SC361-6-FY-CO:
American Society: Ethnic Encounters in the Making of the USA
2024/25
Sociology and Criminology
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 27 June 2025
30
10 June 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BA LL36 Social Anthropology,
BA LL3P Social Anthropology (Including Year Abroad),
BA LL6P Social Anthropology (Including Placement Year),
BA LL37 Social Anthropology with Human Rights,
BA LL38 Social Anthropology with Human Rights (Including Year Abroad),
BA LL39 Social Anthropology with Human Rights (Including Placement Year)
In this module, we will examine the social, political and economic encounters between the European settlers, American Indians, African-Americans and Latino migrant groups that have shaped the social and political development of the United States.
The first term will primarily deal with social and political relations between European settlers/white Americans and Native American Indians. We begin with the early English colonisation of North America, proceeding with Westward expansion, and federal policies including moving Native Americans to reservations and removing children from their parents. We finish the term by looking at contemporary issues such as the industrialization of Native American landscapes, ill health and alcohol abuse on reservations, and the new and exciting social movements associated with Native American cultural revitalization.
The Spring term is divided into two sections – Black-White Racial Politics (Weeks 16-21) and Immigration and Borders (Weeks 22-25). We will start our focus on the relationships between Euro-Americans and Afro-descended peoples, examining how the European idea of race was a shaping constituent of the experience of white and black people from enslavement to the present. We will look at the contemporary and historical aspects of slavery then concentrate more recent histories of racial segregation, the civil rights and anti-poverty reforms of the 1960s, racial justice and the ongoing racial disparities in health. The second section will look at the US-Mexico border as a flash point of ethnic and cultural conflict. This conflict is played out in the very history of the region – annexed by the US in 1848 – and continues through the need of the US economy for cheap labour. Throughout we will describe and analyse immigration policies from the Bracero guest worker’s to Trump’s ‘beautiful wall’. All along we will emphasize how the past and the present cannot be separated.
By the end of this module students will be expected to be able to:
- Further understand American Society and Ethnic Encounters in the making of the United States
Compulsory module for some third year students
Available as full option
Available as a half option (SC361-3-AU Autumn, SC361-3-SP Spring).
Available as an Outside Option
Available third year students
This module will be delivered via:
- One 2-hour seminar each week.
Face-to-face attendance is expected.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Critical Reflection 1 |
|
25% |
| Coursework |
Critical Reflection 2 |
|
25% |
| Coursework |
Critical Reflection 3 |
|
25% |
| Coursework |
Critical Reflection 4 |
|
25% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Colin Samson, email: samsc@essex.ac.uk.
Professor Colin Samson
Jane Harper, Student Administrator, Telephone: 01206 873052
E-mail: socugrad@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dr Umut Erel
Open University
Senior Lecturer
Dr Paul Gilbert
University of Sussex
Senior Lecturer in International Development
Available via Moodle
Of 38 hours, 38 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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