HST 202 History of the United States

Survey of United States history focusing on the development of the country socially, economically, politically, and culturally. Jacksonian era, expansion, commercial and industrial revolution, slavery, Civil War, Reconstruction, Gilded Age, Populism.

Credits

4

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Apply analytical skills to social phenomena in order to understand human behavior. Identify and consider important concepts, movements, and themes which shaped the lives of those living within the United States during the 19th Century, including topics such as the Jacksonian era, territorial expansion, market revolution, slavery, Civil War, Reconstruction, Gilded Age, Populism
2. Apply knowledge and experience to foster personal growth and better appreciate the diverse social world in which we live
3. Analyze how diverse groups affected the formation of the American character in terms of Constitutional theories, religious beliefs, social structures, and political institutions. Focus on human interactions, including both unifying principles and outright conflicts that have resulted in continuity and/or change 4. Understand the role of individuals and institutions within the context of society. Course will examine the influential power exerted on the development of the early American republic by individuals, Constitutional principles, and both socio-cultural and political-economic institutions. This can include biographical history as well as national historical developments, where appropriate
5. Assess different theories and concepts, and understand the distinctions between empirical and other methods of inquiry. Demonstrate a functional appreciation of the various interpretations of history, assessing both the development and evaluation of each view. Identify different schools of historical thought. Develop the ability to critically analyze the information presented throughout the course, including their sources, citations, and philosophical points of view
6. Utilize appropriate information literacy skills in written and oral communication. Students will: learn basic historical terms and relevant, era-specific vocabulary; be exposed to the tools of historical investigation, such as how to ask relevant questions; learn how to access information for research; develop ability to formulate a problem statement and to argue logically and critically
7. Understand the diversity of human experience and thought, individually and collectively Course will include elements of the traditional, revised, and newly emerging narratives that comprise a more accurate history of the United States in the 19th Century
8. Apply knowledge and skills to contemporary problems and issues. Identify causation, correlations, analogies, and potential lessons between the historical past and contemporary times. Consider issues common to all eras and the human experience