United States since 1877 | Enroll Anytime Online Course

Trace the political, social, and global evolution of the the modern United States in this self-paced History course.

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Why take U.S. History online?

HIST 104: United States History Since 1877 takes students on a dynamic journey through the last 150 years of American history. From the aftermath of the Civil War to the complexities of the 21st century, this self-paced online course examines the rise of the U.S. as an industrial, political, and cultural superpower. You’ll engage with major events like Reconstruction, World Wars, the Cold War, civil rights movements, and globalization — while sharpening your critical thinking and historical analysis skills.

HIST 104 has three interrelated course objectives:

• introduce major themes, events, and personalities in the period to give students a basic framework for understanding of the last 150 years of America’s past.
• develop student ability to understand some of the interpretive problems that historians encounter and debate in explaining the past.
• develop critical thinking and related skills that students can deploy in other classes and in their own personal and professional lives.

Students have up to 9 months to complete this course from the time of enrollment. You may work at your own pace and complete lessons on your own schedule, submitting up to three items per week for grading. This course contains 16 lessons designed to focus your study of American history and to assist you in achieving the course learning objectives/outcomes. Your work will include videos, readings, quizzes, and essay assignments. 

Lesson Outline

Section 1: Growing Pains

• The Era of Reconstruction, 1865-1877 
• Business and Labor in the Industrial Era, 1860-1900
• The New South and the New West, 1865-1900
• Political Stalemate and Rural Revolt, 1865-1900
• Seizing an American Empire, 1865-1913

Section 2: Modern America

• The Progressive Era, 1890-1920
• America and the Great War, 1914-1920
• A Clash of Cultures, 1920-1929
• The Great Depression and the New Deal, 1933-1939
• The Second World War, 1933-1945

Section 3: The American Age, Part 1

• The Cold War and the Fair Deal, 1945-1952
• Affluence and Anxiety in the Atomic Age, 1950-1959
• New Frontiers and a Great Society, 1960-1968
• Rebellion and Reaction, 1960s and 1970s

Section 4: The American Age, Part 2

• Conservative Revival, 1977-2000
• Twenty-First-Century America, 2000−Present

What are the required texts for this course?

Shi, David Emory. America a Narrative History, 12^th Edition, Brief. Volume 2 - Chapters 15 to 30. ISBN 978-1-324-08460-08.

Norton Publishing has paperback, online or downloadable options available for purchase. The Norton site includes the required InQuizitive online tools. If purchasing through the UND bookstore or another third-party source, be sure the registration code for the InQuizitive online tools is included.

Hoffer, Eric. The True Believer. ISBN: 9780062930866.

Originally published in 1951, there are many editions available for this book. Any edition will be suitable.

How will the course appear on my transcript?

You may enroll at any time and have up to 9 months to complete this online course. The credits earned will be recorded on your UND transcript based on the date you registered for the course. It will appear on your transcript in the same way as a course taken during a regular semester. There is no indication that the course was taken online or that you completed it at your own pace. 

Consult the table on our How Enroll Anytime Courses Work page for a current listing of Enroll Anytime Registration Dates and the semester information that will appear on a UND transcript.

Why Take Online Classes at UND?

Here are a few reasons why you should take an online enroll anytime course at UND:

• Great customer service – Our registration team is ready to answer questions quickly so you can focus on your coursework.
• Affordable – UND's enroll anytime courses are priced at North Dakota's affordable, in-state tuition rate.
• Accredited – UND is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
• Easily transfer credits – Transferring credits is always at the discretion of the institution to which the credits are being transferred. In general, credits from schools/universities that are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission transfer to other regionally accredited institutions. UND's online courses appear on your UND transcript in the same way as other courses.

Flexible 100% Online Course

You'll take this online course at your own pace. Some students thrive in this environment, while other students may struggle with setting their own deadlines. If you have successfully taken an independent study or correspondence course previously, UND’s enroll anytime courses may be right for you. Still not sure? Take our online quiz to help determine if online enroll anytime courses are right for you.

Course information including tuition, technology requirements, textbooks, lessons and exams is subject to change without notice.