HIST 15200: United States History Since 1877

Fall 2025

Credit Hours: 3.0

Course Description

This survey course begins by emphasizing the problems after Reconstruction, the new industrialism, the last frontier, and agrarian discontent. Attention is focused next upon overseas expansion and the Progressive Era. Subsequent topics include the approach to and participation in World War I, the problems of prosperity during the "normalcy" of the 1920's, the depression and the New Deal, the role of the United States in World War II, the Cold War at home and abroad, the politics and culture of reform in the postwar era, the Vietnam war, the conservative ascendancy of the 1970s and 1980s, and a view of America in the 1990s. The course covers the social, economic, and political developments within the United States as well as its diplomatic history in the period of its emergence as a leading world power.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

  1. Recognize and explain key themes, significant events, problems, and patterns in the history of the United States since 1877.
  2. Analyze social, political, and economic developments in their historical contexts.
  3. Apply historical methodologies through written argumentation and reflection.
  4. Analyze and evaluate primary and secondary sources to explore human experiences and perspectives across historical eras.

Required Texts and Technology

Required Texts (hard-copy and e-book formats are available):

  • Eric Foner, Lisa McGirr, Kathleen Duval, Give Me Liberty!: An American History, Seagull Seventh Edition: Vol. 2. (W.W. Norton & Co., 2022). ISBN: 978-1324041481
  • Eric Foner, Lisa McGirr, Kathleen Duval, Voices of Freedom: A Documentary History, Seventh Edition: Vol.2 (W.W. Norton & Co., 2022). ISBN: 978-1324042242

Brightspace Learning Management System (LMS):

  • Access the course via Purdue’s Brightspace learning management system. Begin with the Start Here tab, which offers further insight into the course and how you can be successful in it. It is strongly suggested that you explore and become familiar not only with the site navigation, but also with the content and resources available

for this course. See the Student Services widget on the campus homepage for resources such as Technology Help, Academic Help, Campus Resources, and Protect Purdue.

Assignments

  • Quizzes (20%)
  • Primary Source Analyses (40%)
  • Forum Posts (40%)

Grading Scale

A = 93–100; A- = 90–92; B+ = 87–89; B = 83–86; B- = 80–82; C+ = 77–79; C = 73–76; C- = 70–72; D+ = 67–69; D = 63–66; D- = 60–62; F = <60.