Recent American History

Catalog description

Contemporary economic, social, and political aspects of the United States and its role as a world power since 1945. AMST 447 / HIST 447 Recent American History (3)This course covers the history of the United States from the end of World War II to the present. Topics include but are not limited to the Marshall Plan, the Cold War, the Korean War, the rise of television, atomic power, the Eisenhower presidency, the Civil Rights and Women's Movements, the Vietnam War and protests, the space race, Watergate, the Reagan presidency, the two Iraq Wars, the Dot-com revolution, 9-11 and the War on Terror, and the Obama presidency. While addressing major historical movements, the course will also explore the culture of the period - art, literature, music, sports, television, religion, and film. Even though the course covers a relatively short span of years, students will see that American society has undergone dramatic changes in this period as the result of social movements, immigration, wars, political scandal, and technological innovation. The course will close by speculating on the current direction of the United States in light of the serious challenges the nation faces.