SPOL9224-1

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

	Master in political sciences : general, professional focus in public administration (Even years, organized in 2026-2027)	5 crédits
	Master in political sciences : general, professional focus in European policies (Even years, organized in 2026-2027)	5 crédits
	Master in political sciences : general, professional focus in international relations (Even years, organized in 2026-2027)	5 crédits
	Master in political sciences : general (60 ECTS) (Even years, organized in 2026-2027)	5 crédits

Lecturer

Jérôme Jamin

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Course introduction and meet-and-greet on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. in B4 (R52).

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From the American Revolution to the end of World War II, this course reviews the key moments in U.S. history.

"Political History of the United States" and "American Political Issues" are two fundamentally different courses, but they are also complementary for those who wish to gain a thorough understanding of the United States. They are offered in even-numbered years.

These two courses are also related to "Political Theories and Doctrines in the United States," which is offered in odd-numbered years.

We will take a structured approach to the political evolution of the United States, from the American Revolution to the present day. We will also analyze the development of the American political system through:

The formation of institutions;
Major constitutional debates;
Principal political ideologies;
Social conflicts and federal tensions;

The course progresses through a series of major historical milestones that provide insight into the country's transformation.

Table of Contents:

The Independence of the Thirteen Colonies;
The Conquest of the West;
The Civil War;
Reconstruction;
The Gilded Age;
The 1929 Crisis, Labor Unions, and Progressivism.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

The main objective will be to understand the past in order to better analyze the present. Through this course, we will attempt to identify the origins of the social and political issues that have shaped American society for centuries. How have liberal philosophy, culture wars, the development of a vast territory, and the fight against precariousness contributed to defining the social model of the contemporary United States?

The circumstances surrounding the founding of the United States shed light on its enduring commitment to these political and social dimensions, which continue to shape its national identity today.

The course therefore explores questions specific to the history of the United States up to World War II. Here are a few more examples from among some thirty questions:

What was the political context of the American Revolution?
Why are the concepts of territory and borders fundamental to U.S. history?
What triggered the Civil War?
What were the arguments for and against slavery?
When did the labor movement emerge in the United States?

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Further information:

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Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )

Political history of the United States