DHIS 27A46 - History of the US in the 21st century

This discussion-based seminar is a “history of the present,” which focuses upon the history of the United States so far during the twenty-first century. The course underscores the ability of history, as a method, to make connections across domains—politics, economy, culture, law, environment, and more—often treated separately by other social science disciplines, as well as to comprehend the contemporary era. The class will explore, among other topics: prospects at the turn-of-the-millenium and the US Suprme Court Case Bush v. Gore (2001); 9/11 and the War on Terror; the War in Iraq; Hurricane Katrina and debates over climate change; homelife, the residenial real estate boom of the mid-2000s, and the financial crisis of 2008; the election and presidency of Obama and changing conceptions of race; the birth of social media; gender, sexuality, and transgender identities; the rise of Trump; the evolution of US foreign power in the world.

Assignments will consist of in-class written exercises (40%), in-class oral participation (30%), and a final essay (30%).