Free Course Image American History

Free online courseAmerican History

Duration of the online course: 19 hours and 30 minutes

5

StarStarStarStarStar

(2)

Explore American history with Yale Courses. This free online course covers topics from Reconstruction to Civil Rights, Black Power, and public policy. Perfect for history enthusiasts.

In this free course, learn about

  • Emancipation and the Dawn of Freedom
  • Reconstruction and Its Aftermath
  • Migration, Urbanization, and the New Negro
  • Harlem Renaissance and Interwar Activism
  • Legal Challenges and the Classical Civil Rights Era
  • Voting Rights, Urban Rebellions, and Black Power
  • Black Power, Culture, and Gender Politics
  • Public Policy, Presidential Politics, and Representation

Course Description

Embark on a comprehensive journey through American history with a meticulously crafted program, "American History." This course, spanning a total duration of 20 hours, offers profound insights into pivotal moments and movements that have shaped the United States over time. Although this course has yet to receive reviews, its depth and scope promise an enriching educational experience for enthusiasts and scholars alike.

As part of the Basic Studies category, within the subcategory of History, this course meticulously covers a vast timeline, beginning with the "Dawn of Freedom" and carrying forward to present significant developments and challenges. Each lecture delves into key historical events and figures, encapsulating the essence of different eras and their impact on American society.

The initial lectures, "Dawn of Freedom," set the stage by exploring the early struggles and aspirations for freedom and equality in America. This is further expanded upon in subsequent lectures focused on "Reconstruction," where you will gain an understanding of the efforts to rebuild and redefine the nation post-Civil War, including the continual challenges faced during this critical period.

Moving beyond reconstruction, the course addresses "Uplift, Accommodation, and Assimilation," shedding light on the social, cultural, and political shifts as African Americans navigated their identities and roles within a transforming society. This is followed by discussions on "Migration and Urbanization," highlighting the experiences of African Americans as they moved to urban centers, seeking new opportunities and facing new adversities.

In the lectures focusing on "The New Negroes," you will encounter the renaissance of African American culture and the emergence of influential voices advocating for civil rights and countering prevailing prejudices. This period transitions into the era of "Depression and Double V," examining the economic hardships of the Great Depression and the parallel fight for civil rights during World War II.

The roadmap continues with significant milestones such as "The Road to Brown and Little Rock," exploring landmark decisions and events in the fight for educational equality. "From Sit-Ins to Civil Rights" provides an in-depth look at the grassroots movements that catalyzed widespread social change, while "From Voting Rights to Watts" covers the triumphs and trials in securing voting rights and addressing systemic inequalities.

Reflecting the increasingly complex dynamics of the civil rights era, the course introduces the concept of "Black Power" and dives into its implications and outcomes. Furthermore, the discussions evolve into "The Politics of Gender and Culture," examining the intersectionality of various civil rights movements and their influence on public policy and cultural norms.

The concluding lectures on "Public Policy and Presidential Politics" and "Who Speaks for the Race?" provide a critical analysis of the interplay between policy, leadership, and the ongoing discourse on racial identity and representation in America. Throughout, the course offers a rich narrative that not only recounts historical facts but also evokes reflection on the enduring legacy of these pivotal events.

Join "American History" to immerse yourself in a thorough and engaging exploration of the nation's history, gaining insights that will enhance your understanding of America's past and its influence on the present and future.

