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Protest & Politics: US History, 1945-Now (HIST20071)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5Not available in 2025
About this subject
Overview
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This subject offers a historical survey of American social, cultural, and political life from 1945 to the present. It charts the rise of the diverse and dynamic social movements that marked the post-WWII era: from civil rights to Black power; from women’s liberation to gay liberation; anti-communist and anti-feminist activism; WTO protests and Occupy Wall St; to White nationalist movements and #BlackLivesMatter today. With a focus on the interplay between social movements and the political process, it examines the controversies surrounding and legacies of presidencies from Truman to Trump. The subject traces the cultural trends, economic developments and demographic shifts that have made the modern United States including the role of race and religion in American public life, the shift to a post-industrial service economy, debates over immigration, and the rise of state surveillance and big tech in the new millennium. With a focus on domestic rather than foreign affairs, the aim is to develop a deeper understanding of the historical forces that have shaped and continue to animate contemporary American life.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this subject should be able to:
- Compare the principal figures and significant events and developments in the history of the United States since 1945
- Engage with the major historiographical debates concerning U.S. history and with major interpretive perspectives and approaches to the subject
- Locate and analyse primary and secondary sources in constructing and evaluating historical arguments
- Critically assess the role of social movements and protests in shaping political and cultural change in the United States from 1945 to the present
- Examine the impact of U.S. domestic and foreign policies on various demographic groups, including their responses and resistance to these policies
- Synthesize historical evidence to formulate coherent arguments about the evolution of political ideologies and their influence.
Generic skills
Students who successfully complete this subject should be able to:
- Engage in teamwork and apply leadership skills
- Develop problem-solving and analytical skills
- Refine research skills using printed and electronic sources, both primary and secondary
- Improve in clear and persuasive written expression and argumentation
- Display critical thinking, empathy, and oral expression and argumentation through participating in a multi-session role-play game.
Last updated: 15 January 2025