HIST 233-02, Change and Continuity in the "American Century". Fall 2006

Abstract

The 20th Century was a tremendous period of change for the United States, as the country became the world’s military and economic leader. This course will survey US history from 1900 to the present and will approach historical issues from a variety of perspectives. Economic and political developments will be addressed, but there will also be discussions of social and cultural changes over the course of the last century. Students will be encouraged to analyze how historical narratives are constructed and to offer their own understanding of historical events. In addition to completing the reading and written assignments for the course, students will be expected to be active participants in class discussions. At the semester’s end, students will be asked to make conclusions about changes in the United States over the 20th Century and hypothesize about possible directions for the nation’s future.