US Urban Social History

Hough This course will examine US urban and metropolitan regions from the revolutionary era through the present. We will explore themes of identity and power as they relate to the social organization of urban space. In particular we will investigate issues pertaining to migration/immigration, labor, housing, and development while paying close attention to the social dynamics of race, gender, class, and sexuality. It is expected that this historical approach will assist you in better understanding the issues facing metropolitan regions today.

The course will introduce you to many of the different types of sources and research methodologies that urban historians utilize in their work. The participants will engage in an individual research project examining an aspect of urban history in a city of their choosing. Students will set out to identify and analyze a diverse array of primary resources pertaining to their topic. Using their research, students will produce their own urban social history that relates to the larger themes addressed throughout the class.