HIST 3255: Democracy in America: Historical Perspectives
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
Considers the history of politics and government in the United States by examining the history of American democracy in theory and practice. To what extent have American politics and government been democratic? What does the history of democracy in America suggest about the future of politics and society in the United States and the world? This course will examine the rise of parties and mass politics, machine politics and reform movements, the history of citizenship and suffrage as relates to race, ethnicity, and gender, the relationship between war and democracy, and the problem of reconciling democratic ideals with existing social and economic hierarchies. Section information text: This course considers the history of politics and government in the United States by examining the history of American democracy in theory and practice. To what extent have American politics and government been democratic? What does the history of democracy in America suggest about the future of politics and society in the United States and the world? This course will examine the rise of parties and mass politics, machine politics and reform movements, the history of citizenship and suffrage as relates to race, ethnicity, and gender, the relationship between war and democracy, and the problem of reconciling democratic ideals with social and economic inequalities. Students in this course will hone their advanced reading, writing, research, and communications skills, by engaging with challenging texts, writing regularly and revising in response to instructor and peer comments. Students in this course will also become better informed, more capable citizens. The course content demands that students enhance their knowledge of the U.S. political system and its history. Because 2024 is a presidential election year, we will be especially interested in engaging with current events and connecting them to historical developments. Students’ independent research projects provide them with an opportunity to explore their own interests and think about how to improve democracy in America for the 21st century.
Average GPA: 3.06
Grade distribution records: 53 students across 3 terms.
Grade distribution
| Grade | Students | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| A | 26 | 49.1% |
| B | 13 | 24.5% |
| C | 5 | 9.4% |
| D | 3 | 5.7% |
| F | 4 | 7.5% |
| W | 1 | 1.9% |
Based on 53 student grade records across 3 terms and 1 professor.
Instructors
- Mark Wilson 53 students, Average GPA 3.06