HIST1307: Authority and Rebellion: American History to 1865

This course examines the beginnings of American history from the early colonial period through the Civil War. It offers a broad and in-depth look at three tumultuous centuries of conflict and change by investigating the fundamental issues of authority and rebellion. How did the diverse peoples on the North American continent envision and struggle for a new world order? Whose hopes were realized, and whose were thwarted? We investigate those questions by exploring several recurring topics throughout the semester: the role of religion and challenges to religious authority; the transition to capitalism; native peoples' negotiation of the European presence; the meanings of liberty over time; and the ongoing existence of slavery in American life. Lectures and readings focus on close examination of crucial episodes that illuminate these themes. Throughout, we will situate our analysis in the global context from which the United States emerged.

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