New York, New York, is the city so great they named it twice. This course explores the history and representation of New York City, from its beginnings as a Dutch settlement down to 9/11, using the archetypal modern metropolis as a window on American history. We look at the people, images and events that defined the city, including such icons as the Five Points, Central Park, Harlem, the Empire State Building, Coney Island and the World Trade Centre.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:

THEMES

You will expand your knowledge of three themes

  • New York City – How did NYC develop? How did it become the iconic city American city? What characteristics, images, events, and individuals gave it that status?
  • Placeas a category of historical analysis – What places have defined NYC? What do those places reveal about the character of the city and of urban life? How has place influenced social relations and culture?  What different perspectives on place are offered by sources such as archaeological evidence, photographs, maps and architectural designs?
  • NYC and the nation – What is place of the NYC in the US? What does NYC contribute to the US? How do its relations with the rest of the nation shape NYC? How is it perceived and represented by visitors?

SKILLS

You will develop the skills of critical analysis, communication and organization: we will not only read what historians say, but we will do what they do.

[1] Skills in Analysis.

You will critically read a variety of different primary sources -- material from the historical moments that we are studying such as archaeological evidence, paintings, photographs, cartoons, travelers accounts, maps, architectural designs, pamphlets, and government documents. 

  • You will learn to consider what sources tell us about the past and what they do not tell us, focusing on the strengths and weaknesses, biases and distortions of particular types of evidence.
  • You will learn to consider how sources convey meaning – the language, forms, assumptions, images, symbols they use -- as well as how their contents are crucial to what they tell us about the past.

You will also read historians’ interpretations and critically assess their arguments. The skill of critical reading involves not only trying to understand the interpretation put forward by an historian, but also assessing the strengths and weaknesses of those arguments. 

  • You will learn to examine the evidence historians use to support their arguments and compare your interpretation of these sources with those of historians, as well as considering how far their arguments agree with other sources.
  • You will also learn to analyze critically the different ways in which historical issues may be approached and understood, by recognizing the existence of competing interpretations, distinguishing the assumptions and evidence on which they are based and assessing their arguments.

[2] Skills in Verbal and Written Communication:

The written assignments will teach you the skills of formulating historians in appropriate language the understanding and opinions you have developed from your analysis of documents and the work of, organizing them in a logical and persuasive order, and supporting them with evidence.

In the tutorials, you will learn to listen and absorb the ideas of others, and respond to their ideas, as well as develop and express your own ideas, respond to constructive criticism and be ready to change or discard your argument in favor of one that is more convincing. 

[3] Skills in organization

This unit of study requires you to manage your time. To perform effectively, you must:

  • Attend all lectures and tutorials—and arrive on time.
  • Keep up with the reading.
  • Meet your deadlines.

If you meet all these demands, you will have developed good working habits that you can transfer to other studies and occupations.

Student Learning Outcomes:

In terms of the Faculty of Arts’ graduate attributes, students will:

  • have developed a body of knowledge about the history and representation of New York Ciity
  • be able to acquire and evaluate new knowledge through independent research and communicate knowledge in both written and oral English
  • have an appreciation of the requirements and characteristics of scholarship and research
  • be able to identify, define, investigate, and solve problems
  • think independently, analytically and creatively
  • have enhanced their ability to use appropriate media, tools and methodologies to locate, access and use information

Learner Preparation

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

There is no textbook for this course. There are copies of two textbooks on Special Reserve for students seeking a broad overview of American History in this period:

  • Bernard Bailyn et al, The Great Republic: A History of the American People, 2nd ed
  • Alan Brinkley, The Unfinished Nation: A concise history of the American people


For a comprehensive overview of the history of New York City up to 1898, see:

  • Edwin Burrows and Mike Wallace, Gotham.

Unfortunately, there is no equivalent text covering the twentieth century.

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Staff Contact information

Course Co-ordinator:

Dr. Stephen Robertson
E-mail: stephen.robertson@usyd.edu.au
Phone: 9351 -3782
Office: Mungo MacCallum 818
Office Hours: Monday 3-4 & by appointment - send an e-mail

Tutors:

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© 2006 The University of Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia. Phone +61 2 9351 3782
ABN: 15 211 513 464 Created by: Stephen Robertson
Contact: stephen.robertson@arts.usyd.edu.au Last Updated: 26 February, 2008
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