UNIT OF STUDY DESCRIPTION

This unit of study examines the United States in the years in which Americans felt their society, culture, politics, and individual and national identities were taking new, ‘modern,’ forms.

We will explore topics such as the rise and fall of the segregated South, immigration and the nature of ethnic identity, social reform movements, from Populism and Progressivism, to the Civil Rights movement, feminism, gay liberation, the rise of a mass consumer culture of movies, advertising, and standardized products, and the changing stance of the United States in the world, from late starting imperialist aggressor, to isolationist economic power, and then Cold War superpower.

When we explore the past we will be concerned not only with the ideas and policies which came to dominance at different times in the past, but also with alternatives -- ideas which attracted support, but did not succeed in defining the shape of modern America. Wherever possible, the unit of study will also look at history ‘from the bottom up’, studying the ideas and behavior of ordinary people as well as those of politicians, business leaders and members of the dominant groups in American society.

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LEARNING SITUATIONS


Lectures: Two one-hour lectures a week.

  • Monday 11-12, Bosch lecture theatre 3
  • Wednesday, 11-12, Bosch lecture theatre 3
    • The lectures will be recorded; they will be available as mp3 files on WebCT.
    • Outlines of each lecture can be found on WebCT.


Tutorials: A one-hour tutorial each week, generally on a topic related to those covered in the previous week’s lectures.

    • Monday 2pm Woolley Tutorial Room N401
    • Monday 2pm Quadrangle Building, Room S227
    • Monday 3pm Woolley Tutorial Room N401
    • Monday 4pm Teachers College Seminar Room 436
    • Wednesday 10am Badham 145 Tutorial Room 2
    • Wednesday 1pm, Education Seminar Room 435
    • Wednesday 2pm Badham 145 Tutorial Room 2
    • Wednesday 2pm Transient Tutorial Room 202
    • Wednesday 3pm Transient Tutorial Room 202
    • Wednesday 3pm Badham 141 Tut Room 1
    • Wednesday 4pm Quadrangle Building, Room S227

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LEARNER PREPARATION

Prerequisites:
The unit of study presumes no prior knowledge of American history.

There are copies of two textbooks on Special Reserve for students seeking a broad overview of American History in this period:

  • Alan Brinkley, The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People.
  • Bruce Levine, et al, Who Built America? Working People and the Nation's Economy, Politics, Culture, and Society (vol. 2).


Computer Access (to access on-line readings for tutorials and assignments)
There are Access Centres at the following locations on campus

  • Fisher Library, level 2
  • Education Building, Room 232
  • Engineering Lab, in Link Building, Room 222
  • Carslaw Building, Room 201

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RESPONSE TO STUDENT FEEDBACK

Student Evaluation forms are collected at the end of each unit of study, and used to improve and develop the course. Feedback from students and the changes that were made in response to that feedback, can be found on the Department of History website

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STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION

Course Co-ordinators:

  • Clare Corbould
    Brennan Rm 851
    Tel: 9036-9662
    email: clare.corbould@usyd.edu.au
  • Michael McDonnell
    Brennan Rm 839
    Tel: 9351-6733
    email: michael.mcdonnell@usyd.edu.au

For consultation, please contact a coordinator to make a time.

 

Tutors:

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Contact: stephen.robertson@arts.usyd.edu.au Last Updated: 18 March, 2008
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