Introduction to American Studies

• What do you know about America?

• Why do we study America?
• What is the significance?
 What is
American Studies?

What is American Studies?

 What is
American Studies?

• American Studies explores the United

States through its history, diverse
cultures and global role

What is American Studies?

 What is
American Studies?

• American Studies is different to many

other degree courses because it
combines a number of subjects including:
History, Literature and Politics

What is American Studies?

 American Studies offers
you choice

• You can study subjects together:

• History and Literature
• Foreign Policy and Film
• Politics and International Relations

What is American Studies?

 Why study
America?

Because of its cultural richness and diversity

Because of its power and influence

What is American Studies?

 Because of its
cultural diversity

Its many vital, exciting and complex cultures

draw on such traditions as the African
American, Asian American, Hispanic,
European and Native American traditions

What is American Studies?

 Because of its powerful
influence

America is often described as the only

remaining “superpower” in the world. After
the end of the Cold War, America emerged as
the most powerful nation in the world
because of its economic and military strength

What is American Studies?

 Because of its powerful influence

And the culture of the United States – its art,

literature, TV, film and music – has a huge
impact around the world.
These attract large international audiences
and often influence the cultures of other
nations

What is American Studies?

 Because of its powerful
influence

Whether you believe this is a good or

bad thing it is vital to investigate and
understand the cultural, economic and
military power of the United States and
its effects on the rest of the world

What is American Studies?

 Because of
its history

In its short history the United States has

been shaped by:
mass immigration civil war
imperial
revolution ambitions
colonisation democracy
slavery
What is American Studies?
Because of its history

All of these are not issues that belong to the

past, they are crucial to understanding the
modern world we live in

What is American Studies?

 Because it raises global
issues

So American Studies gives you insight into

topics and ideas that are interesting and
relevant

What is American Studies?

 WHY COME
TO AMERICA?
 DANGERS
-SHIP WRECKS
-DISEASE
-STARVATION
-ATTACKS BY NATIVES
-WILD ANIMALS
-FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN
 MOTIVATING FORCES
• RELIGION (Personal)
• MONEY (Personal)
• EMPIRE (National)

• Push and pull factors

• Puritan
 ENGLISH
SETTLERS IN
VA.
ROANOKE ISLAND
The Lost Colony
• Founded for
economic
reasons by the
English.
• 1st permanent
English
settlement
Massachusetts Bay
Colony
SETTLED BY PURITANS
PLYMOUTH
• settled by
separatists from
the Church of
England to
avoid
persecution
The Mayflower
PENNSYLVANIA
• settled by
Quakers in
search of
religious
freedom
 GEORGIA
settled by debtors from
prisons in England
Tribal Sovereignty:
 Identity

• One’s Identity as member of a tribe:

1.Determined by blood quantum test
2.Determined by traditional methods
of the community