FYS HST11 - An Alcoholic History of America

4 Hour(s) Credit
Undertake an introductory exploration of American history and society through the lens of drinking habits and policies from colonial times to the present. Studying the history of drinking offers an alternative look at American society. The so-called “liquor question” has historically been enmeshed with issues of ethnicity, gender and class, as well as economics, public policy, civil liberties and labor history. What was the relationship between changing drinking habits and various forms of control like temperance and prohibition? Why did the working-class saloon become such an American institution and why did it die out? Why did national prohibition become law? Studying the cultural politics of drinking provides a window into modern American society and helps us understand today’s attitudes, customs and policies around alcohol.
Three hours per week with enhancement
Meets General Education: First Year Seminar (FYS)
May Not Receive Credit for Both if a second FYS is taken. Taking a second FYS will replace the original FYS grade, regardless of topic.