HIST 233-02, United States in the 20th Century, Fall 2009

Abstract

The concept of the American Dream was a guiding force in the development of the American nation in the 20th Century and continues to shape how Americans view their country. This course will survey US history and competing notions of the American dream 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 what the American dream is and whether it is only a dream or a reality for many Americans. In addition to completing the reading and written assignments for the course, students will be active participants in class discussions. At the semester’s end, students will draw conclusions about changes in the American Dream and hypothesize about the relevance of this concept for the 21st Century.