Course for international guest/part time students
- Faculty
- Faculty of Humanities
- Organization
- BTK Department of American Studies
- Code
- BBI-AME17-322E.01
- Title
- Elective seminar in the history of the United States: American Social Issues in the 19th and 20th Centuries
- Usual semester
- Spring
- Published semester
- 2025/26/2
- ECTS
- 5
- Language
- en
- Learning outcomes
- The primary aim of the course is to develop historical thinking, interpretation, and dialogue, rather than the memorization of factual knowledge. Students are expected to recognize recurring problems and long-term processes in American social history and to compare different historical periods. By the end of the semester, students will be able to formulate their own reasoned interpretations based on class materials, discussions, and selected sources.
- Course content
- This course explores American social history from the late 18th century to the mid-20th century through the lens of everyday life, social problems, and long-term historical processes. Instead of political events, the course examines how ordinary people experienced and shaped major transformations in society. Key topics include slavery and emancipation, wartime trauma, industrialization, urbanization, gender roles, inequality, state responsibility (New Deal), and the struggle for civil rights.
- Assessment method
- Grading is based on three components: Active participation (50%): Preparation based on readings, engagement in group work and discussions. Maximum 3 absences allowed. In-class presentation (20%): A 10–15 minute presentation supported by PPT, focusing on a specific problem and initiating class discussion. Final written reflection (30%): An in-class written assignment reflecting on the key patterns and processes discussed during the semester. Grading scale: 0–27 pts (1), 28–32 (2), 33–37 (3), 38–42 (4), 43–50 (5).
- Bibliography
- David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler. Daily Life in the Early American Republic, 1790–1820. Greenwood, 2004. Dorothy Volo and James M. Volo. Daily Life in Civil War America. Greenwood, 2009. Julie Husband and Jim O’Loughlin. Daily Life in the Industrial United States, 1870–1900. Greenwood, 2019. David E. Kyvig. Daily Life in the United States, 1920–1940. Ivan R. Dee, 2004. K. David Goss. Daily Life During the Salem Witch Trials. Greenwood, 2012. Paul S. Boyer. American History. A Very Short Introduction. Oxford, 2012.