Modern American History

Modern American History will tell the story of America from the end of the Civil War (the period of Reconstruction) to the present day. (Although this tutorial examines later American history, it is self-contained; there are no prerequisites. Moreover, this course would nicely complement American Literature II.)

During this exciting period, the United States emerged as a crucial player on the international scene. The means of warfare shifted, scientific advancement accelerated, and the economy solidified into the systems we experience today. World War II and the struggle with Communism will be emphasized, and we will discuss industrialization, foreign policy, the 60's, the culture wars, civil rights and our post-911 world.

We will utilize a variety of approaches in our exploration of this period. In particular, we will rely on primary sources extensively, along with lectures, discussions, and readings in additional (secondary) sources. The students will complete short writing assignments, which will focus on analyzing these sources. Students may be asked to write a longer paper to probe the key topics of this time-frame, in conjunction with a related assignment in American Literature and Writing II.