HISTORY 352 - Seminar:Wealth,Power & Prestige.The Upper Class in American History

Institution:

Hobart William Smith Colleges

Subject:

Description:

Exercising power that is entirely disproportionate to their small numbers, elites have shaped American society by making political and economic decisions and by influencing cultural values. This seminar explores the history, social composition, and power of elites in American history by asking questions such as: What groups should be considered elites Who belongs to elites, who doesn't, and why How have the makeup and authority of elites changed in U.S. history How do elites use power and understand themselves and their roles How do elites seek to legitimate themselves in a society that prizes democracy and that, since the mid-20th century, has increasingly valued egalitarianism What is the importance of elites for social inequality, economic growth, and race, ethnicity, and gender How are changing understandings of rank, class, wealth, and equality reflected in the cultural realm, especially in the "self-help" literature How is opposition to elites expressed politically and culturally (Hoo d, offered alternate years

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

WWW.HWS.EDU

Phone Number:

(315) 781-3000

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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