Chabot College
Fall 2003
Course Outline for Economics 5
ECONOMIC HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES
Catalog Description:
5 - Economic History of the United States
3 units
Origins and historical development of major economics forces, institutions and
philosophies that have shaped the U.S. market economy. 3 hours.
[Typical contact hours: 52.5]
Prerequisite Skills:
None.
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:
1.
identify the major economic forces (e.g., business cycles), institutions (e.g.,
Federal Reserve System), and philosophies (e.g., different and evolving market
models) that have influenced the development of the U.S. market economy up to
the present time;
2.
evaluate the role that these major economic factors play in the performance of
today's economy.
Course Content:
1.
2.
3.
4.
The economic setting for colonization
The colonial period
a.
The agrarian economy
b.
Factories and commercial growth
c.
International economic relations
d.
Economic development
A nation in infancy
a.
Economic causes and aspects of revolution
b.
Growth and role of financial institutions
c.
Government financing and the public sector
d.
Transportation
e.
The frontier movement
f.
Early industrialization
g.
Laborers and their wages
h.
The Civil War's economic causes and effects
The industrialization of a nation
a.
New frontiers and new transportation
b.
Technology and industrialization
c.
The farm economy
d.
The business firm and economies of scale
e.
Beginnings of a labor movement
f.
Evolution of money and banking
Chabot College
Course Outline for Economics 5
Fall 2003
Page 2
Course Content (Cont’d):
5.
g.
Activist government vs. laissez-faire
h.
International economic involvement
i.
World War I
Industrial maturity
a.
Government and agriculture policy
b.
New developments in transportation
c.
Nature and causes of the Great Crash of 1929
d.
The 1930's: Depression and New Deal
e.
World War II and postwar economic institutions
f.
Labor in a mature economy
g.
Government and "New Economics"
h.
New dimensions in international economics
i.
Age of the economist
j.
The Great Society
k.
Affluence and ecological decay
Methods of Presentation:
1.
2.
3.
Lecture - discussion
Student participation
Audio-visual aids
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1.
Typical Assignments
a.
Written and oral student responses to questions based on video
documentaries
b.
In class group discussions with analysis of market models
c.
Group projects on issues in economic history
d.
Test preparation exercises (e.g. true/false pretests)
2.
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
a.
Exams and quizzes
b.
Homework
c.
Final examination
Textbook(s) (Typical):
History of the American Economy, Walton & Rockoff, Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich,
2001, or latest edition.
Special Student Materials:
None.
tf Doc:/ECON 5
Revised: 10-24/02