HI111: A History of the United States
This module focuses on the political, cultural and social history of the USA from European migration up to the end of the 20th Century. In this chronological module you will study the major events of US History from multiple perspectives, alongside a number of historical approaches and methodologies. We also cover research, writing and referencing skills and aim to set you up for the remainder of your single or joint honours history degree.
We will study events such as the American Revolution, the Civil War and the Civil Rights movement. We look at history from the perspective of several marginalised groups including enslaved peoples and native Americans. We look at the role and place of women in US history as well as LGBTQ communities. By the end of the module you will know how to assess and engage with the history of the USA, where to look for reliable primary, secondary and tertiary sources, how to construct arguments and how to write for diverse audiences.
Module aims and outcomes
- Demonstrate a broad understanding of significant themes in United States history, and of patterns of change and continuity over four centuries, including understanding and engaging with the US in the present.
- Identify key historiographical debates and contributions of different historical sub-disciplines (including social,
cultural, and political history, and the histories of race and gender) to interpretations of this subject matter. - Identify and engage with key printed / online primary sources in US history, having gained experience of reading such documents for the meanings and evidence that they contain.
- Demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills through the delivery of a presentation.
- Devise well-defined essay topics, construct their own bibliographies, collect relevant data from a variety of sources and present results in an effective fashion.
Indicative readings
- Susan-Mary Grant, A Concise History of the United States (2012)
- Eric Foner, Give Me Liberty (multiple editions)
- George Tindall and David Shi, America: A Narrative History (multiple editions)