HIST 277 - The Making of the “American Century”: 1890-1945

Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)

(Same as URBS 277) In 1941, Henry Luce, the publisher of Time and Life magazines, proclaimed the twentieth as “America’s century.” In comparison to the rest of the world, he noted, the United States was richer in material goods, with more opportunities for leisure. This course covers the major social, political, and cultural developments during the decades when the US emerged as the preeminent industrial power. We look closely at changes in the social and political institutions which emerged out of the crises of the 1890s, the Great Depression, and World War II. We also pay attention to the growth of mass consumption and mass leisure in this very diverse society. Among the sources we study are memoirs, government documents, political tracts, and popular films. Ms. Cohen.