This course explores a recurring pattern in American history: waves of reform followed by resistance and backlash. We’ll begin with the transformation of the original 13 states into a new nation led by visionary founders who established key national institutions. Then, we’ll examine Andrew Jackson’s populist challenge to “elitism” and his controversial dismantling of the national bank. Next, we’ll trace the rise of the anti-slavery movement through the Reconstruction era, followed by the Southern backlash and the North’s gradual retreat from Reconstruction efforts. Moving forward, we’ll analyze the bold reforms of the Progressive Era and the impact of World War I, followed by resistance to social change, immigration, and growing international engagement. Finally, we’ll study the sweeping reforms of the New Deal, the Civil Rights movement, and the contemporary DEI movement—contrasted with the ferocious backlash we face today. Throughout the course, we’ll reflect on what these cycles of change and resistance suggest about America’s future trajectory.
This course is offered with the generous support of the Association for Continuing Education