AMST 3530

Farewell to the Party of Lincoln: Race, Class and Populism in the Age of Trump

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2016-2017.

Drawing on both historical and contemporary readings, this course seeks to reflect on the political and ideological legacies that offer contextualization for the rise of Donald Trump as the leader of the Republican party in the 2016 national election.   We will critically examine the intertwined politics of race and class beginning with the origin of the Republican party, and the crises of secession and Civil War over the South's demands for the expansion of U.S. chattel slavery.  The struggles of African Americans for freedom and citizenship then and afterward provided a crucial backdrop for white-working class populisms of the left and right.  Although the modern GOP's c. 1980s turn to racially-charged, nativist, anti-government sentiment predated the rise of Trump, our approach will allow us to understand Trump's takeover of today's Republican party within a U.S. political tradition shaped by race, gender, region, class and populism.

When Offered Spring.

Breadth Requirement (HB)
Distribution Category (HA-AS)

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