U.S. History, 1900-1940

This is an advanced course which will provide an immersion in the historical development of the US from the beginning of the twentieth century to the eve of World War II. The course will examine significant cultural, political, social, economic, and intellectual developments of the period. The course will also emphasize the use of films, novels, and other cultural products (such as advertising and fine arts) as artifacts of the time.

As this is a graduate-level course, students are assumed to have a good understanding of the major historical events during this period, and be prepared to undertake a deeper, critically-engaged examination of American history than they did in undergraduate courses. Through readings and critical analysis of film, art, music, and material culture, students will become familiar with the construction of historical arguments (thesis, methodology, historiography, evidence, sources, research, and narrative), as well as identifying areas for further research. Emphasis will be placed on critical analysis and writing clear and supported analytical essays. Finally, students will choose an artifact of this period in which they are particularly interested and undertake a critical analysis of its place in American culture.

Course Requirements:

All students are required to attend class meetings and take part in discussions. Written work will require students to synthesize lecture materials as well as readings. Students must also read and assimilate required readings, and be prepared to discuss readings on the schedule given below. Students will submit all assignments on time; late papers will not be accepted without prior arrangement with the professor. Further, no student with more than two unexcused absences will receive a passing grade for the course. Any evidence of plagiariasm or academic dishonesty will be dealt with strictly.

A Note About Academic Integrity: Integrity is fundamental to the academic enterprise. It is violated by acts such as borrowing or purchasing term papers, essays, reports, and other written assignments; using concealed notes or crib sheets during examinations; copying others' work and submitting it as one's own; and misappropriating the knowledge of others. The sources from which one derives one's ideas, statements, terms, and data must be fully and specifically acknowledged in the appropriate form; failure to do so, intentionally or unintentionally, constitutes plagiarism. Violations of academic integrity will result in failure in the course and in disciplinary actions with penalties such as suspension or dismissal from the College.

Contacting the Professor:

My office is in 2N 203, and my office phone is 718-982-2869; I have office hours before class meetings on Mondays and Tuesdays from 5:00 to 6:30, and by appointment. I also encourage you to reach me via email at lavender@postbox.csi.cuny.edu.

Assignments:

Writing Assignment Portfolio (30% of course grade)
In-Class Quizzes on Readings and Lectures (30% of course grade)
Class Attendance/Participation (10% of course grade)
Artifact Assignment (30% of course grade)

Required Texts/Films:

    George Brown Tindall, America, A Narrative History, Vol. II*
    Charlotte Perkins Gilman, The Yellow Wall Paper (1899)*
    D.W. Griffith, The Birth of a Nation (1915)
    D.W. Griffith, "How I Made The Birth of a Nation" (1916) (xerox to be distributed in class)
    Oscar Micheaux, The Symbol of the Unconquered (1920)
    Boston Branch of the NAACP, "Fighting a Vicious Film: Protest Against The Birth of a Nation" (1915)
    Charlie Chaplin, The Immigrant (1917) and Easy Street (1917)
    F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby (1925)*
    King Vidor, The Crowd (1928)
    Robert Johnson, Crossroad Blues and Others (1936)
    Peter Guralnick, Searching for Robert Johnson (1989)*
    John Steinbeck, The Harvest Gypsies (1936)* and selections from The Grapes of Wrath (1939)
    John Ford, The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

*starred items available for purchase at the New York Book Exchange, 3138 Victory Boulevard, (718) 982-7168.

    Additional materials for this course are available via the course webpage at http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/history/dept/lavender/624.html

Course Schedule:

Week One: Introduction, The 1910s
	Monday, 4 June 2000	Introduction: The U.S. in 1900
	Tuesday, 5 June 2000	The Ends of Progressivism, World War I, and The Birth of Modernism--Discuss Charlotte Perkins Gilman, The Yellow Wall Paper (1899); Watch Charlie Chaplin, The Immigrant (1917) and Easy Street (1917)
	Wednesday, 6 June 2000	Complications of Race and Rage--Watch D.W. Griffith, The Birth of a Nation (1915), Discuss D.W. Griffith, "How I Made The Birth of a Nation" and Boston Branch of the NAACP, "Fighting a Vicious Film: Protest Against The Birth of a Nation" (1915)
	Thursday, 7 June 2000	No Classes--CSI Commencement
	Readings: Tindall, chs. 21-25, esp. 24-25; Charlotte Perkins Gilman, The Yellow Wall Paper; Charlie Chaplin, The Immigrant (1917) and Easy Street (1917); D.W. Griffith, "How I Made The Birth of a Nation"; Boston Branch of the NAACP, "Fighting a Vicious Film: Protest Against The Birth of a Nation" (1915)

Week Two: The 1920s
	Monday, 11 June 2000	Reactions to The Birth of a Nation: Oscar Micheaux, Within Our Gates (1920)
	Tuesday, 12 June 2000	Standing at Armageddon: 1919
	Wednesday, 13 June 2000	The Roaring Twenties--Discuss F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby (1925)
	Thursday, 14 June 2000	American Success and Failure--View and discuss King Vidor, The Crowd (1928)
	Readings: Tindall, chs. 26-27; Jessie Fauset, "The Sleeper Wakes" (1920); F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby (1925); King Vidor, The Crowd (1928)

Week Three: The 1930s
	Monday, 18 June 2000	Blues Time--Discuss The Legacies of Robert Johnson; Discuss Peter Guralnick, Searching for Robert Johnson (1989)
	Tuesday, 19 June 2000	The Growing Depression and The New Deal
	Wednesday, 20 June 2000	Discuss John Steinbeck, The Harvest Gypsies (1936) and selections from The Grapes of Wrath (1939)
	Thursday, 21 June 2000	Discuss John Steinbeck, The Harvest Gypsies (1936) and selections from The Grapes of Wrath (1939)
	Readings: Tindall, chs. 28-29; Robert Johnson, Crossroad Blues and Others (1936); Peter Guralnick, Searching for Robert Johnson (1989); John Steinbeck, The Harvest Gypsies (1936) and selections from The Grapes of Wrath (1939)

Week Four: The Gathering Storm
	Monday, 25 June 2000	View and discuss John Ford, The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
	Tuesday, 26 June 2000	The Depression and American Culture
	Wednesday, 27 June 2000	America in the World
	Thursday, 28 June 2000	The US on the Edge of World War; Artifact Assignment Due
	Readings: Tindall, chs. 29-30; John Ford, The Grapes of Wrath (1940)