HIS 212 - The American Presidency: A Critical History

Credits: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 0
This course charts the evolution of one of the world’s most enduring and powerful institutions: the American presidency. In addition to studying the character traits and leadership styles of the presidents themselves, this course places presidential administrations within the social, political, and economic contexts that give the power and meaning. Students will explore the evolution of the presidency in relation to gender and racial inequality, revolutionary ideology, popular democracy, slavery, imperialism, industrial capitalism, global war, the Great Depression, mass culture, globalization, and political polarization.