Course Mission Statement:
The study of history is too important to our individual academic growth, awareness as citizens, and collective progress as a civilization to be relegated to chronological survey and factual memorization. While our endeavors in US History are certainly dependent upon historical facts, we strive to be equally diligent in our study of the motives and ideals that drive human history. Consequently, our approach to the history in question will focus on the themes and forces that cooperate and conflict in influencing the words and actions that shape American History, while limiting the chronological restrictions of traditional historical study. Above all else, our focus will be on applying this thematic paradigm to our understanding of the interaction between historical facts and the underlying values to our own decision making. It is our belief that through the study of history – the acknowledgement and analysis of the people and events that have preceded us – we might broaden our intellectual horizons and work to construct a better society in which to live today. Such aspirations begin in a classroom; thus we must strive for honesty, compassion, and probity in our discussions and daily activities.