Jul 02, 2025  
2025-2026 SJC Online Catalog 
    
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2025-2026 SJC Online Catalog
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HPS 300 - United States History

This survey course of the history of the United States (U.S.) is divided into four sections. The first section examines how European expansion in the Americas shaped the foundation of the U.S. and traces the development of British America from colonial times to the American Revolution. The adoption of the Constitution and the early U.S. is the focus of the second section. Major themes explored include:democratic foundations of the U.S.; America’s expansion and effects on Native Americans; slavery; and the causes and effects of the Civil War. The third section engages with the U.S. from the end of the Civil War to World War I, focusing on tensions and outcomes of: increased democratization; industrialization; the early labor movement; women’s suffrage, the short and long-term effects of Jim Crow and structural racism; and America’s rise to world power status. The fourth section studies the Great Depression, World War II, and the Cold War, highlighting the profound social, economic, and political changes in 20th Century America.

Assignment Overview
  • Assignments: Varied throughout the term
  • Interactivity: Discussion Boards


Course Learning Objectives
 

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to do the following:

  • Analyze and critique major historical eras, major enduring themes, turning points, events, consequences, and people in the history of the United States and the political implications for the present and future.
  • Trace the historical roots and evolution of democratic ideals and constitutional principles of the United States.
  • Identify and analyze historic forces and moments when the United States lived up to its democratic ideals and constitutional principles. 
  • Identify and analyze historic forces and moments when the United States failed to live up to its democratic ideals and constitutional principles. 
  • Analyze and critique varying interpretations of historic people, issues, or events, and explain how evidence is used to support different interpretations. 
  • Acquire geographic literacy of the United States and connect that geography with the country’s history.


Credits: 3


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