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Transforming America Program Notes
Program 1: The Gilded Age Establishes the course themes of American identity, freedom, and equality at the end of Reconstruction, then examines the reasons behind the large scale industrialization in the late 19th century. In addition, how the culture of the era reflected the emerging dominance of business in America is analyzed.
Program 2: The American West An integral part of the changing American landscape in the late 19th century was the transformation of the West. The causes of the changes occurring in the West are explored, and the consequences for people living and moving there are assessed.
Program 3: Moving to the City Millions of immigrants, as well as thousands already in America, moved to the city in the decades following Reconstruction. The living and social conditions of the huddled masses during this era are examined, using the cities of New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.
Program 4: A Dream Deferred While millions pursued the American Dream in the late 19th century, women of all ethnic minorities encountered special obstacles in their paths. Why did this happen? How did they respond? What did it mean?
Program 5: Labors Struggle Industrialization changed the nature of work, working conditions, and the composition of America’s workforce. Labors struggle to organize, management’s fierce resistance to their efforts, and the status of the American worker at this time are analyzed.
Program 6: The Populist Challenge Farmers became more productive and marginalized in economic and political life, responding by organizing significant challenges to the established political powers of the era. The meaning and legacy of the Populists is assessed.
Program 7: The Question of Empire The 19th century ends with the internal transformations of the U.S. propelling the nation to look outward. Causes and consequences of the Spanish American War, the decision for empire, the resulting war in the Philippines, and the use of the Big Stick in Latin America are discussed and analyzed.
Program 8: The Progressive Paradox After examining how and why American identity, freedom, and equality had changed since 1876, the Progressives and the causes they pursued are profiled. The meaning of progressive reform and the paradox of segregation is assessed.
Program 9: A War to End All Wars Although the United States tried to stay out, America entered World War I on the side of the Allies in 1917. Why this happened and the effects of the war on the home and military fronts are analyzed. President Wilson’s plans for a peaceful world and the Senates refusal to go along with his vision are examined.
Program 10: Modern Times By the early 1920s, America was changing into a society that begins to look quite familiar to us. Radios, automobiles, sports, and consumerism often overshadowed the cultural tensions surrounding race, religion, and immigration. This new era is examined and its meaning is assessed.
Program 11: The Great Depression The stock market crash in 1929 alarmed investors, and signaled hard times spreading beyond the farms. The causes and affects on Americans, and why Hoover’s administration seemed unable to deal effectively with the crisis are analyzed.
Program 12: A New Deal Roosevelt’s new deal to Americans delivered some of the most important political and economic reforms in the 20th century. How America was transformed in the 1930s is examined and the legacy of these changes is assessed.
Program 13: Road to War Japans attack on Pearl Harbor brought the U.S. into the most devastating war of the 20th century. America’s diplomatic road to war and the wartime mobilization, including the internment of Japanese Americans is analyzed.
Program 14: World at War Turning to diplomacy and military operations, the reasons for Allied success are assessed. The holocaust, use of atomic bombs, and how the war transformed the world and the place of the United States in it are examined.
Program15: Cold War After considering the status of American identity, freedom, and equality in 1945, we turn our attention to the emerging cold war. The development and application of the containment policy in Europe and Asia is assessed, and the fear of communism at home is examined.
Program 16: Pursuit of Happiness Although the cold war tensions persisted, most Americans were pursuing their versions of happiness in the late 1940s and 1950s. The expanding economy, the changing nature of work, suburban life, and the important strides toward ending segregation in America are explored.
Program 17: All Gods Children Dreams of freedom and equality for all Americans moved toward a greater degree of reality during the dynamic civil rights movement of the 1960s. The leadership and tactics of the movement, how it changed America, and why the movement eventually stalled are analyzed.
Program 18: Times Are A-Changin' The winds of change sweeping across America in the 1960s and early 1970s seemed to be blowing everywhere. The counterculture, American Indian protest movements, Latino movements, and the second wave of feminism are examined. What did it all mean?
Program 19: The Vietnam Dilemma Amidst the excitement swirling within America in sixties, the United States continued to grapple with dangerous issues in the world arena. After reflecting upon the Cuban Missile Crisis, the complex story of American involvement in Vietnam and how that affected the American people is examined.
Program 20: The Decline of Liberalism Liberal policies brought great change in America from FDR's New Deal to LBJ's Great Society. This Program examines why liberalism came under attack from all sides in the late 1960s and early 1970s and how the Watergate Affair, coming on the heels of the Vietnam War, confirmed public mistrust of politicians and government.
Program 21: Conservative Resurgence Reflecting upon the status of American identity, freedom, and equality during the nation’s bicentennial, the resurging conservative politics that prevailed for the last quarter of the 20th century are examined. Was government really the problem? Was the era of big government really over?
Program 22: A New Economy The American economy headed in a different direction in the late 20th century. Why did this happen? What did it mean? Public policy, the effects of technology, the changing nature of work and the workforce, and the decline of organized labor are examined.
Program 23: Life in the Fast Lane As Americans adjusted to emerging economic realities, the pace of their lives quickened. How did they cope with new freedoms and opportunities? Recent social history, including immigration and affirmative, action is analyzed.
Program 24: A Different World America had to adjust its role in the world in the late 20th century. The end of the Cold War, Americas continued involvement in the Middle East, and how American policymakers defined U.S. interests in a complicated and often violent world is analyzed.
Program 25: Globalizing America At the turn of the 21st century, American culture seemed to be everywhere, and global trade accelerated. Then foreign terrorists attacked America on September 11, 200l. Why did this happen? The many dimensions of globalization, including the war on terrorism are analyzed.
Program 26: A More Perfect Union This final Program reflects upon American identity, freedom, and equality from the perspectives of our recurring experts, as well as our featured family members. Looking forward, we examine how we might secure a more perfect union for our posterity.
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