ClassInfo

We will start our study of British history with the seventeenth century, a dramatic era marked by Civil War and the execution of King Charles I. Following these constitutional struggles, Britain then entered into the tumultuous period marked by the Industrial Revolution and expansion of the British Empire during the eighteenth and nineteenth century. While these centuries were periods of great progress and prosperity, they also brought new conflicts, particularly with Ireland, and unprecedented social problems. The twentieth century marked a period of further upheavals and paradoxes in Britain with the experience of two World Wars, conflict with Ireland, and the decline of the empire. Throughout the course, we will trace how the complex interplay of forces over the past four centuries shaped contemporary Britain. We will explore key questions and debates in Modern British History, including: How did this "island nation" become a preeminent world power? Why did Britain turn out so differently than the United States, given their common constitutional roots? What are the origins of the Welfare State? How did British art and literature both reflect and influence these periods of change? What were the causes of The Great Famine in Ireland, and how did it shape Britain's relationship with Ireland and the Irish independence movement? How was World War I a watershed in British society? What motivated postwar migration to Britain, and how does this shape Britain today?

There are no assigned textbooks for the class. The class readings consist of articles and book chapters that introduce students to key works of scholarship as well as primary texts, including memoirs and diaries, speeches, and political and philosophical tracts. Assignments include quizzes, a short paper based on a novel, and a final research paper. The research project is designed to give students the opportunity to undertake primary and secondary research in an area of British history that interests them.