HIS 222W - Recent American History

Credits: 3
Instructional Contact Hours: 3

Exploring American history from the failure of Reconstruction in the 1870s to the fall of the Iron Curtain in the 1980s, this course examines the traditional story, as well as interesting events and fascinating people from all walks of life. This class will explore the voices of those Americans whose history is traditionally marginalized in U.S. History textbooks. Through study of working-class families trying to make it in the Industrial Age to the reformers of the Progressive Era, Americans at war, activists fighting for rights, hot points in the Cold War and much more, we will examine the social, political, and cultural structures of America.

Prerequisite(s): High School GPA of 2.3 or higher or completion of or concurrent enrollment in any ENG course or a Guided Self-Placement recommendation of ENG 111A or higher
Corequisite(s): None
Lecture Hours: 45 Lab Hours: 0
Meets MTA Requirement: Humanities, Social Science
Pass/NoCredit: Yes

Outcomes and Objectives

1. Identify an effective narrative that analyzes the history of the modern United States in response to an analytical question.

Craft well-supported historical narratives, arguments, or reports of research findings in a variety of media.
Select from a range of media best suited to communicating a particular argument, narrative, or set of ideas.

2. Analyze various types of historical sources appropriate to the study of recent American History.

A. Describe the differences between primary and secondary sources.

B. Analyze the perspective and context in which the historical source was created.

C. Describe the ways in which a given historical source may inform a historical narrative.

3. Evaluate conflicting historical interpretations within the context of recent American History.

Identify and describe conflicting historical interpretations.
Analyze the evidence supporting conflicting historical interpretations.

4. Analyze the ways in which the history of recent American History informs the current issues of the United States and its relationship to global culture.

Compare, contrast, and contextualize the political, cultural, and social history of recent American History and the present.
Evaluate the way in which political, cultural, and social structures have margininalized certain groups throughout recent American History, such as women , people of color, religious minorities, nondominant sexual identities, and others.

5. Analyze global interactions relevant to the traditional narrative of recent American History.

Describe relevant global interactions taken in the past.
Evaluate the importance of relevant global interactions with recent American History.

6. Use writing tasks to promote learning.

Analyze course content in written form.
Demonstrate knowledge of subject matter.
Explain the subject matter in a coherent writing style.