HIST 338
Modern British History (EU) (WI)
Catalog Entry
HIST 338
Modern British History (EU) (WI)
Credit Hours: (3)
Prerequisite: Three hours of HIST at 100 level
A general survey of British history since 1625. Topics include the English civil wars
and Glorious Revolution, British culture, foreign affairs and the building of the
British Empire, the development of democratic and liberal traditions, industrialization,
and the world wars.
Note(s): Humanistic or Artistic Expression designated course.
Detailed Description of Content of Course
This course will provide students a chance to become acquainted with the history of Britain, helping them to gain knowledge and understanding of a country the history of which has been of fundamental importance not only to the development of the United States but also to the course of world events. The course will attempt to create awareness of how Britain came to be the way it is and how British experiences and actions have been significant. Major topics include:
1) English Civil Wars, Restoration, Glorious Revolution, and Revolution Settlement
(2) Uniting the Kingdoms and Building the First British Empire
(3) Culture and Society in the 1700s
(4) Radicals at Home, Revolution in America and in France
(5) Industrial Revolution and Industrialization
(6) Democracy and Liberalism in the 1800s
(7) The British Empire in the 1800s and 1900s
(8) Culture and Society in the 1800s and 1900s
(9) The World Wars
(10) Britain since the World Wars
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
This course will combine lectures, class discussions based on assigned readings, media presentations, diverse writing assignments, and in-class exercises. In all cases, the course will be learner-centered. The course will also offer research opportunities, as students will be able to explore in greater depth topics of special interest through secondary and primary source readings. The course will provide the academic support services that students need in order to succeed.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
1. Students will practice thinking critically and analytically about historical issues, acquire a broader knowledge and deeper understanding of pertinent historical events and processes, and cultivate a familiarity with the concepts of historical argument and interpretation.
2. Students will develop disciplinary research skills by designing strategies to locate and analyze primary and secondary source evidence, processing and organizing the resultant data, and composing proper citation and bibliographical entries.
3. Students will apply their critical thinking, research, and compositional skills to the creation and presentation of thesis driven essays that discuss, for example, historical social, economic, political, and/or cultural developments and that address issues such as the causes and consequences of historical change and continuity.
4. Students will acquire a broader knowledge and deeper understanding of key issues, themes, personalities, and events in the history of modern Britain.
Assessment Measures
Knowledge and understanding of the material covered in this course will be measured using an array of assessment tools that may include, among other things, class attendance and participation, written examinations, formal writing assignments of various types, and informal writing assignments. All exercises are designed to expand the student's ability to evaluate historical events and to develop his or her ability to compose persuasive arguments.
Other Course Information: None
Review and Approval
Date Action Reviewed by
October 2010 Reviewed and Approved by Sharon A. Roger Hepburn, Chair
04/2011
March 01, 2021