U.S. History follows a review of the nation’s beginnings and the impact of the Enlightenment on U.S. democratic ideals. The course traces the change in the ethnic composition of American society. An emphasis is placed on the expanding role of the federal government and federal courts as well as the continuing tension between the individual and the state. Students examine that rights under the U.S. Constitution comprise a precious inheritance that depends on an educated citizenry for their preservation and protection. Students study the major turning points in American history in the 20th and 21st centuries, and the emergence and impact of new technology and a corporate economy, including the social and cultural effects. They trace the change in the ethnic composition of American society; the movement toward equal rights for racial minorities and women; and the role of the United States as a major world power.