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2005/06 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

HIST2350 An 'Empire for Liberty'? The United States in the Long Nineteenth Century

20 creditsClass Size: 45

Module manager: Dr Simon Hall
Email: s.d.hall@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2005/06

This module is approved as an Elective

Objectives

Students completing this course should:

a) understand the major social, economic and political developments that have taken place in America in the long nineteenth century.
b) be familiar with the important historical writings on the period.
c) be able to express their ideas and arguments effectively in group discussions.
d) have further developed their essay writing skills.

Skills outcomes
Enhances Common Skills listed below:

High-level skills in oral and written communication of complex ideas.
Independence of mind and self-discipline and self-direction to work effectively under own initiative.
Ability to locate, handle and synthesize large amounts of information.
Capacity to employ analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Ability to engage constructively with the ideas of their peers, tutors and published sources.
Empathy and active engagement with alternative cultural contexts.Enhances Common Skills listed below:

High-level skills in oral and written communication of complex ideas.
Independence of mind and self-discipline and self-direction to work effectively under own initiative.
Ability to locate, handle and synthesize large amounts of information.
Capacity to employ analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Ability to engage constructively with the ideas of their peers, tutors and published sources.
Empathy and active engagement with alternative cultural contexts.

Syllabus

Thomas Jefferson believed that the United States would become an "empire for liberty". In this module we will explore the extent to which this vision of America was realized during the century or so after its birth. Were liberty, democracy and equality defining traits of the United States? To what extent was America's development in this era characterized by an expansion of freedom? These questions will be explored with particular reference to the experience of 'ordinary' Americans - including immigrants, African Americans and women.

Teaching methods

Lectures: 11 x l hour;

Tutorials: 6 x 1 hour.

Private study

Exam preparation; researching, preparing, and writing assignments; undertaking set reading; and self-directed reading around the topic. 183 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Contributions to class discussions, an assessed exercise or exercises worth 10% of module marks, an assessed essay.

Methods of assessment

1 x 2,000 word assessed essay to be handed in teaching week 10 (30%);
Oral contribution (10%);
One 2-hour examination at the end of the teaching semester (60%).

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 26/04/2005

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