THIS IS A TWO-SEMESTER COURSE.

This is a course on the regional history and geography of North America, with a particular focus on the United States of America. Students will examine maps and written descriptions from explorers, pioneers, surveyors, and other historical sources to understand the influence that the natural landscape had on the westward expansion of the United States and the formation of both local cultures and national development. Particular attention will be paid to the influence of the Mississippi River, both practically and culturally. Students will understand how the United States came to develop and how different territories became states in the Union.

Through the study of geography, the students will be introduced to concepts and historical events such as state formation, the expansion of slavery, the Mexican-American War, the American Civil War, Reconstruction, and the electrification of the rural United States in the nineteenth century. Finally, they will understand how a country is formed by people yet shaped by geography and how people change their environment as well as adapt to it.

Class Meetings: Tuesdays, 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Fall Semester: September 8 – December 15, 2026
Spring Semester: January 12 – May 11, 2027

Student Expectations: Students are expected to participate in class discussions and will have occasional reading and writing assignments for homework.

Student Support: The instructor is available via email.

Feedback/Assessment: Students will be assessed on the quality of their written work and their in-class participation.

Materials: All reading materials will be available on the internet.