Issues:US History Before 1877

Catalog description

This graduate seminar is intended to provide students with a deeper understanding of the broad sweep of American history. Weekly seminars will explore important works in history and historiography. Each week we will also experiment with teaching techniques and ideas. History teachers are confronted with some difficult questions. We are supposed to teach the history of the American people, but Americans have never been quite sure who “the people” are. We are supposed to help students become better citizens, but Americans have never been sure what a good citizen looks like. Were good citizens the ones fighting the Revolution? Or were they the ones loyal to the Crown? There have never been simple, clear answers to these questions, yet we history teachers accept the task of helping students figure them out. This course is cross-listed as HIST 530A. Note: This course is part of a two-course series. EDUC 508/HIST 530B is the second half. Each half is independent; students may take one or both.