Modern American History ((4 Credits))

Catalog description

Modern American History is a survey course, which covers events in American history from Reconstruction in the south in 1877 through the present. Students will examine various political, social and cultural themes in this course, including Reconstruction, western settlement and the frontier, industrialization, immigration, American imperialism and world power, the Progressive movement, WW I, the Roaring Twenties, the Depression, the New Deal, WW II, the Cold War and Nuclear Age, the 1950s, Civil Rights, the 1960s, Vietnam, and the resurgence of conservatism in the 1980s. Critical reading skills and the ability to analyze and evaluate primary and secondary historical sources and produce written interpretations will be emphasized. Understanding the historic roots of contemporary crises is becoming all the more important as we enter the third decade of what has become an increasingly politically volatile 21st century. To do so, students will identify a current issue early in the semester and perform extensive research on its historic roots. This project will culminate in a research paper of approximately 4,000 words due at the end of the semester. The project is aimed at satisfying the SUNY general education guidelines for U.S. History and Civic Engagement by giving you the capability to: demonstrate understanding of United States’ society and/or history, including the diversity of individuals and communities that make up the nation; explore the role of individual participation in U.S. communities and government; and apply historical and contemporary evidence to draw, support, or verify conclusions. Some introductory level coursework in U.S. History is recommended but not required for this course. Critical reading skills and the ability to analyze and evaluate primary and secondary historical sources and produce written interpretations will be emphasized. This course was previously HIS-243214 Modern American History.