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HIS-10047 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2023/24 Last Updated: 13 February 2024

HIS-10047 - 'Empire of Liberty': Enslavement and Emancipation in American History
Coordinator: Kristen Brill Tel: +44 1782 7 33201
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 4
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2023/24

In this module you will address a range of topics in the history of the United States from the late colonial period to the turn of the twentieth century. You will employ a diversity of social, economic, political, and cultural perspectives, and will develop the historical tools for more detailed investigation of the United States. Race is a key theme throughout this module and you will study enslavement, emancipation, disenfranchisement and segregation. Another major theme is westward expansion and its connections to the coming of the Civil War. You will also encounter the activism of women and African Americans, and how social reform movements shaped national developments.

Aims
To introduce students to key themes in the history of the United States from the late colonial period to about 1900; to develop skills in historical analysis in preparation for advanced level work; to develop transferable analytic, organizational and communication skills.

Intended Learning Outcomes

demonstrate knowledge of U.S. history, including awareness of basic chronology, of major social, economic political and cultural trends, and of key individuals who have shaped American development: 1,2
work collaboratively and independently to synthesize and communicate ideas and arguments: 1,2
investigate and evaluate the use of primary and secondary sources in historical analysis: 1,2
assess and evaluate relevant historical debates and issues: 1,2

Study hours

12 x 1-hour lectures; 12 x 1-hour workshops; 12 x 1-hour seminars; 62 hours lecture and seminar preparation; 12 hours group presentation preparation; 40 hours essay preparation

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Group Presentation weighted 25%
Group presentation
Each student will give one group presentation. In groups of two to four, students will give a group presentation of c.10 minutes to scrutinize relevant secondary and/or primary materials read in advance of the seminar. Students should assess the arguments and evidence employed by the source(s). Marks will be awarded on an individual basis and reflect the individual's contribution to the presentation.

2: Essay weighted 75%
1,500-word essay
Essay chosen from a list of around ten, exploring major issues in U.S. history. Emphasis on historical analysis, narrative organization, evidence and validation, presentation, and literacy.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 13 February 2024