History of United States of America
Objectives
a) Acquire a critical view of U.S. history, between 1763 and 1917
b) Understanding the history of the United States in a political, economic and social perspective
c) Question the chronological periods and the main themes of U.S. history
d) Incorporate, in a comparative view, the history of the United States in World, and particularly European historical development
e) Know the different historiographical perspectives on U.S. history and the periods and themes in which it is divided
f) To acquire knowledge that enable to pursue a thorough study of the modern epoch.
General characterization
Code
711051153
Credits
6
Responsible teacher
Available soon
Hours
Weekly - 4
Total - Available soon
Teaching language
Portuguese
Prerequisites
None.
Bibliography
Cohen, Nancy, The reconstruction of American liberalism, 1865-1914, Chapel Hill, UNC Press, 2002.
Foner, Eric, Reconstruction: America´s Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877, New York, Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2002.
Howe, Daniel Walker, What hath God wrought: the transformation of America, 1815-1848, Oxford University Press US, 2007.
McPherson, James M., Battle cry of freedom: the Civil War era, Oxford University Press US, 2003.
Wood, Gordon S., Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815, Oxford University Press US, 2009.
Teaching method
The lectures will be mainly expository, with the possibility of involvement of students to clarify questions or comments. The practical classes will be devoted to the analysis, commentary and discussion of historiographical texts, contemporary documents, movies or web sites about U. S. History, previously selected by the teacher and analyzed by students.
Evaluation method
Students will be assessed through their participation in practical classes (20% of final quotation), by an individual written work (40%) and a final written exam without consultation (40%).
Subject matter
Introduction:
- Historiography and periodization of U.S. History
- The United States of America: geographic and demographic developments
Part I: Political and Institutional History
- From Colonies to the United States: the American Revolution
- The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution
- The early years of the First Republic (1789-1801)
- Democracy and Progress (1801-1840)
- \"A house divided\": on the road to Civil War (1840-1861)
- The Civil War: preserving the Union and ending slavery (1861-1865)
- The Reconstruction (1865-1877)
- \"The Golden Age\": the U.S. in the late nineteenth century
- The Progressive Era: the U.S. in the early twentieth century
- The entry on the world stage: the U.S. and First World War
Part II: major themes
- Slavery and abolition
- The conquest of the West
- Immigration, industrialization and transports
- Religion