week two
by Prof. Hangen - January 23rd, 2009
3. Mon 1/26 – Social History as history of workers
Begin reading Gutman’s essay – it’s long, so I broke it into 2 parts - Part 1 is here.
4. Wed 1/28 – Document: Herbert Gutman, “Work, Culture and Society in Industrializing America 1815-1919″
The second part of Gutman’s essay is here.
Questions to consider:
What do we learn about industrializing America from 1815-1919? Why those dates?
What does it mean to “industrialize”?
On whom does Gutman focus and why?
Gutman emphasizes continuities as well as changes. Can you find examples of Braudel’s “long duration” idea?
5. Fri 1/30 – Response paper due on Gutman (assignment will be posted by Monday)
Discussion in class is to be based on your papers, ideas from your reading – focusing on Gutman’s scholarly technique and on the importance of this essay in the field of social history. It’s considered “seminal.” Why?
