It may be hard to imagine the American political landscape today without conservatism, and yet like its counterpart-liberalism-conservatism is a creature with a complicated history. While drawing on European ideas that were emerging in reaction to fascism and communism, conservatism also had its American origins in a backlash against the New Deal, particularly in the South and the West, and particularly to liberals' growing belief that the federal government should expand its powers to protect the rights of African Americans and working-class Americans. While the Reagan presidency signified to many "the end of the New Deal order," it remains unclear in the post-9/11 world what precise legacy of conservatism his administration established. This course will explore the issues that conservatives have embraced in different periods since the New Deal; what issues have created conflict among conservative ranks; and how conservatives have mobilized political power at different historical junctures. Format: lecture/discussion. Evaluation will be based on class participation, one book review, a take-home midterm, and a final interpretive essay, based in part on primary research. No Prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 25. (expected: 20-25). Preference given to History majors. Group A