History 2020
U.S. History since 1877 (HIST 2020)
Growth of the United States as an industrial and world power since Reconstruction
Now Enrolling
This free, online college class will familiarize students with the historical development of the United States from Reconstruction to the present (or thereabout). We will examine social, political, and economic change in the Americas in order to understand better the emergence of the United States as a world power and contemporary issues confronting the United States. The course has three interrelated goals:
- to acquaint the student with the main events and themes of the history of the United States from the 1877 to the present
- to cultivate analytical thought and develop dialogue among students
- to build the skills necessary for clear written communication about the historical development of our modern national institutions and social and economic structures
Download the U.S. History open course syllabus (PDF).
What will I get out of this free college course?
- enhanced knowledge of the confluence of political, cultural, and social developments in the United States since 1877
- sharpened critical thinking skills through analyses of historical perspectives
- introduction to primary source assessment and historical interpretation.
- experience with college-level writing and scholarly expression of ideas in clear and concise writing
- students completing the course will receive a certificate of completion
- the optional path to college credit provides the opportunity to receive credit that counts toward a degree for a cost less than 1/3 of regular, in-state tuition
About the Online Course Instructors:
Tom Lee, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Department of History | East Tennessee State University
Tom Lee graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from East Tennessee State University, received a Master of Arts degree from Wake Forest University, and received a doctoral degree from the University of Tennessee with a specialization in the history of the U. S. South. He has taught at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, Roane State Community College, Hiwassee College, and currently is an Associate Professor of History at East Tennessee State University. In addition to the U.S. history survey, the Tennessee history survey, and the department's historical methods course, he teaches courses on the South, Appalachia, agricultural history, urban history, and public history. From 2006-2012, he served as the public historian for the Tennessee's First Frontier Teaching American History Project and currently serves as acting secretary for the Society of Appalachian Historians. In 2005, the University of Tennessee Press published his book, The Tennessee-Virginia Tri-Cities: Urbanization in Appalachia, 1900-1950. He is currently working on articles and another book focused on the history of tobacco in Southern Appalachia.
Melanie Storie, M.A., Lecturer
Department of History | East Tennessee State University
A scholar and teacher of American History for more than twenty years, Melanie Storie is a graduate of East Tennessee State University. In 1991 she earned her Master's of Arts degree in history and for the past ten years has had the pleasure of teaching for her alma mater. She developed some of the first online U.S. History courses for her department and continues to teach both online and face-to-face classes. In addition to teaching survey courses in U.S. History, she has also taught Tennessee History and Women's History. While she enjoys researching, writing, and teaching about many historical topics, her main research interest centers on 19th century U.S. History with a special emphasis on the American Civil War. She is a member of several historical associations and has published articles in her field of study. Her forthcoming book focuses on a Tennessee Union cavalry regiment during the Civil War.
Daryl Carter, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Department of History | East Tennessee State University
Dr. Daryl A. Carter is assistant professor of history and graduate coordinator at East Tennessee State University. He specializes in American political history since the New Deal. His current book projects include "President Clinton, African Americans, and The Politics of Race and Class" and "Liberalism in Winter." Dr. Carter is also interim director for strategic planning and new initiatives in Information Technology Services at ETSU. He and his family reside in Johnson City, Tennessee.