HIST 214(S) The Rise of American Conservatism

In our own time it may be hard to imagine the American political landscape without conservatism, and yet like its counterpart-liberalism-conservatism is a creature of history. In the forms that we recognize today, conservatism had its origins in reactions to the New Deal; from the 1950s, when Dwight D. Eisenhower called for a "dynamic conservatism," it went through momentous transformations in the late 1960s and 1970s. And while the Reagan presidency was indeed experienced as a political "revolution," it remains unclear what legacy of conservative principles his administration established. This course will chart that trajectory, using primary documents, secondary analyses, and political biographies, and will explore in particular what issues conservatives have embraced in different periods; what issues have created conflict among conservative ranks; and how they have mobilized political power at different historical junctures. Evaluation will be based on class participation, two essays (5-7 pages), and a final paper (15-20 pages) that involves original research and analysis. Group A

Hour: MERRILL