History 179 - The Rise of the American Right, 1920s- Present

This course explores the history of conservatism in the United States, from the 1920s to Trump. Students examine the key ideas, leaders, and movements that fueled and defined the rise of the modern right, broadly construed. The course goes beyond electoral politics, exploring the relationship between conservatism and American life – especially in the realms of race, gender, religion, and capitalism. Discussions include: Christian fundamentalism; white nationalism; corporate opposition to the New Deal; Cold War militarism; law and order politics; anti- feminism and the culture wars; Reaganomics; neoconservative foreign policy; and border politics. Enrollment limited to 40. (E)