History 743.1
American Political Parties
Tuesdays at 6.20pm
http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/history/johnson

Books: In addition to the books below, weekly document assignments are posted on the website.

• Alan Brinkley, End of Reform: New Deal Liberalism in Recession and War
• Dan Carter, The Politics of Rage: George Wallace, the Origins of the New Conservatism, and the Transformation of American Politics
• John Milton Cooper, Warrior and the Priest: Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt
• E.J. Dionne, Why Americans Hate Politics
• Michael McGerr, Decline of Popular Politics: The American North, 1865-1928
• Lisa McGirr, Suburban Warriors:
• William Saletan, Bearing Right: How Conservatives Won the Abortion War
• Sean Wilentz, The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln
• Jules Witcover, The Making of an Ink-Stained Wretch: Half a Century Pounding the Political Beat

Requirements:

• Final Paper (50%)
• Supplementary reading summaries (10%)
• Study questions (10%)
• Participation (30%)

The supplementary reading summaries and study questions are due the Sunday BEFORE the class to which you are assigned--no extensions. Plan accordingly.

Schedule:

January 31: Introduction

February 7: Jefferson and Jackson

• Wilentz, The Rise of American Democracy, pp. 3-12, 312-520.

study questions

February 14: Pre-Civil War Political Culture

• Wilentz, The Rise of American Democracy, pp. 521-796.

study questions (A. Perez, 521-632; Kristen T., 633-706; Thomas S., 707-796)

supplementary readings:

• (Rod) Daniel Walker Howe, The Political Culture of the American Whigs
• (Patty) Thomas Hietala, Manifest Design

February 21: No class--college conversion day

February 28: Popular Politics

• McGerr, Decline of Popular Politics (Michael and Jack--each do half)
  Plunkitt of Tammany Hall (chapters 1-3)  (Vincent)

study questions

supplementary readings:

• (Lisa and Amanda) Morton Keller, Affairs of State
• (Sam) Michael Kazin, The Populist Persuasion

March 7: 1912 and Its Aftermath

• Cooper, Warrior and the Priest (Sandina, Erik, and Amy--each do 1/3)
  Theodore Roosevelt, "The New Nationalism" (Joe)
  Woodrow Wilson, "Benevolence or Justice?" (Joe)

study questions

supplementary readings:

• (Kelesha and Christine) Thomas Knock, To End All Wars
• (Bernie) Douglas Craig, After Wilson

March 14: New Deal Liberalism

• Brinkley, End of Reform

study questions (Dave, pp. 3-85; Liliya, pp. 86-174, Neela, pp. 175-272)

supplementary readings:

• (Jennifer and Kristen) Lizabeth Cohen, Making a New Deal
• (Mark) Robin Kelley, Hammer and Hoe

March 21: Democrats and the South

• Carter, The Politics of Rage

study questions (Arnold, pp. 9-155; Howard, pp. 156-293; Danielle, pp. 293-end)

supplementary readings:

• (Erik and Thomas) Zachary Karabell, The Last Campaign
• (Daniel) Kari Frederickson, The Dixiecrat Revolt and the End of the Solid South

March 28: 1964

• transcripts (print out and bring to class)
  1964 campaign ads (view all 20)

supplementary readings:

• (Michael) Jeff Shesol, Mutual Contempt
• (Jack and Vincent) Rick Perlstein, Before the Storm

April 4: The New Conservatism

• McGirr, Suburban Warriors

study questions (Theresa, pp. 3-110; Jeannine, pp. 111-216; Rod, pp. 187-274)

supplementary readings:

• (Sandina and Joe) Jonathan Schoenweld, A Time for Choosing
• (Amy) Mary Dudziak, Cold War and Civil Rights

April 11: Running against Washington

• Dionne, Why Americans Hate Politics

study questions (Patty, pp. 9-97; Lisa, pp. 209-299; Amanda, pp. 98-208; Sam, pp. 300-373)

supplementary readings:

• (Dave and Liliya) Bruce Schulman, The Seventies

• (Neela) Craig Shirley, Reagan's Revolution

April 18: No class--spring break

April 25: No class

May 2: The Politics of Abortion

• Saletan, Bearing Right
• Saletan and The Nation's Katrina Pollitt debate the book's thesis

study questions (Kelesha, pp. 9-83; Christine, pp. 84-187; Bernie, pp. 188-end)

supplementary readings:

• (Arnold) Thomas Frank, What's the Matter with Kansas?
• (Howard and Danielle) Jim Wallis, God's Politics

May 9: Media and Postwar Political History

• Witcover, Making of an Ink-Stained Wretch

study questions (Jennifer, Mark, and Daniel)

supplementary readings:

• (Theresa) Evan Thomas, Election 2004
• (Jeannine) Larry Sabato, Divided States of America

May 16: Review