This is the first semester of a two semester course which examines the major turning points in American history through the Great Depression. Students will focus on the origins of the United States, key pre-World War II events including the Progressive Era, American participation in World War I, and the Great Depression. The course emphasizes the relevance of history to students’ daily lives and helps them to understand how the ideas and events of the past shape the institutions and debates of contemporary America. (FT)