This course is designed to expose students to some of the most significant works of American social and cultural analysis since 1900. The major organising theme of the course concerns changing conceptions of community made necessary by two sets of phenomena. The first were the great intellectual and social 'revolutions' of the age, including Darwinism, industrialisation and consumerism. The second influence came from a new conception of society itself, which stressed the competing, and often divergent, interests and concerns of various ethnic, racial, gender and regional groups. These phenomena presented two interrelated problems to many American intellectuals after 1900: first, to redefine the individual's citizenship and sovereignty within an increasingly organised society, and secondly to recreate a sense of community within a new context of perceived social diversity.

After successful completion of this course, students should:

• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the key aspects of social thought in the United States between 1865 and 1980;
• Have an appreciation of developments in economic, social and racial thought through their readings of the key primary and secondary sources relating to the subject matter of the course;
• Continue to develop strong research, writing and analytical skills
• Be able to critically reflect upon the insights provided by combining knowledge of various movements in social thought into a coherent account of some key developments in U.S. social thought,
• Understand and demonstrate the significance of the period for the development of the modern United States.

The assessment package will be based on written work, made up of a historiographical essay of 2,000-2,500 words (worth 30% of the final mark) and a research essay of 3,500-4,000 words (worth 70% of the final mark).

The course is offered on campus via lectures (which will be streamed) and tutorials.

One 90 minute lecture and one tutorial per week. Lectures will be streamed.  Students will be expected to spend an average of seven hours per week outside these contact hours to prepare for tutorials and for research and writing of written work.