Modern American History, Literature and Culture (T7083)
30 credits, Level 4
Spring teaching
The modern United States emerged in the years after the American Civil War.
On this module, you’ll assess forces that shaped the country in the 19th and 20th centuries. You’ll focus on its internal transformation and its powerful influence on the rest of the world.
You’ll learn how gender, class, race, religion and nationality shaped new historical and cultural developments and the emergence of new literary genres. You’ll engage with the latest interdisciplinary research on the history, culture and literature of modern America and study a diverse range of voices through different sources and texts. You’ll develop the knowledge to analyse and place them in their relevant contexts.
Topics include:
- the Civil War
- Reconstruction
- industrialisation
- ecology
- westward expansion
- the Depression and the New Deal
- the Jazz Age and the Harlem Renaissance
- World Wars
- the Cold War and Red Scare
- American society in the 1970s.
We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.
We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.
Courses
This module is offered on the following courses: