Course Descriptions

AHG 501: The American Revolution (2)
This course focuses on three topics: political developments in North America and the British empire and the arguments for and against independence, culminating in the Declaration of Independence; the Revolutionary War as a military, social and cultural event in the development of the American nation and state; and the United States under the Articles of Confederation.

AHG 502: The American Founding (2)
This course is an intensive study of the constitutional convention, the struggle over ratification of the Constitution, and the creation of the Bill of Rights. It will include a close examination of the Federalist Papers and the antifederalist papers.

AHG 503: Sectionalism and Civil War (2)
A study of the sectional conflict beginning with the nullification crisis. The course will not only examine the political, social and economic developments in the period leading to the civil war, but will emphasize the political thought of Abraham Lincoln, Stephen Douglas, and John C. Calhoun.

AHG 504: Civil War and Reconstruction (2)
This course will examine military aspects of the war, as well as political developments during it, including the political history of the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address and the Second Inaugural. The course also examines the post-war Amendments and the Reconstruction era.

AHG 505: The Progressive Era (2)
The transition to an industrial economy posed many problems for the United States. This course examines those problems and the responses to them that came to be known as progressivism. The course includes the study of World War I as a manifestation of progressive principles. The course emphasizes the political thought of Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and their political expression of progressive principles.

AHG 510: Great American Texts (2)
This course is an intensive study of one important text in American history, politics or literature. Examples might include The Federalist Papers, Franklin's Autobiography, Tocqueville's Democracy in America or Twain's Huckleberry Finn. The text may change from course to course, and the course may be repeated up to two times with the permission of the Chair.

AHG 601: Sources of the American Regime (2)
This course examines the European heritage of ideas and arguments upon which the American Founders drew as they devised a new government for the United States.

AHG 602: European Discovery and Settlement (2)
An examination of the motives behind and the consequences of the expansion of European power beginning in the 16th Century. The course focuses on the European settlement of North America and the interactions between Europeans and indigenous peoples.

AHG 603: Colonial America (2)
This course focuses on the development of an indigenous political culture in the British colonies. It pays special attention to the development of representative political institutions and how these emerged through the confrontation between colonists and King and proprietors. The course also considers imperial politics through a study of the Albany Plan of Union.

AHG 604: The Early Republic (2)
Having adopted a form of government, the Americans had to make it work. This course examines their efforts to do so, as the Republic took shape amidst foreign dangers, political conflict, westward expansion and religious revivals.

AHG 605: The Age of Enterprise (2)
In the last decades of the 19th Century, the United States took decisive steps away from its rural, agrarian past toward its industrial future, assuming its place among world powers. This course examines that movement, covering such topics as business-labor relations, political corruption, immigration, imperialism, the New South, and segregation and racism.

AHG 606: America between World Wars (2)
In the 1920s, changes in America that had been underway for several decades came fully into view. This is the period when cultural wars first appeared (e.g., The Scopes Trial) and the transformative effects of industrial capitalism touched every part of American life. In the 1930s, an economic crisis challenged received views of the proper relationship of the government to the economy. The course examines various political and economic changes that occurred in this period, with a special emphasis on the New Deal.

AHG 607: America during the Cold War (2)
The simmering conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union from 1945 to 1989 was the defining phenomenon of the age, affecting not only the country's foreign policy but its politics, society, economy, and culture as well. In this course students will examine the most important events, ideas, and personalities of the 44 years from the end of World War II to the end of the Reagan administration.

AHG 610: American Foreign Policy (2)
Students examine events and issues in the foreign policy of the American republic. Topics include the major schools of thought and approaches, the connection between domestic and foreign politics, and the connection between the principles of the American regime and its foreign policy. With the permission of the Chair, a student may take this course twice.

AHG 611: The American Way of War (2)
Prerequisite: AHG 610 or permission.
The course examines how Americans have used military force, focusing on the relationship between civilian and military leaders, characteristic strategic approaches, and the connection between our political principles and our military practices.

AHG 620: The Reform Tradition in America (2)
Prerequisite: AHG 503 or AHG 505 or AHG 607 or permission.
America has lived through three periods of sustained interest in reforming its political and social life, the first in the decades preceding the Civil War, the second in the decades preceding the First World War and the third in the decade or two following World War II. The course examines aspects of these reform movements, particularly their connection to religion and Protestant theology.

AHG 621: Race and Equality in America (2)
This course explores the history of black Americans as they strove to secure their dignity as human beings, and rights as American citizens, in the face of racial prejudice. Students will examine the writings of leading black intellectuals and activists about human equality, slavery, self-government, the rule of law, emancipation, colonization, and citizenship. The course will also review laws, constitutional amendments, court cases, and social criticism addressing civil and political rights in America.

