courses of instruction - Lafayette College

232. The American Revolution and the
Framing of the Constitution. This course
analyzes the colonial political environment
leading up to the American Revolution, the
causes and character of the Revolution, the
problems of the Confederation period, the
drafting and ratification of the Constitution,
and the emergence of the new nation. Pre
requisite: History 108 or equivalent. Lec
ture/discussion. Offered every other year
in spring semester. Ms. Rosen
233. Slavery, Civil War, and Reconstruc
tion. This course examines the black/white
experience in the United States from the ori
gins of slavery through the Civil War and
Reconstruction. Special attention is paid to
American slavery and to the origins and
impact of racism and racial violence. This
course examines the culture and world
view of the white slaveholders as well as
the world that the slaves made. Lecture/
discussion. Offered every year. Staff
235. Progressivism through the 1920s
(1877-1932). A study of trends in American
social and economic life from the begin
nings of the Progressive Era through the
1920s. The course focuses on the shifting
roles of government and private enter
prise in regulating American life; special
attention is given to the issues of conser
vation, natural resources development,
and the growth of regional public works
systems. Prerequisite: History 109. Lec
ture/discussion. Offered in fall semester.
Mr. Jackson
236. Recent America: The Great Depres
sion through the 1980s. American politics
from the Age of Roosevelt to the Age of
Reagan. Topics include the New Deal;
World War II and the home front: Truman
and the Fair Deal; McCarthyism; corporate
culture of the 1950s; the Civil Rights
movement; the Great Society; the politics
of protest; the quest for equality; the rise
and decline of Reaganism. Prerequisite:
Sophomore standing or higher. Lecture/
discussion. Mr. Offner
250. Technology and the American Imag
ination: History of the Impact of Indus
HISTORY
trial Technology on the American Mind.
An investigation of the impact of industri
al technology on American thought from
the beginnings of the industrial revolution
to the present, examining in particular the
variety of ways in which American social
thinkers have responded to the rise of
modern industry, the linking of industry
and technology, and the consequent reor
ganization of society. Lecture/discussion.
Mr. Miller
251. The American City. A study of the
growth of the city in the United States and
its impact upon American history with em
phasis on social and ethnic developments,
politics, city planning, urban decay. Lec
ture/discussion. Offered in fall semester.
Mr. Miller
255. Vietnam and the American Experi
ence: A Reconnaissance through the War
in Film, History, and Fiction. This course
examines the profound impact of the Viet
nam War on American society. Through
the use of the 13-part PBS video series on
the Vietnam War, historical readings, and
novels, the complexity and multifaceted
nature of the tragedy that was Vietnam is
explored. Prerequisites: Students must
have upper-class standing. Lecture/dis
cussion. Mr. Sharpless
256. Themes in American History.
Themes and instructors to change in re
sponse to interests of departmental mem
bers. Possible themes: Race and Ethnicity
in America; Law and American History;
the Civil Rights Movement; American So
ciety in the 1920s; American History
through Film and Fiction; America at War.
Prerequisites: History 108 or 109 as appro
priate. Lecture/discussion. S taff
258. U.S. Constitutional History. This
course analyzes the history of the U.S.
Constitution. The three main topics of
study are 1) property rights and economic
regulation, 2) American pluralism and the
Constitution (civil rights of African Ameri
cans, women, religious minorities, and
other groups in American society), and 3)
constitutional protection of individual
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