Course Description
Survey of the economic, social, and cultural history of
capitalism from 1877 to the present. Topics include class
formation, industrialization, the currency debates, railroads,
mass production, labor unrest and unions, the Great Depression,
New Deal, World War II, deindustrialization, and the growing
importance of the financial sector.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be expected to attend all undergraduate
class sessions, pursue further in-depth readings and research
appropriate to the graduate curriculum, and meet regularly with
the instructor to discuss their research. In addition to
preparing a more extensive research paper than the
undergraduates, graduate students will draft weekly critical
assessments of the readings.
Athena Title
Capitalism Since 1877
Prerequisite
Any HIST course or ENGL 1101 or ENGL 1101E or ENGL 1101S or ENGL 1102 or ENGL 1102E or ENGL 1102S or POLS 1101 or POLS 1101E or POLS 1101H or POLS 1101S
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
- By the end of this course, students will be able to arrive at conclusions about the history of capitalism in modern America by gathering and weighing evidence, logical argument, and listening to counter argument.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to write stylistically appropriate papers and essays. Students will be able to analyze ideas and evidence, organize their thoughts, and revise and edit their finished essays.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to identify how the history of capitalism in modern America shaped diverse social and cultural attitudes toward labor and class, race and ethnicity, gender, and morality, encouraging them to understand diverse worldviews and experiences.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to apply appropriate methodological approaches to their analysis of primary sources and to organize their evidence to show historical continuities and discontinuities.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to generate their own research question or topic, locate suitable primary and secondary sources, and synthesize their ideas in novel ways.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to initiate, manage, complete, and evaluate their independent research projects in stages and to give and receive constructive feedback through the peer review process.
Topical Outline
- Commercial Agriculture
- Railroads
- Industrial Expansion
- The Labor Question
- Money and Prices
- Urbanization
- Capitalism Abroad
- The Roaring Twenties
- The Great Depression
- The New Deal
- World War II
- The American Century
- The Revolt Against Government
- Deindustrialization
Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
Communication
The ability to effectively develop, express, and exchange ideas in written, oral, interpersonal, or visual form.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
