Μάθημα : Πολιτική Ιστορία των ΗΠΑ

Course Title: Political History of the United States of America
 

Course description and aims

This course examines major developments in the course of US political history, from 1776 until the 1960s.

Its main aim is to familiarise students with the dynamic and unique features of the American environment which shaped the US political system. In parallel it offers an overview of major events and developments in the political history of the country.

This is a combined lecture/seminar course which requires the students' active participation.

Topics to be covered:

- The spirit of 1776.

- An American Constitution.

- Political Parties and their conflicting visions during the early national period.

- Andrew Jackson and his era.

- Political consequences of territorial expansion.

- The Civil War, Reconstruction and new political balances.

- The Gilded Era.

- The Progressive Movement.

- Franklin Roosvelt and the New Deal.

- The Civils Rights Moverment. 

Bibiography:

Main Readings:

1. http://www.ushistory.org/us/, chs. 14-21, 23-25, 27-28, 32 (d., e.)., 35-36, 42 (a.,b., c.), 43 (a), 48-49, 54, 56 (e).

On the American Constitution you may also consult: http://www.history.com/topics/constitution),

OR  

2. Paul Boyer, American History: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2012),

Available also in Greek: Πωλ Μπόυερ, Ιστορία των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών (Θύραθεν, 2012).

Additional Books and other publications:

The overview and textbook sections of the topics listed below available at http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/era.cfm?eraID=2&smtid=1.

Topics to be read: Colonial Era, American Revolution, Early National Period Pre-Civil War Era, Civil War, Reconstruction, Gilded Era, Progressive Era, Great Depression, Postwar Era, 1960s.

In the above digital book, students are expected to read the sub-sections (in the 'textbook' section), whose content has been analysed in the classroom. 

Bruce Kuklick, A political History of the USA (Palgrave, MacMillan, 2009).

Θάνος Βερέμης, ΗΠΑ: Από το 1776 έως σήμερα (Αθήνα, Σιδέρης, 2010).

Γιάννης Κοκκινάκης, Εξουσία και Ελευθερία. Η συγκρότηση των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών της Αμερικής, 1776-1789 (Ηράκλειο, Πανεπιστημιακές Εκδόσεις Κρήτης, 2012).

Χαράλαμπος Παπασωτηρίου, Αμερικανικό πολιτικό σύστημα και εξωτερική πολιτική, 1945-2002 (Αθήνα, Ποιότητα, 2002). [Τα κεφ. που αναφέρονται στις εσωτερικές πολιτικές εξελίξεις].

Assessment: In the June exam period students are asked to write an essay of 2,000 words (not inlcuding footnotes and bibliography) instead of an exam paper. The deadline for submitting the essay is two weeks before the final lecture of the course. Greek students are expected to write their essay in Greek, not in English. In all other exam periods students are assessed by writing an exam paper.

The successful comprehension of the course material requires regular attendance of the lectures. The students' active participation is taken into consideration in their overall asessment. 

Students who wish to take the exam in September have to study Πωλ Μπόυερ, Ιστορία των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών (Θύραθεν, 2012), pp.39-135, 147-60, 184-89.