America in Depression and War
4-weeks (last 4) | Registration opens 2/14/2026 9:00 AM EST
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? This class 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. The course combines lecture and discussion. Readings will be drawn from historical documents contained in The Era of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1933–1945, Richard Polenberg, ed.
Note: This course is a repeat of a course offered in Spring 2025.
- Materials: Students are required to purchase The Era of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1933–1945, edited by Richard Polenberg.
Miriam Cohen
Miriam Cohen, Evalyn Clark Professor Emerita of History at Vassar College, specializes in the history of American women and twentieth-century American political and social history. The author of two books and numerous articles, she has published widely on the history of women and on the history of social reform in the United States and Europe.