Confidence and Panic in 19th-Century U.S. Economic Life
HIST 227
Spring 2012 not offered
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| Crosslisting:
AMST 250 |
The American age of go-ahead was also the age of panics, hard times, and depression. In this course we will study seven major panics between 1797 and 1929 and consider the conditions that contributed to the pattern of boom and bust in 19th-century American economy and society. We will devote special attention to how boosters and critics of American capitalism characterized its successes and failures, revisiting the popular tropes of Yankee entrepreneurialism, confidence games, and self-made men. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Effective Citizenship, Interpretation
A working knowledge of the U.S. economic history provides essential perspective on issues of contemporary political economy. The course emphasizes diverse modes of historical analysis, especially cultural and literary interpretation.
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS HIST |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (AMST)(HIST-MN) |
Major Readings:
Barnum, P.T. THE LIFE OF P. T. BARNUM, WRITTEN BY HIMSELF
Beckert, Sven. THE MONIED METROPOLIS: NEW YORK CITY AND THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE AMERICAN BOURGEOISIE, 1850-1896.
Galbraith, John Kenneth. The Crash of 1929.
Johnson, Walter. SOUL BY SOUL: LIFE INSIDE THE ANTEBELLUM SLAVE MARKET
Kellie, Luna. A PRAIRIE POPULIST: THE MEMOIRS OF LUNA KELLIE
Melville, Herman. THE CONFIDENCE-MAN: HIS MASQUERADE
Mihm, Stephen. NATION OF COUNTERFEITERS: CAPITALISTS, CON MEN, AND THE MAKING OF THE UNITED STATES
Sandage, Scott. BORN LOSERS: A HISTORY OF FAILURE IN AMERICA
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Examinations and Assignments:
Weekly responses and discussion, 2 short papers, 1 research paper (8-10 pp), in-class midterm and final. |
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