AHG 622: Religion in American History and Politics (2)
From the time that the first Europeans arrived in America, religion has been an important part of American life. This course examines the various ways in which religion has played a role in American history, with particular emphasis on the role of religion in American politics.

AHG 623: Gender and Equality in America (2)
This course explores the history of women in America from the early 19th century to the present, especially the political struggle to gain increased civil and political rights. Using primary source material from leading female intellectuals and activists, this course will consider the myriad ways that women have helped to shape the course of United States history.

AHG 630: American Statesmen (2)
Even though the powers of the American Executive are controlled and limited, extraordinary acts of statesmanship are possible. This seminar examines those presidents who have demonstrated extraordinary political leadership. We will examine such statesmen and the political circumstances in which their prudence revealed itself. Among those examined will be Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Lincoln, and Franklin Roosevelt. With the permission of the Chair, this course may be taken more than once.

AHG 631: American Political Rhetoric (2)
Prerequisite: AHG 630 or AHG 632 or AHG 633 or permission.
This course examines the principles and practice of American political rhetoric through the careful reading of the speeches of its leading statesmen.

AHG 632: The American Presidency I, Washington to Lincoln (2)
This course is an examination of the political and constitutional development of the office of president from the Founding era through the Civil War. It focuses on how the presidency shaped American political life as the country grew and struggled with rising sectional tensions.

AHG 633: The American Presidency II, Johnson to the present (2)
Prerequisites: AHG 632: The American Presidency I or permission.
This course is an examination of the political and constitutional development of the office of president from Reconstruction to the present. It focuses on how changing conceptions of the presidency have shaped American political life in the 19th and 20th centuries, especially as America has become a global power.

AHG 640: The Congress (2)
This course focuses on the legislative branch of the U.S. government. It examines topics such as the constitutional powers of Congress, the relations between Congress and the other branches of the federal government and the states, and the changing structure and internal politics of Congress.

AHG 641: The Supreme Court (2)
This course is an intensive study of the highest court in the federal judiciary, focusing on the place of the Supreme Court in the American constitutional order. Areas of study may include the relationship between the Court and the other branches of the federal government as well as the states; the Court's power of judicial review; and judicial politics and statesmanship. We will examine these kinds of issues by investigating how the Court has interpreted the Constitution in some of its most historic decisions.

AHG 642: Political Parties (2)
This course examines the development of American political parties, focusing on the meaning of parties and historic moments in the rise and fall of political parties from the Founding era to the present. Topics may include re-aligning elections, changing coalitions within American parties, and the contemporary Democratic and Republican parties.

AHG 660: Topics in American History and Government (2)
Topics courses allow faculty to meet the needs of small groups of students by offering a course specifically designed to meet their needs. Faculty may also use topics courses to develop and test a course for possible inclusion in the standard curriculum.

AHG 670: Directed Study (2)
Students wishing to develop expertise requiring study beyond what is offered in other courses may arrange with a professor to work individually on a topic. The program Associate Director must approve all directed studies. Prerequisites: Permission of the Chair and instructor.

AHG 690: Research Methods (2)
Prerequisites: Completion of 20 course credits toward the degree or permission.
This course equips students with the research and analytical skills they need to complete a thesis or capstone project. The course includes instruction in bibliographic skills but emphasizes practice in analyzing historical documents, stressing logic and clarity in argument and writing. During the course, students will also gain proficiency with an on-line archive of primary documents so that they will be able to use these after they leave the program.

AHG 691: Thesis (4)
Prerequisites: AHG 690: Research Methods and approval of thesis proposal by student's faculty committee.
In order to complete requirements for the degree, each student must complete a thesis or a capstone project. The purpose of either is to show mastery of both subject matter and analytical and interpretive skills.

AHG 692: Capstone Project (4)
Prerequisites: AHG 690: Research Methods and approval of capstone project proposal by student's faculty committee.
In order to complete requirements for the degree, each student must complete a thesis or a capstone project. The purpose of either is to show mastery of both subject matter and analytical and interpretive skills.

AHG 693: Comprehensive Examination (0)
Prerequisites: Completion of AHG 501 through 505 and permission.
The Comprehensive examination evaluates the candidate's understanding of significant ideas, events, persons, and texts in American history and government. Additionally, the exam will evaluate the candidate's ability to analyze and use documentary evidence in academic writing. Exams are offered as arranged by the student and the student's examination advisor.