American Homefronts, Global Wars

Catalog description

Most of the 21st century has seen the United States embroiled in a series of global wars. This course uses the lens of American involvement in international conflict to focus on the social experiences and cultural impacts countries at war have experienced on the homefront and in the aftermath of war. Scheduled readings will focus on five major periods: WWI, WWII, Cold War, Vietnam, and the post-9/11 War on Terrorism. Issues covered include transnational public support or resistance to the war, meanings of patriotism, images of the enemy, perceptions of soldiers, post-war memorials and cultural memories, and post-war experiences of veterans, migrants or refugees, and homefront citizens whose lives were impacted by war. While the U.S. involvement in war defines the four periods, our readings and other class materials includes attention to many other nations both during and after the war.