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HST 153: British Culture and Society

Course Prefix

Course Number

Course Title

Lec-Lab

Credit Hours

HST

153

British Culture and Society

(3-0)

3

Course Description

Surveys the culture and society of England from the Norman conquest to the present.

Topical Outline

  1. An Introduction to Historic London
  2. Pre-History: Roman Britain and the Germanic Tribes
  3. British Education: Medieval to Modern
  4. Politics in Britain
  5. Architectural Styles
  6. The Legal System
  7. Welfare State
  8. The Labour Struggle
  9. The Class System
  10. The Golden Age of Art
  11. Dramatic Art
  12. History of Pop Music
  13. Mass Communication

Method of Presentation

  1. Lecture
  2. Field trips
  3. Designated related readings

Student Outcomes (The student should…)

  1. explain the early 20th century triumph of liberalism.
  2. discuss the reign of King George V, 1910 - 1936.
  3. list and discuss the scientific and literary developments in Britain during the early 20th century.
  4. trace the origin of Great Britain in her involvement in World War I.
  5. define the European Alliance System.
  6. discuss the influence and impact of British diplomacy at the turn of the century.
  7. discuss the significance of the Anglo-French Entente of 1904.
  8. explain the first Moroccan Crisis of 1905.
  9. define the Anglo-Russian Entente of 1907.
  10. define the two (2) Alliance systems.
  11. discuss the Anglo-German naval rivalry.
  12. list and discuss the major international crises from 1908 - 1914.
  13. list and discuss the contributions of Baldwin and MacDonald.
  14. describe post-war Britain (post 1918).
  15. discuss politics in Britain during the 1920’s and the end of the Lloyd George coalition.
  16. discuss the significance of the MacDonald national government.
  17. explain the contributions of the 3rd Baldwin government, 1935 - 1937.
  18. discuss the development of Imperial affairs, 1920 - 1940.
  19. define the Manchurian crisis.
  20. explain Hitler’s early foreign policy.
  21. discuss Italian aggression in Ethiopia.
  22. discuss the significance of the remilitarization of the Rhineland.
  23. list and discuss the origins of the Spanish Civil War.
  24. discuss the significance of the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis.
  25. explain the significance of the German annexation of Austria.
  26. discuss the significance of the Battle of Britain and the Battle of the Atlantic.
  27. discuss World War II in Europe during 1944 - 1945.
  28. list and discuss the contributions of the Attlee government, 1951 - 1955.
  29. discuss the significance of the Eden government, 1955 - 1957.
  30. discuss the significance of the MacMillan government, 1957 - 1963.
  31. list and discuss the contributions of the Wilson government, 1964 - 1970.
  32. discuss British society during the 1960’s.
  33. compare and contrast the 2nd Wilson government, 1974 - 1976; the Callaghan government, 1976 - 1979; and the Thatcher government, 1979 - 1990.

Method of Evaluation

  1. Two (2) examinations
  2. Research paper

Textbook

Morgan, Britain Since 1945: The People’s Peace, 2001

Wiener, English Culture & Decline of Industrial Spirit 1850, Cambridge, 2004

Clarke, Hope & Glory: Britain 1900-1990, 2nd ed. Penquin, 2004.

Prepared by: Michael Harkins, Fall, 2008