Syllabus

American Dreams/American Realities

History 97D (CCI, IAA, CZ)
Spring 2004

116 Allen Building

Instructor: Gerald L. Wilson
684-2865
gwilson@asdean.duke.edu

Focus of Course

This course examines the role of such myths as “success”, “agrarian”, “city on the hill”, “frontier” and the “foreign devil” in defining the American character and determining the hopes, fears, dreams, and actions of people throughout American History. Attention will be given to the surface consistency of these myths as accepted by each immigrant group versus the shifting content of the myths as they change to reflect the hopes and values of each of these groups.

Course Requirements

I. Required Reading

Rosenbloum, Robert and Gerald Wilson, The Value of Myth (course pak)
Wiess, Richard, The American Myth of Success
Potter, David, People of Plenty
Halberstam, David, The Fifties
Hellman, John, American Myth and the Legacy of Viet Nam
Schlesinger, Arthur M., The Disuniting of America
Additional readings as assigned.

II. Discussion Groups and Written Assignments

Each student will enroll in one discussion section. Discussion sections will meet at the designated times and will center around specific reading assignments. For some of these sessions, papers on assigned readings and topics will be required. Late papers will be accepted with a penalty of one-half letter grade per class period.

Dates and Assignments for Discussion Groups (additional handouts may be distributed. Schedule may be adjusted if necessary)

January 9 – Introduction-Discussion of “American Character”

January 16 – (Success Myth) – Course pak – Chapters I & II

January 23– (Success Myth,) Richard Weiss, The American Myth
of Success

January 30– (Frontier Myth,) David Potter, People of Plenty, Part II
1st Paper Due

February 5 – (Agrarian Myth,) Handouts, “The Selling of Rural America,” “Ideal Farms vs. Industrial Farms.”

February 13 – (Foreign Devil Myth,) Handout, “A Nation Defined By Its Enemies” “Conspiracy Within: The Wheeling West Virginia Speech of Senator Joseph McCarthy”

February 20 – (City on a Hill Myth), Handouts – “Reagan’s Speech”, “Governor Mario Cuomo Challenges President Reagan’s Portrayal of Americans as a Shining City on a Hill. People of Plenty, Chapter VI

February 27– Myths: Transitions and Transformations
Course pak Chapter III, People of Plenty, Chapter IV

March 5 – Arthur M. Schlesinger, Disuniting of America
2nd Paper Due

March 19 – “A Map of New York”, “I Lift My Lamp Beside the Golden Door”, “A Test of Opportunity” – Handouts

March 26- The Myths in the 1920’s: The New Woman and the Old Myths (Handouts)

April 2 - David Halberstam, The Fifties

April 9- The 1960’s (Handout) Michael Harrington, “The Other America”

April 16- John Hellman, American Myths and the Legacy of Viet Nam
3rd Paper Due

III. Examinations

Mid Term – Wednesday, February 18
Final – At the time period designated by the University Schedule Committee

Evaluation of Performance

Evaluation of a student’s performance will be based on three factors:
(1) Performance on the mid-term and final examination (55%).
(2) Quality of the written assignments, and attendance at, and participation in, discussion sections (35%).
(3) Class attendance and participation (10%).

Should a student excel in one of the three categories, additional weight may be placed on that category in assessing the student’s final grade.

Please note that classes will meet every Monday and Wednesday for lectures. Discussion sections will meet on Fridays unless otherwise indicated. Excessive absences from lectures or discussion group meetings will weigh heavily in the assignment of the final grade.

Questions/Problems

The Instructor will be available to students for discussion of matters pertaining to the course. Please call 684-2865 or come by 116 Allen Building and identify yourself as a member of the class to arrange an appointment.