History of American Capitalism

Discussion-based seminar offering an introduction to the history of capitalism and a broad overview of debates concerning its impacts on social life, with a particular focus on the modern American experience. Examines the central position that the United States occupies in today’s capitalist global system and the key role it has played in shaping both the development of capitalism and critical responses to its advance. Drawing on primary historical documents and secondary literature from multiple disciplines, students examine capitalism’s historical relationship to race, class, gender, government, finance, technology, and the natural environment. Limited to 15.