HST 468 RACE AND RELIGION IN EARLY US HISTORY

Americans place the belief that “All men are created equal” at the heart of their national identity. However, from the beginning, people in power have also tried to define belonging in racial and religious terms. This course explores the resulting tension between the universal idea of human equality and white and Christian identities in US History. Since it fulfills the senior seminar requirement for history majors, students will also work to develop stronger research and writing skills. Building on the lessons of Research Methods, students will write a research paper characterized by organizational clarity, argumentative rigor, historiographical awareness, and deft use of primary sources. While common readings will focus on the 17th through 19th centuries, students will be free to write about any time period