North American Civilizations: Module 2 - History and Foreign Policy of the USA before 1945 Field of study: English Philology
Programme code: W1-S2FA19.2021

Module name: North American Civilizations: Module 2 - History and Foreign Policy of the USA before 1945
Module code: W1-FA-AD-S2-HPZUS-2
Programme code: W1-S2FA19.2021
Semester:
  • summer semester 2024/2025
  • summer semester 2023/2024
  • summer semester 2022/2023
  • summer semester 2021/2022
Language of instruction: English
Form of verification: exam
ECTS credits: 4
Description:
The purpose of the course is to present and discuss the most important facts in the history of the USA before 1945 focusing primarily on the formation of American statehood, American identity(ies), most important social and political processes determining the modern history of the USA and its position in international politics. A detailed syllabus will include, among others, the following issues: colonial period, emergence of American statehood, meaning of slavery and African American experience, regional conflict, secession and the Civil War, reconstruction, territorial expansion, immigration and immigration policy, policy towards the indigenous peoples in the USA, industrialization and urbanization, establishment of the capitalist system, evolution of the political system, American approach to the challenges of international politics in the 17th, 19th and the first half of the 20th centuries, Great Depression, American participation in the World Wars, etc. A significant part of the course is to enhance students’ critical analysis of historical processes and their impact on the remaining interdisciplinary fields of humanities research.
Prerequisites:
None
Key reading:
Specified in the syllabus.
Learning outcome of the module Codes of the learning outcomes of the programme to which the learning outcome of the module is related [level of competence: scale 1-5]
recognizes the impact of historical processes on the shape of American society and their role in forming of social life, ideologies, and the position of the United States in the world [AD-S2-CA2-H1_K_1]
 FA2_K04 [2/5]
expresses themselves precisely and coherently in English both orally and in writing on the history of the USA before 1945; applies proper terminology in English [AD-S2-CA2-H1_U_1]
 FA2_U01 [2/5] FA2_U07 [3/5]
relates their historical knowledge of the USA to historical and contemporary political and cultural processes, artistic trends, and the character of American society [AD-S2-CA2-H1_U_2]
 FA2_U01 [1/5] FA2_U03 [2/5] FA2_U05 [2/5] FA2_U08 [3/5]
provides in-depth analyses of relationships between historical events and processes and contemporary geopolitical, social, and cultural aspects of the contemporary USA [AD-S2-CA2-H1_U_3]
 FA2_U01 [1/5] FA2_U03 [2/5] FA2_U05 [2/5] FA2_U08 [3/5]
recalls in-depth knowledge of the place of history among scholarly disciplines and its thematic and methodological connections with other disciplines; recalls proper terminology in English [AD-S2-CA2-H1_W_1]
 FA2_W01 [2/5] FA2_W02 [2/5]
recalls in-depth knowledge of various types of social structures and understands their evolution throughout history [AD-S2-CA2-H1_W_2]
 FA2_W04 [3/5] FA2_W05 [3/5]
recalls in-depth knowledge of the historical processes shaping local, ethnic and national identities in the USA, in particular of the formation of the American statehood, the political system, and government [AD-S2-CA2-H1_W_3]
 FA2_W05 [3/5] FA2_W07 [3/5]
recalls in-depth knowledge of the international position of the USA and the historical processes shaping American foreign policy before 1945 [AD-S2-CA2-H1_W_4]
 FA2_W05 [3/5] FA2_W07 [3/5]
Type Description Codes of the learning outcomes of the module to which assessment is related
Examination [AD-S2-CA2-H1_w_1]
Examination verifying the achievement of assumed learning outcomes by students, and in particular verifying their factual knowledge and ability to analyze selected issues of U.S. history in a broader social, cultural, political and geopolitical context.
 AD-S2-CA2-H1_K_1 AD-S2-CA2-H1_U_1 AD-S2-CA2-H1_U_2 AD-S2-CA2-H1_U_3 AD-S2-CA2-H1_W_1 AD-S2-CA2-H1_W_2 AD-S2-CA2-H1_W_3 AD-S2-CA2-H1_W_4
Form of teaching Student's own work Assessment of the learning outcomes
Type Description (including teaching methods) Number of hours Description Number of hours
lecture [AD-S2-CA2-H1_fs_1]
multimedia-rich lectures introducing the topics outlined in the course syllabus
 30
reading assignments; own research in preparation to the examination
 70 Examination [AD-S2-CA2-H1_w_1]
Attachments
Module description (PDF)
Information concerning module syllabuses might be changed during studies.
Syllabuses (USOSweb)
Semester Module Language of instruction
(no information given)