Cultural History Early America – HIUS 435

Course Description

An examination of cultural dynamics in colonial America.

Rationale

This course provides an overview of the cultural foundations that continue to frame the American experience.  Cultural history not only pertains to deep religious and intellectual roots, it also involves understanding daily habits, virtues, and relationships.  While English rights, western ideas and Christian traditions inform much of American life, its exceptionalism lies squarely with the formation of innumerable “parallel societies,” or overlapping social, political, and economic bonds that prevented the centralization of power and control.  As such, the culture of colonial America extended the medieval legacy of European societies while those same structures disappeared in the Old World.  And yet, colonial North Americans also quickly adapted to the emerging entrepreneurial spirit formed by European capitalism.  By the end of the course, you will understand how American exceptionalism depends upon both a legacy of medieval social order and the modern applications of liberal capitalism. 

Course Assignment

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussion

Students will engage with their peers in a class discussion based of early American culture and "folkways". Students will post an original thread of 250-300 words, as well as respond to two of their peers threads in a minimum of 100 words.

Annotated Bibliography Assignments (4)

The students will compile an annotated bibliography of at least 10 primary sources based off the provided topic for each module.

Essay: Edwards and the Great Awakening Assignment

The student will write a brief essay of 1–2 pages on Jonathan Edwards and the Great Awakening. Students will use on provided resource and will be required to  identify at least two other primary or scholarly sources. The essay must include at least 3 footnotes and a separate bibliography containing at least 3 sources in current Turabian format. 

Essay: Marriage and Cultural Folkways Assignment

The student will write an essay on marriage and cultural folkways using all required course material (videos, readings, assigned textbooks, etc.). This essay will highlight the course's key figures and reflect on the ideas discussed in Fisher's Albion Seed using Wesley, Whitefield, and Edwards. Students will submit a paper of 600-800 words based off two major historical figures as laid out in the course text.

Essay: Origins of American Liberty, Freedom, and Culture Assignment

Using all required course material (videos, readings, assigned textbooks, etc.), the student will write a final culminating assignment addressing the following task while considering the important origins of American liberty, freedom, and significant cultural traditions. The paper must be about 1,000 words, a minimum of 20 unique sources. The footnotes and bibliography must be in current Turabian format.