Course Description
This course is a survey of the history of Illinois from its early Native American history to the present. Emphasis will be on the political, social, economic, and cultural forces that have shaped the state's past.
Prerequisite(s)
Appropriate assessment score or ENGL 1422 with a grade of C or better - Must be taken either prior to or at the same time as this course.
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Distinguish between primary and secondary sources as the foundation of modern historical scholarship
- Interpret primary sources critically by analyzing their historical contexts
- Formulate historical interpretations and defend them critically with reference to primary and secondary sources
- Demonstrate an understanding of the various political, economic, and social movements within Illinois
Topical Outline
1. Pre-British Illinois
2. British Colonial Rule and American Independence
3. From Territory to Statehood
4. Settling the Illinois Frontier
5. The Debate over Slave State or Free State
6. Illinois and the Civil War
7. Illinois in the Modernizing World
8. Illinois during the Spirit of Reform
9. An Artistic Renaissance in Illinois
10. Illinois during World War I and the Red Scare
11. Illinois during the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression
12. Illinois during World War II
13. Illinois during the Postwar Boom and Suburban Growth
14. Illinois during the Time of Turbulence and Change
15. Illinois’ Uncertain Future