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CS92PROD
Farming in America

HIST 312
Spring 2014
Section: 01  
Crosslisting: SISP 312
Certificates: International Relations

From the Whiskey Rebellion to the Farm Bill, populism to contemporary food politics, farming and rural life have figured prominently in U.S. cultural, political, and economic discourse. However, despite the centrality accorded the yeoman farmer in the national narrative, agrarian ideals and rural realities have often been at odds. This course explores the historical role of rural landscapes, people, and livelihoods in the life of the American nation, and the debates that have been waged on their behalf. Reading a mix of primary and secondary sources, we will consider how Americans' past and present have answered such questions as: Is rural life inherently virtuous? Is there a moral obligation to save the family farm? Can we have democracy without landowning farmers? What is the relationship between agriculture and the rest of the economy? Are agriculture and industry oppositional or complementary? We will also examine how Americans have used farm policy and rural reform to advance an array of political, social, economic, and environmental agendas.
Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS HIST
Course Format: SeminarGrading Mode: Graded
Level: UGRD Prerequisites: None
Fulfills a Requirement for: None
Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available

Last Updated on NOV-06-2024
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