This course offers a survey of American history and culture from its colonial beginnings in the early seventeenth century to the present, and thus provides a basis for the study of the United States. The weekly lectures will focus on a particular theme, for example New England Puritanism and its cultural legacies, the emergence of a political party system, the reform tradition, slavery and the Civil War, an introduction to the history of Native Americans, African Americans’ struggle for political and civil rights, women’s history, immigration and ethnicity, the New Deal, and the emergence of the U.S. as superpower. To prepare for the lectures students are required to read relevant primary sources, such as the Declaration of Independence, the American Constitution, and various other historical documents and classic texts in American culture.
Timetable
Semester I, see timetables.
Method of Instruction
Lecture Course
A la carte and contract teaching
Belangstellenden die deze cursus in het kader van A la carte onderwijs willen volgen (zonder tentamen), vinden hier meer informatie over kosten, inschrijving, voorwaarden etc.
Belangstellenden die deze cursus in het kader van Contractonderwijs willen volgen (met tentamen), vinden hier meer informatie over kosten, inschrijving, voorwaarden etc.
Course objectives
A survey of American history and culture from its colonial beginnings in the early seventeenth century to the present, with an introduction to a number of central themes and concepts.
Required reading
5 ECTS:
- 3 anthologies of primary sources: An Early American Reader (AR1), A Nineteenth-Century American Reader (AR2) and A Twentieth-Century American Reader (AR3).
These readers can be purchased on Thursday September 5, 12:00-14:00, in 1174/166a.
Note: some of the assigned primary sources are not in the readers, but can also be downloaded from the Blackboard site for the course.
10 ECTS, Minor and elective students:
- textbook Paul Boyer, et al, The Enduring Vision: A History of the American People, Concise 4th ed. (Houghton Mifflin, 2002; ISBN 06-1810198-5).
Examination
Written exam (multiple choice and essay questions)
Information
With tutor: E.F.van.de.Bilt@hum.leidenuniv.nl
Blackboard/webpage
Syllabus and some primary source materials available on blackboard site
Overview
A survey of American history and culture from its colonial beginnings in the early seventeenth century to the present, with an introduction to a number of central themes and concepts.
Remarks
This introductory course can be followed as BA lecture course for 2nd-year history students (4 ects), as part of the BA-minor American Studies (minor Amerikanistiek, 5 + 5 = 10 ects) and as elective course (keuzevak) for doctoraal students (10 ects). Students who take the course as BA lecture course will be required to take a written exam on lecture notes and assigned primary sources (5 ects); students who take the course as part of the minor in American Studies or as an elective course are required to read both primary sources and the textbook (Boyer, The Enduring Vision: A History of the American People, Concise 4th ed.) and to take a written exam on lecture notes, assigned primary sources and textbook (10 ects). International students can opt for either the 5 or 10 ects option.
Admission is only possible with one full year of history education at university level.
Dit geldt niet voor studenten die het bijvak Amerikanistiek volgen.
Application Courses, Seminars and Exams
Exchange students can enrol via U-Twist for lecture courses.
Lecture courses
Enrolment is possible from 1 July to 1 September for lecture courses in the first semester.
Enrolment is possible from 1 December to 1 February for lecture courses in the second semester.
Exchange students can enrol via email ( t.w.chao@hum.leidenuniv.nl) for seminars.
Seminars
Enrolment is possible from 1 July to 15 August for seminars in the first semester.
Enrolment is possible from 1 December to 15 January for seminars in the second semester.