070010 UE Guided Reading Economic and Social History - An exceptional country? (2023W)

Was American economic development truly exceptional in a global perspective and which were its causes? Was American slavery an integral part of the world capitalist system and how did it contribute to national growth? How has the Civil War historiography evolved since the nineteenth century and how can we interpret its ambivalent history also in light of the current political debate? What can we learn from the “Free Silver” debate about the US political economy and Populism then and now? To what extent did the economic rise of the United States and the emergence of Anti-American sentiment influence European economic policies?
In this class we approach four main historiographic debates on the economic and social history of the United States on the basis of primary sources and cutting-edge research. Our aim is not only to develop a critical understanding of American history in a global context but also to become conversant with a vast array of historiographic approaches and apply essential skills of history research through careful reading, extensive discussion and short written assignments.