This course examines half a century of life in the United States (roughly from the War of 1812 until the secession of the Southern states), focusing on race relations, westward expansion, class formation, immigration, religion, sexuality, popular culture, and everyday life. Assigned readings will consist largely of first-person narratives in which women and men of a range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds construct distinctive visions of life in the new nation.

The Civil War is commonly regarded as the second American Revolution, the grand rupture after which a new modern nation came into being. But many of the institutions, ideologies, and practices that make up modern society and culture in the United States emerged more gradually during the period that preceded the War. To understand the origins of such contemporary phenomena as the mass media, corporate capitalism, wage labor, the two-party system, family values, and racism, we need to trace their evolution in the nineteenth century. This course examines a little over half a century of life in the United States (roughly from 1800 until the secession of the South), focusing on everyday life, popular culture, race relations, democratic politics, westward expansion, urbanization, class formation, religious experience, gender roles, sexuality, print communication, and competing claims to wealth, power, and the good life. Assigned readings will consist largely of first-person narratives in which women and men of varied ethnic backgrounds and cultural identities try to make sense of their own experiences against the backdrop of major social change. Class lectures will be delivered at the scheduled class time over Zoom and recorded for those who wish to attend or consult them later. Zoom classes will be designed to be interactive, within the constraints of the medium. Course requirements include four short (250-350 word) analyses of assigned primary sources, one midterm exam, and a cumulative exam during finals week. All examinations will be completed and submitted electronically. There will be a written final exam during the scheduled final exam time: Friday, 12/18/20, 3–6 pm.

Class lectures will be delivered at the scheduled class time over Zoom and recorded for those who wish to attend or consult them later. Zoom lectures will be designed to be interactive, within the constraints of the medium.

Repeat Rules

Course is not repeatable for credit.

Requirements class fulfills