Bradley Hansen
Mary Washington College
Department of Economics
Fall 2004
mailto:bhansen@mwc.edu
Office:
Phone: 654-1484
Office Hours: MWF 10-11 and 12 -1
Texts: Atack and Passel A New Economic View of American History
Marc Egnal Divergent Paths
Course Description: American Economic History is a very broad field.
Economics studies the choices that people make. History studies the past.
Anything that involves people making choices in the past is part of economic
history. Because there are many interesting questions in economic history it is
useful to narrow our focus somewhat. This semester we will focus on two issues.
The first is what I regard as the fundamental question in economic history, if
not in economics as a whole: Why have some countries (like the United States) become
so incredibly rich during the last three centuries, while many others remain
mired in poverty? The lectures in this course are largely focused on trying to
answer this question. The second thing we will focus on is gaining a better
understanding of American history. How did people in the past perceive the
choices that they had to make? The readings for the debates are historical
documents. Most of the debates will require you to consider how people in the
past perceived the economic choices that they faced.
Course Objectives:
1. Improved understanding of the process of economic development.
2. Improved understanding of the application of economic theory.
3. Improved understanding of American history.
4. Development of writing skills.
5. Development of speaking skills.
Grading:
Grading Scale:
for a grade of A final class average must be >= 93.0
for a grade of A- final class average must be >=90.0 and <93.0
for a grade of B+ final class average must be >=87.0 and <90.0
for a grade of B final class average must be >= 83.0 and <87.0
for a grade of B- final class average must be >=80.0 and <83.0
for a grade of C+ final class average must be >=77.0 and <80.0
for a grade of C final class average must be >=73.0 and <77.0
for a grade of C- final class average must be >=70.0 and <73.0
for a grade of D+ final class average must be >=65.0 and <70.0
for a grade of D final class average must be >= 60.0 and <65.0
for a grade of F final class average must be < 60.0
Midterm 30%
Final 30%
Webpage 30%
Class Participation: 10%
Each assignment will be graded on a ten point scale.
The web pages are a new assignment this year I will be giving you further details about the assignment in the first two weeks of class.
Course Outline:
|
|
Monday |
Wednesday |
Friday |
|
1 |
8/23 What is economic history? |
8/25 What causes economic growth? |
8/27 Why did modern growth begin in |
|
2 |
8/30 How was
European economic growth transferred to |
9/1 How developed was the colonial economy? |
9/3 Were the causes of the revolution really economic? |
|
3 |
9/6 Midwife’s Tale This week read Ch 2-5 Egnal |
9/8 Midwife’s Tale |
9/10 Midwife’s Tale |
|
4 |
9/13 How did the Constitution influence economic development? |
9/15 How did Hamilton and Jefferson shape American economic policy? |
9/17 How did industrialization begin in the United States? Ch 7 & A&P |
|
5 |
9/22 Was there an agricultural revolution along with the industrial revolution? |
9/24 Was slavery an efficient economic system? Ch 11 and 12 A&P |
|
|
6 |
9/27 Were the causes of the Civil War primarily economic? |
9/29 Why was Southern economic performance so poor after the Civil War? History Lesson by Engerman and Sokolof |
10/1 Were railroads the cause of American economic growth in the 19th century? |
|
7 |
10/4 Was there a second industrial revolution? Ch 17 A&P |
10/6 In class work day. |
10/8 Mid term exam. |
|
8 |
10/11 no class, fall break |
10/13 Was the economy ruled by Robber Barons in the late nineteenth century? Ch 17 A&P |
10/15 Why did the United States adopt the Gold Standard? Online Encyclopedia of Economics Gold Standard |
|
9 |
10/18 In class work day |
10/20 Why did the role of the federal government in the economy increase? |
10/22 Was the turn of the century a golden age of laissez faire? |
|
10 |
10/25 Why was the Federal Reserve established? Ch 18 A&P |
10/27 How did the Ch 20 A&P |
|
|
11 |
11/1 The Grapes of Wrath |
11/3 The Grapes of Wrath |
11/5 The Grapes of Wrath |
|
12 |
11/8 What caused the Great Depression? Ch 21 A&P |
11/10 What were the responses to the Great Depression? Ch 22 A&P |
11/12 Was the new Deal a Social Revolution? Ch 22 A&P |
|
13 |
11/15 The Post-War Economy |
11/17 Presentations |
11/19 Presentations Webpages due. |
|
14 |
11/22 Presentations |
11/24 Thanksgiving |
11/26 Thanksgiving |
|
15 |
11/29 Presentations |
12/1 Presentations |
12/3 Presentations |
Some Economic History Links
The Inflation Calculator (will tell you how much a sum of money in the past would be worth in current dollars)
Historical Census Data Browser
Women
and Naturalization in U.S. History