Topical survey, within broad chronological divisions, of the development of American civilization since 1600. Students may take the course up to two times as long as the topic for the two courses is different. Course meets the History major requirement for Group 1.
Registration Approval Required. Contact Instructor or Academic Department for permission then register through Webcat.
Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits.
Equivalent(s): HIST 410H
Attributes: Writing Intensive Course, Historical Perspectives(Disc)
Instructors: Elliott Lelaure
Additional Course Details:
Western Expansion of the United States
From American independence to the closing of the western frontier, this course will survey two centuries of American expansion. We will trace the social, cultural, economic, political, and environmental impacts of the moving frontier; our goal is to understand how this dramatic and complex history has shaped the identity and character of the United States. This course takes a wide variety of historical events – including: the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Cherokee removal, the Plains Wars, the establishment of the National Park Service, the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii, and the Manhattan project – and uses them to understand ‘change over time’ in the American West. We will also consider the legacies of westward expansion, using film, music, and other media to understand how the history of the American frontier has influenced contemporary culture. This course introduces students to methods of historical analysis. We will learn to form historical arguments through writing and discussion, find and interpret primary and secondary sources, and develop critical thinking skills as we evaluate and challenge key ideas and stories from the American West.