Course Meeting Times
Lectures: 2 sessions / week, 1.5 hours / session
Description
This course examines the transforming effect of two cataclysmic events in the twentieth century: the Great Depression and World War II. We will study the ways they both led to a major reordering of American politics and society. By focusing on how the government and the country dealt with these national crises, we will explore a significant moment in the evolution of American political culture. Throughout the semester, we will examine how ordinary people experienced depression and war and how those experiences changed their outlook on politics and the world around them. Topics include unemployment and economic decline, the rise of organized labor, New Deal politics, women in the war effort, the Japanese internment, the development of atomic science, and America as a world superpower.
This class will consist of a combination of lectures and discussions. You will be required to do the reading in advance and come prepared to talk about what you have read. To help facilitate discussion, occasionally you will gather primary documents from the library and/or the web. Class participation will count for 20%. In addition, you will also have two in-class tests each worth 20%. In addition, you must also write a 15-page research paper (40%).
Grading
| ACTIVITIES | PERCENTAGES |
|---|---|
| Class participation | 20% |
| In-class tests (2) | 40% (20% each) |
| Research paper | 40% |
Calendar
| SES # | TOPICS | KEY DATES |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | ||
| 1 | Breadlines to Atom Bombs | |
| The Great Depression | ||
| 2 | The End of Prosperity | |
| 3 | The End of Prosperity (cont.) | |
| 4 | The Unemployed | |
| The New Deal | ||
| 5 | Roosevelt’s 100 Days | |
| 6 | Roosevelt’s 100 Days (cont.) | |
| 7 | Strikes and Struggles | |
| 8 | Strikes and Struggles (cont.) | |
| 9 | New Deal Order | |
| 10 | One Best Source Presentations | |
| 11 | Exam #1 | Exam #1 |
| World War II at Home | ||
| 12 | Mobilizing for Victory | |
| 13 | Mobilizing for Victory (cont.) | |
| 14 | Gender and Race in Wartime | |
| 15 | Gender and Race in Wartime (cont.) | |
| World War II Abroad | ||
| 16 | D-Day | |
| 17 | Hiroshima | |
| 18 | Hiroshima (cont.) | |
| 19 | Legacies of Depression and War | |
| 20 | Exam #2 | Exam #2 |
| 21 | How to Write A Good Paper | |
| 22 | Research Presentations | |
| 23 | Research Presentations (cont.) | |
| 24 | Research Papers Due | |
