HIST 5650 Western Myth in American History

An examination of America's oldest and most characteristic myth-the western or frontier myth and four recurring myths that stem from it: American exceptionalism, heroic individualism, regeneration through violence, and inevitable American progress. Students will: 1) examine and evaluate these myths and the ideals that the United States claims to embody, 2) understand how these myths have influenced the history of the United States, 3) investigate the extent to which reality matches these myths, and 4) write reflectively, critically, and analytically.
Prerequisite(s): HIST 5010 Fundamentals of American History I.