A History of the United States

This course
chronicles the history of the United States from colonial origins to the
beginning of the 21st century. The lectures focus on several key themes: (1)
the exceptionalism of the American experiment, symbolized by the Puritan “city
on the hill”; (2) the commitment to socioeconomic mobility and opportunity in
the marketplace; (3) the expanding enfranchisement of citizens in the
development of political democracy; and (4) the confirmation of the “melting
pot” as a symbol of inclusion in the national body politic. The spread of
literacy and mass information, the political and cultural importance of
regionalism, and the central role of civilian government are also salient
themes in the lectures that follow.