HIST 249: Readings in Early American History

Don Higginbotham

Much attention will be devoted to historiography—to the most important literature in the field and to changing interpretations of British colonial America. Major themes, especially for the seventeenth century, will include the mingling of races and cultures and to comparing British imperial experiences with those of Spain and France in the New World. The eighteenth century will focus on political, religious, and social developments between 1700 and 1763. The course will conclude with an examination of the character of colonial society on the eve of the American Revolution. Had the colonies developed a distinct American culture, or were the settlements increasingly becoming more like Britain rather than less so, a process known as Anglicization. Students will read and discuss in common approximately seven or eight books and several articles and essays. Students will also read individually two or three books from a recommended list and provide a short written analysis of each. These will then be discussed in class.