This online course offers a brief examination of, and introduction to, the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of the United States, 1608 - 2001.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
This interactive course explores the development of modern America, taking into account the foundation of its political system, its internal political and racial struggles, and its emergence from isolation that led to it being the global superpower of the modern era.
This course is ideal for anyone interested in the broad sweeps of U.S. history, or studying further courses on U.S. history.
What will we cover?
- Colonialisation, the War of Independence, and the creation of the American political system, 1608 - c.1800 - Slavery, the Civil War and the issues of race 1776 - 1968 - Immigration, migration and expansion, 1800 - 1950 - War and the growth of the global power, 1898 - 1945 - The American Century, the legacy of the Cold War and modern America, 1945 - 2001.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Describe the development of modern-day America. - Discuss the historical foundations of current issues facing the United States. - Analyse certain aspects of American culture and politics.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an introductory course. No prior knowledge required.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The online course will be delivered through a mixture of lecture and discussion, with student participation encouraged.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Pen and paper for any voluntary note taking.
Below is a list of books you may find interesting:
Binder, Frederick M., and Reimers, David M., (eds.), The Way We Lived: Essays and Documents in American Social History (Lexington, Mass., various editions). Brinkley, Alan, American History: A Survey (Boston, 2003). Brogan, Hugh, The History of the United States of America (London, 1985, 1997). Foner, Eric and McGirr, Lisa, (eds.), American History Now (Philadelphia, 2011) Foner, Eric, Give Me liberty: An American History (New York, various editions). Jones, Maldwyn A., The Limits of Liberty: American History, 1607-1992 (Oxford, 1983). Heffner, Richard, A Documentary History of the United States, (Signet, 2009) Tindall, George Brown and Shi, David E., America: A Narrative History (New York and London, various editions). Zinn, Howard, A People’s History of the United States (New York, 2003).
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Dafydd runs a cycle of courses on the history of America, from European Settlements to the USA today:
HAH79 Colonial America 1492-1776 HAH11 The United and Disunited States of America 1776-1865 HAH83 Change and Continuity in America 1865-1920 HAH107 Radicals and Capitalists in America 1890-1945 HAH108 America and the World 1945-2001 HAH50 Fractured America 1945-2021.
Dafydd Townley is a lecturer in American History at the University of Reading where he teaches courses to undergraduates and graduates on the FBI, protest groups in 1960s America, and race and ethnicity in the United States, as well as broad survey modules on US history. His research interests include American national security policy, the US intelligence community, cybersecurity policy, US grand strategy and US domestic counterintelligence operations. His research has been supported by University of Oxford’s Rothermere American Institute, Columbia University, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, the Institute for Historical Research and the Royal Historical Society. His work has been published in History, the Journal of Intelligence History and his monograph, The Year of Intelligence in the United States: Public Opinion, National Security and the 1975 Church Committee will be published by Palgrave Macmillan in June, 2021. His current research focuses on the long-term development of US cybersecurity policy.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/us-history-for-beginners524143US history for beginnershttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/social-anthropology-1024.jpg149149GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/The Caribbean & Americas/Courses/Online courses228511771178118017311228511771178This online course offers a brief examination of, and introduction to, the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of the United States, 1608 - 2001.002822997US history for beginners149149https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/social-anthropology-1024.jpgInStockEveningTueOnlineAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-05-05T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allMay 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHAH35149149US history for beginners14997149Dafydd Townleyus-history-for-beginners/hah35-2526This online course offers a brief examination of, and introduction to, the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of the United States, 1608 - 2001.0000-Available|2026-05-05 00:00:00This interactive course explores the development of modern America, taking into account the foundation of its political system, its internal political and racial struggles, and its emergence from isolation that led to it being the global superpower of the modern era.<br><br>This course is ideal for anyone interested in the broad sweeps of U.S. history, or studying further courses on U.S. history.This online course offers a brief examination of, and introduction to, the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of the United States, 1608 - 2001.