HIS-154 - Social Change in the 1960s

3 credits

Few periods in the United States history experienced as much change and turmoil as the “Long Sixties” (1954-1975), when powerful social movements overhauled American gender norms, restructured the Democratic and Republican parties, and abolished the South’s racist “Jim Crow” regime. This course examines the movements that defined this era. We will explore the civil rights and Black Power movements; the student New Left and the antiwar movement; the woman’s and gay liberation movements; struggles for Asian American, Chicano/a, Native American, and Puerto Rican freedom; as well as the rise of conservatism. The course will feature classroom discussion on assigned readings, lectures, films, and a group research project based on interpretation of documents housed in Du Bois Library Special Collections. Throughout the semester, we will assess Sixties social movements’ ideals, strategies, and achievements, and their ongoing influence upon U.S. politics, society, and culture.

Prerequisite(s): ENG-095 or ENG-098 (minimum grade of C-) or placement at higher level on the reading or writing placement tests.

Mass Transfer Gen Ed Foundation: Credits earned in this course are counted towards the Mass Transfer Gen Ed Foundation’s Behavioral and Social Sciences requirements.