Introduction to United States History: Reconstruction to the Present (saylor.org)

Offered by Saylor.org,
Introduction to United States History: Reconstruction to the Present (saylor.org)

This course will introduce you to United States history from the end of the Civil War in 1865 through the first decade of the twenty-first century.

This course will introduce you to United States history from the end of the Civil War in 1865 through the first decade of the twenty-first century. You will learn about the major political, economic, and social changes that took place in America during this nearly 150-year period. The course will be structured chronologically, with each unit focusing on a significant historical subject. The units will include representative primary-source documents that illustrate important overarching political, economic, and social themes, such as the growth and expansion of political representation and civil rights in America, industrial development and economic change, race and ethnicity in American society, and cultural change over time. These primary documents offer you insights into the thinking of people who directly witnessed and experienced these historical developments. By the end of the course, you will understand how the United States grew from a relatively weak and divided agricultural nation into a cohesive military and industrial superpower by the beginning of the twenty-first century.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Modern Revolutions (saylor.org) Saylor Academy
Saylor.org

Modern Revolutions (saylor.org)

In this course, you will gain a better understanding of the modern world by studying some of the most important political revolutions that took place between the 17th century and today. You will seek to understand the causes of each revolution, analyze the ideologies that inspired the revolutionaries, examine revolutionary uses of violence, and consider how historical revolutions still shape contemporary politics.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
History of Rock, Part Two (Coursera) Coursera
University of Rochester

History of Rock, Part Two (Coursera)

This course, part 2 of a 2-course sequence, examines the history of rock, primarily as it unfolded in the United States, from the early 1970s to the early 1990s. This course covers the music of Led Zeppelin, the Allman Brothers, Carole King, Bob Marley, the Sex Pistols, Donna Summer, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince, Metallica, Run-DMC, and Nirvana, and many more artists, with an emphasis both on cultural context and on the music itself. We will also explore how developments in the music business and in technology helped shape the ways in which styles developed.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
The Holocaust: The Destruction of European Jewry (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Santa Cruz

The Holocaust: The Destruction of European Jewry (Coursera)

The Holocaust: The Destruction of European Jewry is an adaptation of an on-campus course that has been co-taught by Murray Baumgarten, Distinguished Professor of English and Comparative Literature (Literature Department), and Peter Kenez, Professor Emeritus (History Department), for over 20 years at UC Santa Cruz. In this course, you will explore the Holocaust from the overlapping perspectives of literature and history—through memoirs, historical documents, poetry, documentary footage, filmic representations, and novels.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
War and American Society (saylor.org) Saylor Academy
Saylor.org

War and American Society (saylor.org)

This course will focus on the wars and military conflicts that have shaped the social, political, and economic development of the United States from the colonial era through the present. You will learn how these conflicts have led to significant changes in America social and political life during this 300-year period.

Legacy Course
Self-Paced
Iniciación a los Jeroglíficos Egipcios (Coursera) Coursera
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Iniciación a los Jeroglíficos Egipcios (Coursera)

¿Te apasiona la historia y la cultura del antiguo Egipto? ¿Sientes fascinación por las lenguas y los sistemas de escritura de las civilizaciones de la Antigüedad? ¿Te atrae la idea de adentrarte en el secreto de los jeroglíficos egipcios y comprender las claves de su lectura e interpretación? ¡Si es así, este es tu curso!

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Arch of Titus: Rome and the Menorah (Coursera) Coursera
Yeshiva University

Arch of Titus: Rome and the Menorah (Coursera)

The Arch of Titus: Rome and the Menorah explores one of the most significant Roman monuments to survive from antiquity, from the perspectives of Roman, Jewish and later Christian history and art. The Arch of Titus commemorates the destruction of Jerusalem by the emperor Titus in 70 CE, an event of pivotal importance for the history of the Roman Empire, of Judaism, of Christianity and of modern nationalism. Together with your guide, Professor Steven Fine, you will examine ancient texts and artifacts, gaining skills as a historian as you explore the continuing significance of the Arch of Titus from antiquity to the very present.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks