This is a 10-week seminar, starting on February 20, 2017.
Moderator: Rich Szlosek
Co-moderator: Glenn Swanson
Day and Time: Monday, 1:30-3:30
Format: Seminar
Location: Smith College, Lilly Hall 3rd floor, Northampton
(parking permit required; provided to participants by moderator)
In this seminar, we will consider how life in the U.S. changed from 1912-1920, an era including the two administrations of Woodrow Wilson and World War I, by examining the lives and policies of the most influential men and women of the times.
The period of 1912-1920 was undoubtedly one of the most tumultuous eras in US history, with the country becoming much more involved in world affairs, including a world war, as well as experiencing the start of revolutions in transportation, communication, and social transformation. In this seminar we will examine the lives and policies of many of the influential people of that era, men and women, internationalists and isolationists, politicians and non-politicians, to see how those individuals affected life throughout the country.
Please note, while the effects of the war will certainly be covered, this will not be a course about World War I and its battles, but rather an examination of the lives of the decision and policy makers, and other important people of the era, and how life in the U.S. was affected by those individuals.
Role of participants:
Participants will be asked to choose an individual from a list provided by the moderator and present a 25-30 minute report on that person, leading a short discussion afterward.
Resources:
There are countless books on the World War I era and participants will be free to choose the appropriate resources for the subject they choose to report on. A list of some possible resources will be provided at the Preview.
About the Moderator:
Rich Szlosek is a retired attorney and this is the 12th seminar he has led. Glenn Swanson is a retired high school history teacher and published author with a special interest in American history.