Between 1929 and 1945 Americans coped with the crises of a major economic
depression and a world war. How did Americans from different backgrounds experience
these events? How did experiences vary by class, race and gender? The course explores
the everyday life of Americans at the time, as well as the important political and social
transformations, and some continuities, that marked the period. This is a four-week
class that combines lecture and discussion. The readings will be documents of the era,
contained in the book The Age of Roosevelt, which students will be expected to
purchase. The readings are considered mandatory.