Everything you ever wanted to know about the USA...
No.
If this is your expectation for a 12-session introductory course on the United States of America, you will be disappointed.
What we will try to do is focus on important historic developments that are essential to understand the contemporary, ever evolving American society. That requires more than memorizing historic dates or presidents' names, rather (among others) developing an understanding of what has driven people to resist colonization, advocate independence, risk their lives for the abolition of slavery or the (final) frontier. We will give credit to the many diverse population groups that shape American culture today, look at the institutions - political and otherwise - that serve as the framework for their actions and will always establish a connection between what is happening at this very moment in the USA and our overview of American cultural history.
Please note:
As this short introduction to USA is bound to leave open questions and some developments difficult to grasp, I will offer an additional (voluntary) tutorial (bi-weekly for 2 hrs) for interested students and those who want or need extra help in preparing for the final exam.
- Dozent/in: Anette Brauer