History 152

American Civilization since 1877

Kahrl

Credit hours: 5
GEC categories:
Prerequisites: History 151, English 110 completed or concurrent

Text Books:

Example Syllabus:
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Course Objectives: To provide students with a solid knowledge and understanding of the fundamental events, personalities, issues and broad themes of U.S. history since 1877. To encourage an appreciation of history and the historical method. To acquaint the student with some of the sources and methods used by historians. To help the student sharpen analytical, problem solving and writing abilities.

Course Content: The course will consider the significant events and personalities that shaped American history from the establishment of the end of Reconstruction period in 1877 up to the present. Lectures will be organized around a chronological narrative stressing fundamentals. The narrative hopefully will stimulate an interest in the excitement and drama of the American past - as well as illustrate the nature of historical causation. Students, in other words, will not only be expected to know the "facts" but also to understand and interpret those facts and their interrelationships. This quarter we will study the social upheaval caused by rapid industrialization and urbanization, the impact of global war and the rise of the U.S. as a world power, the successes and failures of social reform movements, the development of the "imperial" Presidency, and the struggle by racial and ethnic minorities to find freedom and dignity in the "land of opportunity."

Method of Presentation: Mainly lecture with occasional discussion of the collateral readings.

Method of Evaluation: Two midterms and a final

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