U.S. History: From 1865 to the Present
This course will cover the history of the United States from the post-Civil War era to the present day.
Professor Zbysek Brezina, PhD
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(135)
What's included
15 live meetings
12 hrs 30 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
US Grade 7 - 10
This course provides a broad survey of Unites States history since 1865. We will explore the major political, economic, social, and cultural transformation that have shaped the development of the Unites States and its relations with the rest of the world between the Civil War and the present day. Topics will include the Reconstruction era, the Native Americans, the Industrial Revolution, the Spanish-American War, the Great War, the era of Roaring Twentieth, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, the Korean War, the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, the End of the Cold, the War on Terror, the U.S. role in shaping the world, etc. Furthermore, we will also pay attention to the ethics (i.e., values and morals) that shaped the U.S. history and the formal and informal systems of belief from multiple viewpoints, including historical viewpoints of marginalized groups of people such as the Native American communities. We will focus our attention, for instance, on the following questions during the course: 1. What was the major result of the Civil War? 2. How did local and regional differences affect the ways in which Reconstruction was implemented? 3. How did industrialization in the U.S. differ from industrialization in Europe? 4. What major trends have marked the U.S. society since World War I? 5. How did FDR's policies affect the role of the federal government? 6. What challenges did the U.S. face during World War II? 7. What are the main themes that have characterized the post war U.S.? 8. What role did women play in the Civil Rights Movement? 9. How did the outcome of the end of the Cold War affect the U.S. position in the world? 10. How did the U.S. response to the attacks of September 11, 2001, affect relations with the world? CONTENTS: Lesson 1: The End of Civil War and Reconstruction Lesson2: The Second Industrial Revolution in the U.S. Lesson 3: Native Americans Lesson 4: New Immigrants, new cities, and the Gilded Age Lesson 5: Progressivism, Expansionism, and Imperialism Lesson 6: the Dawn of the American Century Lesson 7: the Great Wat and the Roaring Twentieth Lesson 8: Depression and Isolationism Lesson 9: World War II and the origins of the Cold War Lesson 10: Coexistence and Crisis Lesson 11: the Civil Right Movement Lesson 12: The Age of Dissonance Lesson 13: Gorbachev, Reagan, Bush and the End of the Cold War Lesson 14: The U.S as Hyperpower Lesson 15: To the Present Day
Learning Goals
The class has two main goals. One is to provide you with a basic factual understanding of the U.S. history from the end of the Civil War to the present, including major social, political, economic, and culture events. Just as important, however, is the ability to use this information productively. Thus, this class will also stress the ability to integrate the mass of factual data into some basic understanding of how the the United States became a global power, and of the issues which concern historical thinking about marginalization and marginalized people. In addition, the examinations are designed to develop the ability to think critically. Rote memorization is not as important as the ability to produce and evaluate arguments based on historical evidence. Please do not forget that the most effective learning occurs when you are actively involved.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
The study of the U.S. history deals with some sensitive topics in history such as slavery, war, and racism. Dr. Brezina takes great care to present the content in an age-appropriate manner.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
There are many sources that are used for teaching the U.S. past in this course. Dr. Brezina studied various primary and secondary sources (articles, book, dissertations, etc.) during his years as a teacher and professor of history that will allow him to interpret the U.S. history objectively and address the full range of a variety of peoples' histories, including marginalized populations. For example, he will draw from these books, From Colony to Superpower by George H. Herring, Ethnicity Race, and American Foreign Policy by Alexander DeConde, Russia, the Soviet Union, and the United States by John Lewis Gaddis, America's Response to China by Warren I. Cohen, The Historical Atlas of Native Americans by Ian Barnes, The New Commonwealth by John A. Garraty, The Reckless Decade by H.W. Brands, The First World War by John Keegan, The Uncertain Giant by Selig Adler, Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal by William E. Leuchtenburg, The Women, the Warriors by Carrie Foster, A World at Arms by Gerhard Weinberg, Memoirs by George F. Kennan, The Culture of the Cold War by Stephen J. Whitfield, the Origins if the Civil Rights Movements by Aldon D. Morris, Thirteen Days by Robert F. Kennedy, Détente and Confrontation by Raymond Garthoff, Behold the Walls by Clara Luper, and The Cold War by John Lewis Gaddis, all of which are commonly used as objective and multi-cultural history books/textbooks in U.S. higher education. Furthermore, Dr. Brezina will use various primary sources such as the Archive American, Behind the Scenes of the Civil Rights Movements, Native Americans Documents Project, and the U.S. Government Information Guide.
(However, Dr. Brezina does not require students to purchase or use these books.)
Joined March, 2020
5.0
135reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Non-US Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
Doctoral Degree in History from Boston University
Dr. Brezina has taught the U.S. history at various university prep schools in Europe and the United States and as well as at several American colleges and universities. As a Ph.D. student he had the honor of working under Professor Robert Dallek, who is one of the most respected U.S. historians specializing in the history of the United States presidents. Furthermore, Dr. Brezina published a chapter on President William McKinley's foreign policy in a book titled U.S. Presidents and Foreign Policy from 1789 to the Present (2006). Reviews
Live Group Class
$25
weekly1x per week, 15 weeks
50 min
Completed by 5 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-17
2-10 learners per class
