HST 2014 - History of US World’s Fairs

3 lecture hours 0 lab hours 3 credits

Course Description
While this course focuses primarily on the World’s Fairs held in the US from 1856 to 1984, it will also contextualize these fairs with those happening around the world. Using the World’s Fairs as a lens will allow the course to examine the ingenuity, creativity, and evolution of the United States. The World’s Fairs will give students the chance to examine economics, gender relations, race relations, the US’s constantly shifting position in global discussions. This course meets the following Raider Core CLO requirement: Exhibit Curiosity. (prereq: none)

Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Connect past trends to contemporary issues
Understand the significance of World’s Fairs, especially in terms of economic, socio-political, cultural and innovation trends
Dissect the evolution of World’s Fairs and how that evolution reflects the US’s image on a global scale
Identify key players in architecture, inventions, and entertainment
Recognize the significance of the World’s Fairs in terms of popular culture
Demonstrate how world events reflect and influence domestic events
Explain how World’s Fairs were microcosm of larger US culture

Prerequisites by Topic

None

Course Topics

Brief overview of US history to the Civil War
Fairs in the Age of Industrialism
The Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago
H. H. Holmes and the era of serial killers
Fairs in the Age of Imperialism
The Temperance Movement and Prohibition
Fairs between the World Wars
Fairs of the Post-War Era including the Space Race
Fairs of the Cold War
Proposed Future Fairs in the US
Significant international World’s Fairs

Coordinator
Dr. Jennifer Farrell

Announcement

The Raider Return

Milwaukee School of Engineering

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HST 2014 - History of US World’s Fairs