United States History: 1877 to Present

This course will examine the main narrative of events that have shaped the American nation from Reconstruction to the present by studying the extent to which the nation’s rhetoric about “democracy,” “liberty,” “rights,” “independence,” and “freedom” has been a reality in the United States. In particular, the course will explore how the United States was transformed by major events such as Reconstruction, industrial revolution, immigration, urbanization, social protest, racial conflict, and war. While in many regards concepts like “democracy,” “liberty,” “rights,” “independence,” and “freedom” have been embraced and championed by the American nation, not all groups within the United States have equally shared in the rewards of these ideas. Over time, numerous attempts have been made to challenge the established power structures that have prevented various groups from having full access to the rights afforded all citizens by the evolving meaning of the U.S. Constitution. Through a range of readings, this course will examine this central idea about the shaping of modern America.

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