United States History and Cultural Identities

Course aim

To further develop students’ research, analytical and writing skills through the interpretation of primary and secondary sources in American history. Students will gain insights into the major events and social movements that have shaped the complex history, politics, society and cultural diversity of the United States.

Course content

Students will study the history of British America, 1607-1776, and the United States, 1776 to the present. Students will examine the British settlement of North America, the growth of Colonial America, the War of Independence, the creation of the Republic, westward expansion, the sectional tensions over slavery, and the Civil War and Reconstruction. Students will also study the industrialisation of the US, the Progressive Era, segregation in the South, America’s emergence as a great power, World War One, the Depression, Roosevelt’s New Deal, World War Two and America’s superpower status, US foreign policy since 1945 (including the Cold War, the Korean, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq wars, and the rise of China), the Civil Rights movement, and the political, social and economic tensions that have divided the US since the 1970s.

Textbook(s)

Nil

Prerequisite(s)

Nil

Corequisite(s)

Nil

Teaching method

Note: These components may or may not be scheduled in every study period. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Assessment

Essay

Fees

EFTSL*: 0.125
Commonwealth Supported program (Band 4A)
To determine the fee for this course as part of a Commonwealth Supported program, go to:
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Fee-paying program for domestic and international students
International students and students undertaking this course as part of a postgraduate fee paying program must refer to the relevant program home page to determine the cost for undertaking this course.

Non-award enrolment
Non-award tuition fees are set by the university. To determine the cost of this course, go to:
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Not all courses are available on all of the above bases, and students must check to ensure that they are permitted to enrol in a particular course.

* Equivalent Full Time Study Load. Please note: all EFTSL values are published and calculated at ten decimal places. Values are displayed to three decimal places for ease of interpretation.