Religion, Politics, and Revolution in America (P01700)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : HCA-P-RPRAmeric

The period 1740-1840 was one of great political and religious upheaval in America. During this hundred-year period, America experienced two great awakenings and three major wars, a Revolution against Great Britain and the drafting of an enduring Constitution. The statesmen, politicians, clergymen, theorists, and ordinary people who were involved in these conflicts have left a copious amount of literature, and the period has long been a ripe one for scholarly study.

The course will explore:
- The religious transformations in America during this century; including religious revivals (among whites as well as Native Americans), religious conflicts, the growth of new denominations, the disestablishment of religion, African-American religious practice, and the constitutional adoption of religious freedom.
- The political transformations in America during the late colonial period, Revolutionary era, and early Republic: political culture, the ideology of revolution, concepts of liberty and equality, sovereignty, representation, and citizenship, the drafting of constitutions, the growth of republicanism and democracy.
- Methodological approaches to relevant evidence.

Entry Requirements

? This course is not available to visting students.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

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

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : To be arranged/Unknown

? Contact Teaching Time : 1 hour(s) 50 minutes per week for 11 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the course will have acquired an in-depth knowledge and understanding of crucial aspects of the study of religion and politics in early American history. In particular, they will:

- be able to analyse independently political and religious documents
- acquire a sound understanding of the religious and political context of this period, and religious and political developments
- have an advanced understanding of the secondary source literature for this period

Further, they will also be able to:

- engage in historical arguments
- set their own historical research agenda in relation to religion and/or politics in early America
- prepare and present their own work for seminars and workshops
- actively participate in group discussion
- be able to efficiently access library and IT resources