War, and the Civil Rights Movement.
UPON COMPLETION OF THE COURSE, THE STUDENT WILL BE COMPETENT IN:
- Understanding the concept of manifest destiny as it applies to the settlement of the American West.
- Defining the “New South,” with emphasis on its economic, social, political, and racial features.
- Understanding the impact of the industrial revolution, including the rise of corporations, the transformation of work, and the growth of cities.
- Comparing and contrasting the Populist and Progressive responses to the emergence of modern America.
- Analyzing the emergence of America onto the world stage at the turn of the century.
- Describing the New Era of the 1920s, including consumerism, transportation, the economy, and social unrest.
- Understanding the causes of the Great Depression and the response of the New Deal.
- Describing America’s move from isolationism to internationalism during the 1930s and World War II.
- Understanding the Cold War both at home and abroad.
- Analyzing the causes for the effects of the post World War II economic boom in the United States.
- Describing the impact of the Civil Rights Movements in post war America.
- Understanding the “Great Society” and its legacy.
- Analyzing American society at home and abroad during the Vietnam War era.
- Describing the economy, politics, and culture of the post Vietnam era.
- Discussing American society at the end of the Cold War.