America in the Sixties module (HY32032)

This module covers the social, political, and cultural history of America during the 1960s, paying particular attention to the various social movements that emerged during that time.

This includes opposition to the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and feminism. The module shows how America was deeply divided over the rights of minority groups in the 60s.

We will use a range of sources, including films, government records, and interviews to understand the challenges Americans faced during that decade.

What you will learn

In this module you will:

• explore the social, cultural, and political history of the United States in the 1960s
• examine the relevance of this history to the USA today
• examine debates over race, gender and sexuality during the 1960s
• explore primary sources and use them to understand the impact of the Sixties upon America

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• appreciate the history of America during the 1960s
• describe the interactions between the various protest movements of the decade
• appreciate how the Sixties was a deeply disruptive era that continues to shape the lives of Americans today
• understand how to analyse and evaluate primary and secondary sources

Assignments / assessment

• essay 3,000 words (45%)
• presentation 15 minutes (15%)
• module journal 3,500 words (40%)

This module does not have a final exam.

Teaching methods / timetable

The module will be delivered by a combination of tutorials and lectures. Lectures introduce the week’s topic and give you an outline of the major themes. Tutorials are in smaller groups and provide an opportunity to explore some of these themes in greater detail. This includes the opportunity to engage in debate with your fellow students.