This course will explore baseball and Americanism. What does it mean that baseball is the national pastime? What does national pastime even mean? What about national? When you think of the United States, what do you think of? Is baseball a part of that? These are some of the aspects we are going to delve into throughout this course. We are going to spend some time discussing how baseball reflected American culture at the time. In some instances, we will discuss how baseball reflected what people wanted American culture to look like, or appear to be.

Enroll in course

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

Course 3 of 4 in the American History Through Baseball Specialization.

What You Will Learn

- Gauge the role of nationalism in American history.

- Survey institutions, such as the U.S. presidency, in shaping baseball.

- Investigate how American identity is tied to baseball.

Syllabus

WEEK 1

Continental Expansion and Beyond

In this module we will cover topics surrounding the Civil War, reconstruction, the Indian Wars, and the Spalding Tour.

WEEK 2

Imperial Reach

In this module we will cover topics surrounding baseball and the early American empire, leading up to WWI.

WEEK 3

The Inter War Years

In this module we will cover topics surrounding the 1920s, the Great Depression, and the New Deal.

WEEK 4

The American Century

In this final module we will cover topics surrounding baseball and WWII, a post war world, and the Korean war.

American History Through Baseball Specialization