Course content

  • Video class: Lecture 1. Dawn of Freedom 34m
  • Exercise: Which of the following best represents the central theme of the speech excerpted in the text?
  • Video class: Lecture 2. Dawn of Freedom (continued) 40m
  • Exercise: Based on the New York City draft riots of 1863, what underlying issue primarily exacerbated the class tensions leading to the violence?
  • Video class: Lecture 3. Reconstruction 48m
  • Exercise: Which U.S. Constitutional amendment abolished slavery, marking a significant moment in the Reconstruction era of American history?
  • Video class: Lecture 4. Reconstruction (continued) 47m
  • Exercise: Which era, following the end of Reconstruction in 1877, began as a movement for white Southerners to reclaim control and is characterized by a significant increase in violence and suppression against African Americans, including the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan?
  • Video class: Lecture 5. Uplift, Accommodation, and Assimilation 43m
  • Exercise: What ideology emphasizes the ability and duty of an educated and culturally sophisticated minority within the African American community, referred to as the 'Talented Tenth', to lead and uplift the entire race?
  • Video class: Lecture 6. Uplift, Accommodation, and Assimilation (continued) 47m
  • Exercise: Which of the following best characterizes Booker T. Washington's approach to racial uplift as discussed in the lecture?
  • Video class: Lecture 7. Migration and Urbanization 46m
  • Exercise: In the poem 'Old Lem' by Sterling Brown, what is the significance of the line 'They don't come by ones, they don't come by twos, but they come by tens'?
  • Video class: Lecture 8. Migration and Urbanization (continued) 43m
  • Exercise: What was W.E.B. Du Bois' stance on African American participation in World War I, as expressed in his editorial 'Close Ranks'?
  • Video class: Lecture 9. The New Negroes 45m
  • Exercise: Which of the following was a key principle of Marcus Garvey's philosophy as discussed in the lecture?
  • Video class: Lecture 10. The New Negroes (continued) 50m
  • Exercise: Which of the following reflects one aspect of the Harlem Renaissance movement as described in the text?
  • Video class: Lecture 11. Depression and Double V 46m
  • Exercise: Which event marked the beginning of the 'Don't buy where you can't work' campaigns in Washington, D.C. in August 1933?
  • Video class: Lecture 12. Depression and Double V (continued) 47m
  • Exercise: What did the Executive Order 8802, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, establish in terms of employment practices?
  • Video class: Lecture 13. The Road to Brown and Little Rock 48m
  • Exercise: Which of the following Supreme Court cases did NOT directly address the issue of segregation in institutions of higher education?
  • Video class: Lecture 14. From Sit-Ins to Civil Rights 49m
  • Exercise: What was the main strategy used by the Montgomery Improvement Association to advance the civil rights movement?
  • Video class: Lecture 15. From Sit-Ins to Civil Rights (continued) 46m
  • Exercise: Which was one of the key goals of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963?
  • Video class: Lecture 16. From Voting Rights to Watts 48m
  • Exercise: What was the Mississippi Freedom Summer of 1964 primarily aimed at achieving?
  • Video class: Lecture 17. From Voting Rights to Watts (continued) 48m
  • Exercise: Which Civil Rights Act formally outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in the United States?
  • Video class: Lecture 18. Black Power 43m
  • Exercise: Which of the following is an accurate statement about the Black Panther Party?
  • Video class: Lecture 19. Black Power (continued) 48m
  • Exercise: What poem by Gwendolyn Brooks highlights a shift in the mentality in the United States during the 1960s?
  • Video class: Lecture 20. The Politics of Gender and Culture 49m
  • Exercise: Which influential artist released the concept album 'What's Going On?' that addressed issues such as Vietnam, economic despair, and ecological concerns in the early 1970s?
  • Video class: Lecture 21. The Politics of Gender and Culture (continued) 49m
  • Exercise: Which event marked a significant change in the number of African American people participating in the political process during the late 1960s?
  • Video class: Lecture 22 - Public Policy and Presidential Politics 46m
  • Exercise: What term did President Ronald Reagan use during his presidential campaign that caused a shock among civil rights activists, reflecting covert racial politics?
  • Video class: Lecture 23. Public Policy and Presidential Politics (continued) 46m
  • Exercise: Based on the excerpt from 'American History by Yale Courses,' which concept cannot be understood without an appreciation of its counterpart, as discussed in the lecture?
  • Video class: Lecture 24. Who Speaks for the Race? 49m
  • Exercise: What was the primary message conveyed by the phrase 'quota queen' used against Lani Guinier during her nomination in the early years of the Clinton presidency?
  • Video class: Lecture 25. Who Speaks for the Race? (continued) 51m
  • Exercise: What is a defining characteristic of the American conception of freedom?

This free course includes:

19 hours and 30 minutes of online video course

Digital certificate of course completion (Free)

Exercises to train your knowledge

100% free, from content to certificate

Ready to get started?Download the app and get started today.

Install the app now

to access the course
Icon representing technology and business courses

Over 5,000 free courses

Programming, English, Digital Marketing and much more! Learn whatever you want, for free.

Calendar icon with target representing study planning

Study plan with AI

Our app's Artificial Intelligence can create a study schedule for the course you choose.

Professional icon representing career and business

From zero to professional success

Improve your resume with our free Certificate and then use our Artificial Intelligence to find your dream job.

You can also use the QR Code or the links below.

QR Code - Download Cursa - Online Courses

More free courses at History

Download the App now to have access to + 3300 free courses, exercises, certificates and lots of content without paying anything!

  • 100% free online courses from start to finish

    Thousands of online courses in video, ebooks and audiobooks.

  • More than 48 thousand free exercises

    To test your knowledge during online courses

  • Valid free Digital Certificate with QR Code

    Generated directly from your cell phone's photo gallery and sent to your email

Cursa app on the ebook screen, the video course screen and the course exercises screen, plus the course completion certificate

+ 9 million
students

Free and Valid
Certificate

60 thousand free
exercises

4.8/5 rating in
app stores

Free courses in
video and ebooks