HIST 301: America in the Great Depression

Course Description

This course examines American life, society, culture, politics, and economics during the tumultuous years of the Great Depression (1929-1941). These topics will be explored through a variety of secondary texts and primary documents (literature, film, radio, music, photography, and historical texts). Topics include worldwide economic collapse, the expansion of federal authority during the Roosevelt Administration, the experiments in public policy known as the New Deal, political realignment, the growing power of the labor movement, nationalization of culture and how the Great Depression affected different people according to the categories of race, class, and gender. Finally, we will consider the important legacy of the Depression and New Deal and what their impact is on contemporary America. Prerequisites: Junior standing or any 200-level History course or instructor consent.