This lecture course surveys the history of the United States from the 17th century to the 21st century. Students are offered an overview and an evaluation of the events and issues shaping American history from colonial times to the post-Cold War era.
Week 1: Orientation; Introduction
Week 2: Colonial America and the Fight for Independence
Week 3: The Federalist Era
Week 4: The Territorial Expansion and the Indian Question
Week 5: Slavery and the Civil War
Week 6: Reconstruction and the Gilded Age
Week 7: The Rise of the U.S. as a World Power; the U.S. in the First World War
Week 8: The 1920s, the Great Depression, and the New Deal
Week 9: The U.S. in the Second World War; the early Years of the Cold War
Week 10: The Civil Rights Movement; the Vietnam War
Week 11: The Reagan Presidency; The post-Cold War years
Week 12: The U.S. in the 21st century
Week 13: Revision
A final written exam based on the material of the lectures and the assigned readings.
Grades will be based on the results of the final written exam. The exam will be composed of three sections: (1) fill in the blanks (30 points); (2) multiple choice (20 points) and (3) an essay (20 points). The pass grade starts at 40 points of the total of 70 points.