The Rise of the Right in the United States, c. 1945-c. 1990 (U04617)

? Credit Points : 40 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : HCA-4-U04617

The course investigates political conservatism in the United States during the era of the Cold War. It analyses the activities of the Republican Party in power and in pursuit of power, with special attention to the administrations of Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. There are also explorations of conservative ideas and conservative movements. The course makes extensive use of primary sources as well as the rich historiography relevant to its subject matter. Its focus involves the explanations for conservatism?s lack of popular success at the start of this period, together with the scholarly debates about the political power and influence that over time American conservatives achieved.

Entry Requirements

? This course is not available to visting students.

? Pre-requisites : A pass in a third-year history course or equivalent

Subject Areas

Home subject area

History, (School of History, Classics and Archaeology, Schedule E)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 4th year

? Delivery Period : Not being delivered

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 22 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	09:00	09:50	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

It is intended that on successful completion of this course students will be able to:
produce well-argued and well-documented analyses of primary source material, in accordance with the common marking scale;
produce seminar presentations that show an ability to communicate scholarly material in a non-written form, in accordance with the common marking scale;
produce an independent research project that is effectively argued, structured and documented, making use of primary and secondary sources, in accordance with the common marking scale;
demonstrate, by way of all assessed work for the course, an awareness of the key events in the history of the Right in the United States between around 1945 and around 1990, together with an awareness of the key scholarly interpretations of these events;
demonstrate, by way of presentations, course exercises, research project and examination, an ability to analyse primary and secondary sources in a critical manner;
demonstrate the following transferable skills: independent identification and development of research questions for investigation; independent gathering of relevant evidence pertaining to a problem; critical consideration of evidence in order to arrive at sound conclusions; evaluating the work of others, including experts and peers; presenting evaluations and conclusions clearly in both written and oral form; independent management of personal timetable, workload and other priorities in order to meet established timetables.

Assessment Information

Two pieces of source commentary (c. 500-600 words each, worth 10 percent of overall assessment); two presentation reports (c. 1000-1500 words each, worth 15 percent of overall assessment); one short assignment (c. 1000 words, worth 10 percent of overall assessment); one essay (c. 5000 words, worth 30 percent of overall assessment); one three-hour degree examination (worth 35 percent of overall assessment).