Professor Eric Rauchway considers the causes and consequences of the economic slump of 1929–1933 with the economic recovery of 1933–1941 under the New Deal. The course will examine the scope and effects of the Depression, considering particularly how it placed democratic institutions in peril and contributed to the rise of fascist movements. We will then consider the New Deal not only as a program for restoring economic prosperity but more importantly as an effort to reinvigorate democratic institutions, concluding with an investigation of the transition from the New Deal into mobilization for the Second World War. Lectures and reading will focus on the political, social, and economic history of the United States in this period and especially on the policies of the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt during his first two terms in office.
COURSE CONTENT
• Twelve lectures
• Primary source readings to complement the lectures
• A certificate of completion for 15 hours of professional development credit
Readings: The suggested readings for each seminar session will be listed on the “Resources” link on the course site. Please note that you are not required to read or purchase any print materials. The quizzes are based on the lectures.
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LEAD SCHOLAR
Eric Rauchway
Eric Rauchway writes about and teaches US history at the University of California, Davis, where he has been a professor since 2001. He has consulted for government and private agencies, including the US Department of Justice and a major Hollywood studio. He holds a PhD from Stanford, an MA from Oxford, and a bachelor's degree from Cornell. He has previously taught at the University of Nevada, Reno, and the University of Oxford, and he lives with his family in Davis, California.
