HIST 108H: History of the United States since 1877 - Honors

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2023
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 54
Lecture Hours : 54
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 108
Total Student Learning Hours: 162
Prerequisite: ENGL 101 or ENGL 101H or eligible for ENGL 101 without support; also, student must be eligible for the Citrus College Honors Program or obtain a recommendation from an Honors instructor.
District General Education: D1. History and Political Science
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter

Catalog Course Description

A survey of political, economic, diplomatic, and social development of the U. S. from 1876 to the present along with a survey of American historiography and the varying interpretations of these developments. This course meets the state requirement for American history and is designed for college transfer students. 54 lecture hours.

Course Objectives

  • reason, analyze, compare, and contrast different time periods within modern American history
  • compare and contrast the experiences and contributions of major ethnic and social groups in modern American history
  • describe the influences of political, economic, technological, cultural, and social factors to interpret events in modern American history
  • demonstrate a familiarity with historiographical analysis
  • evaluate and assess trends, cycles, and other events which seem to repeat themselves and demonstrate and understanding of their reasons and effects
  • compare and contrast historiographical period and writers
  • research and assess primary and secondary documentation

Major Course Content

  1. New Nation, 1876-1900
    1. Survey of American historiography
    2. Primary and secondary documentation
    3. End of reconstruction
    4. The West
    5. Rapid industrialization, the rise of corporations and labor problems
    6. New immigration and urbanization
  2. World Power and Reform, 1900-1920
    1. The end of isolation
    2. Toward world power
    3. The progressive movement
    4. Women’s suffrage
    5. Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson
    6. Wilson’s foreign policy
    7. The First World War
  3. Prosperity, Depression and World War II, 1920-1945
    1. The rise of the Republican Party and ebb of Progressivism
    2. The rise of consumerism and mass media
    3. The Great Depression
    4. The New Deal
    5. World War II
  4. Cold War and The Post-Modern World, 1945-the Present
    1. Origins of the Cold War
    2. Modern Civil Rights Era
    3. Conformity and consensus
    4. Vietnam War Era
    5. National malaise to the Conservative Revolution
    6. Post-Cold War America

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

Essays and articles on themes in modern US history provided by the instructor.

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

A two to three page review of an essay on modern US history. The review should focus on identifying an author's thesis and include key quotes that reflect the author's main points and analysis.
A ten to fifteen page research paper that focuses on a theme in modern US history. Examples of research paper topics include; Upton Sinclair's EPIC campaign during the Great Depression, Mass media imagery and its effects on public opinion during the Vietnam War and the origins of the Zoot Suit Riots during World War II. The research paper should feature a minimum of five sources and should include both primary and secondary sources.

Examples of Outside Assignments

Students will be required to complete the following types of assignments outside of the regular class time:
Readings from course text, journal articles, primary documents and other assigned readings.
Write reviews of articles or films.
Create an original research paper on an aspect of modern United States history.

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Online Education Lecture

IGETC Area 3: Arts and Humanities

3B. Humanities

IGETC Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences

4F. History