HIST 143 Migrations in the Americas
From the arrival of the first humans to the Americas some 13,000 years ago to the contemporary Central American refugee crisis, migration has continuously shaped and re-shaped human society in the Western hemisphere. This course offers a sweeping introduction to the history of migration in the Americas, covering pre-European migration and settlement in the Americas, the era of European conquest, the Atlantic slave trade, industrial migrations of the 19th century, and transnational migration after 1940. Coursework and readings will cover the demographic, political, economic, biological, and cultural impact of migrations in the Americas over this long period. Throughout the course, we will discuss how and why migration has always been such a deeply politically charged phenomenon, and why - despite the best efforts of kings, popes, and presidents - it has always been so difficult to control. This course counts as a foundational course in History or Political Theory within the liberal arts core requirements.
Prerequisite
Open to first-year students and sophomores only