- Colonialisation, the War of Independence, and the creation of the American political system, 1608 - c.1800<br> - Slavery, the Civil War and the issues of race 1776 - 1968<br> - Immigration, migration and expansion, 1800 - 1950<br>- War and the growth of the global power, 1898 - 1945<br> - The American Century, the legacy of the Cold War and modern America, 1945 - 2001.- Describe the development of modern-day America.<br> - Discuss the historical foundations of current issues facing the United States.<br>- Analyse certain aspects of American culture and politics.This is an introductory course. No prior knowledge required.The online course will be delivered through a mixture of lecture and discussion, with student participation <br> encouraged.Pen and paper for any voluntary note taking. <br><br>Below is a list of books you may find interesting:<br> <br>Binder, Frederick M., and Reimers, David M., (eds.), The Way We Lived: Essays and Documents in American Social History (Lexington, Mass., various editions). <br> Brinkley, Alan, American History: A Survey (Boston, 2003).<br> Brogan, Hugh, The History of the United States of America (London, 1985, 1997).<br> Foner, Eric and McGirr, Lisa, (eds.), American History Now (Philadelphia, 2011)<br> Foner, Eric, Give Me liberty: An American History (New York, various editions).<br> Jones, Maldwyn A., The Limits of Liberty: American History, 1607-1992 (Oxford, 1983).<br> Heffner, Richard, A Documentary History of the United States, (Signet, 2009)<br> Tindall, George Brown and Shi, David E., America: A Narrative History (New York and London, various editions).<br> Zinn, Howard, A People’s History of the United States (New York, 2003).Dafydd runs a cycle of courses on the history of America, from European Settlements to the USA today: <br><br>HAH79 Colonial America 1492-1776<br>HAH11 The United and Disunited States of America 1776-1865<br>HAH83 Change and Continuity in America 1865-1920<br>HAH107 Radicals and Capitalists in America 1890-1945<br>HAH108 America and the World 1945-2001<br>HAH50 Fractured America 1945-2021.HistoryThe Caribbean & Americasvirtual14914997HAH35NONETue05/05/26 - 09/06/2619:00 - 20:3019:0020:306 sessions (over 6 weeks)65-10 weeksEveningWeekdayOnlineOnlineDafydd TownleyBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-05-05T00:00:00+00:00May 2026Culture, history & humanities149149US history for beginnersus-history-for-beginners/hah35-2526This online course offers a brief examination of, and introduction to, the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of the United States, 1608 - 2001.0000-Available|2026-05-05 00:00:00This interactive course explores the development of modern America, taking into account the foundation of its political system, its internal political and racial struggles, and its emergence from isolation that led to it being the global superpower of the modern era.<br><br>This course is ideal for anyone interested in the broad sweeps of U.S. history, or studying further courses on U.S. history.This online course offers a brief examination of, and introduction to, the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of the United States, 1608 - 2001.- Colonialisation, the War of Independence, and the creation of the American political system, 1608 - c.1800<br> - Slavery, the Civil War and the issues of race 1776 - 1968<br> - Immigration, migration and expansion, 1800 - 1950<br>- War and the growth of the global power, 1898 - 1945<br> - The American Century, the legacy of the Cold War and modern America, 1945 - 2001.- Describe the development of modern-day America.<br> - Discuss the historical foundations of current issues facing the United States.<br>- Analyse certain aspects of American culture and politics.This is an introductory course. No prior knowledge required.The online course will be delivered through a mixture of lecture and discussion, with student participation <br> encouraged.Pen and paper for any voluntary note taking. <br><br>Below is a list of books you may find interesting:<br> <br>Binder, Frederick M., and Reimers, David M., (eds.), The Way We Lived: Essays and Documents in American Social History (Lexington, Mass., various editions). <br> Brinkley, Alan, American History: A Survey (Boston, 2003).<br> Brogan, Hugh, The History of the United States of America (London, 1985, 1997).<br> Foner, Eric and McGirr, Lisa, (eds.), American History Now (Philadelphia, 2011)<br> Foner, Eric, Give Me liberty: An American History (New York, various editions).<br> Jones, Maldwyn A., The Limits of Liberty: American History, 1607-1992 (Oxford, 1983).<br> Heffner, Richard, A Documentary History of the United States, (Signet, 2009)<br> Tindall, George Brown and Shi, David E., America: A Narrative History (New York and London, various editions).<br> Zinn, Howard, A People’s History of the United States (New York, 2003).Dafydd runs a cycle of courses on the history of America, from European Settlements to the USA today: <br><br>HAH79 Colonial America 1492-1776<br>HAH11 The United and Disunited States of America 1776-1865<br>HAH83 Change and Continuity in America 1865-1920<br>HAH107 Radicals and Capitalists in America 1890-1945<br>HAH108 America and the World 1945-2001<br>HAH50 Fractured America 1945-2021.HistoryThe Caribbean & Americasconfigurable
11801178The Caribbean & Americashttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/history/american-history1/2/285/1177/1178/11801/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/The Caribbean & Americas
