This course covers the historical period from events leading to World War II through the end of the Cold War from an American perspective. As an upper level course, reading the text is a prerequisite for success and will be your personal responsibility to complete reading assignments.

We will study how WWII impacted the US home front and how it led to a new superpower status. The war lifted the US out of the Great Depression and led to one of the greatest economic booms in history. The expansion of the middle-class fueled an increase consumer spending yet many people found they could not escape poverty. Mass media shaped public opinion through the emergence of television. You will see how the Cold War shaped US military policy and lead to involvement in Korea and Vietnam. After decades of discrimination, African Americans struggled for equality. We will explore what strategies and tactics minorities used to fight against unfair laws and pushed their cause to Congress and ultimately, the Civil Rights Act of 1964. After years of high inflation and a wounded American psyche, the election of Ronald Reagan spurred a new wave of conservatism and a new belief and pride in American patriotism.