TOPICS IN U.S. ECONOMIC HISTORY: BUSINESS AND LABOR HISTORY

 

 

History 4910-0003 (#11153)                                                                                Dr. Reagan

History 5230-001(#10089)                                                                                   Summer 2008

HH114  on Wednesdays                                                                                     HH 109

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:

 

     Office: Henderson Hall 109

     Office Hours:  E-mail at preagan@tntech.edu or by appointment

     Telephone: 372-3342 (office), 372-3332 (message), 528-3998 (home)

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

 

  • Class attendance and participation mandatory
  • 7-10 page take home paper --June 13    (100 Points--25% of grade)
  • 7-10 page take home paper --June 20    (100 points--25% of grade)
  • 7-10 page take home final essay examination --June 27   (100 points--25% of grade)
  • History 5230—10-15 page Research paper on topic approved by instructor --June 23

(100 points—25% of grade)

  • History 4910: Final grade  270-300 =  A  240-269 = B  210-239 = C  180-209 = D  Below 180 = F
  • History 5230: Final grade: 360-400  = A  320-359 = B  280-319 = C  240-279 = D  Below 240 = F
  • To pass course, all requirements must be met fully, on time, and without plagiarism.

 

REQUIRED BOOKS:

    

  • Mansel G. Blackford and K. Austin Kerr. Business Enterprise in Ameri­can History, third edition.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1994. (Blackford & Kerr below) ISBN # 0-395-66849-2
  • Melvyn and Joseph A. McCartin, editors. American Labor: A Documentary Collection. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004. (Dubofsky below) ISBN # 0-312-29564-2
  • Monica Lesmerises, The Basics: The Middle Class at Risk. New York: The Century Foundation, 2007.  Available online at http://www.tcf.org/list.asp?type=PB&pubid=625

 

COURSE THEMES:

 

  • CHANGES in the NATURE and IMPACT of BUSINESS FIRM
  • CHANGING NATURE of BUSINESS-GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
  • CHANGES in SOCIAL COMPOSITION of WORK FORCE and WORK CULTURE
  • EMERGENCE and CHANGES in the AMERICAN LABOR MOVEMENT

 

USEFUL WEB SITES FOR THE COURSE:

 

  • Economic History: http://iweb.tntech.edu/preagan/economic.html
  • Labor History: http://iweb.tntech.edu/preagan/labor.html
  • United States History: http://iweb.tntech.edu/preagan/usa.html

 

READING ASSIGNMENTS AND DISCUSSION SCHEDULE:

(Readings should be completed the day they are assigned for by class time.)

 

 

Assignment: Blackford & Kerr, pp. 1-10 and Dubofsky, pp. 1-5

May 28-- Course syllabus and themes

 

 

CREATING A NATIONAL AMERICAN ECONOMY, 1607-1860’s

 

 

Assignment: Blackford & Kerr, pp. 1-123 and Dubofsky, pp. 1-87

Wednesday, June 4-- Topics for classroom discussion:

Colonial Economic Development / Labor in Early America

The Origins and the Economic Impact of Revolution

            Economic Growth in the Early Republic / The Factory Controversy

            Farming on the Western Frontier / The Economy of the Old South

            Slavery as a Labor System / Economic Costs of the Civil War

 

 

INDUSTRIALIZATION, REFORM, WAR, AND PROSPERITY, 1870’s-1929

 

 

Assignment: Blackford & Kerr, pp. 125-270; Dubofsky, pp. 89-176; and review Blackford & Kerr, pp. 1-10 and Dubofsky, pp. 1-5

Wednesday, June 11—Topics for class discussion:

The Corporate Revolution in American Business

The Factory Labor Force / Workers’ Response to Industrialism

Progressive Reform / Growth of the Corporate World / Mobilization for World War I

The New Era of the 1920s / Hoover and Modern Business-Government Relations

Monday, June 13-- Take home 7-10 page essay examination due no later than 12 noon

 

 

DEPRESSION, WAR, AND PROSPERITY, 1929-1973

 

 

Assignment:  Blackford & Kerr, pp. 270-336: Dubofsky, pp. 176-255; and review Blackford & Kerr, pp. 1-10 and Dubofsky, pp. 1-5

Wednesday, June 18— Topics for class discussion

The Great Depression: How Did It Happen? / The New Deal Response

New Deal Changes in Labor Law / The Industrial Union Movement

Mobilizing for World War II / Economic Legacies of World War II

The Modern Economic Republic: 1945-1968 / A Golden Age of American Capitalism?

Monday, June 20— Take home 7-10 page essay examination due no later than 12 noon

 

 

A NEW AMERICAN ECONOMY? , 1973-PRESENT

 

 

Assignment: Blackford & Kerr, pp. 339-384; Dubofsky, pp. 257-312; and

The Basics: The Middle Class at Risk, all and

Review Blackford & Kerr, pp. 1-10 and Dubofsky, pp. 1-5

Wednesday June 25—Topics for class discussion:

            Women and Work / Economic Growth in an Age of Doubt

From Reaganomics to the New Economy, 1981-2000

Modern Work / Changes in Productivity, Income and Wealth

Friday, June 27-- Take home 7-10 page essay final examination due no later than 12 noon