Monday & Wednesday, 2:30 – 3:45 p.m.

3 credit hours, Distribution Credit: COLL A&H

American history tells the story of immigrants who came to this
country, but Americans who leave the United States seem to leave
American history. What are their stories? What are the stories of
those who moved from place to place within it? How does our
understanding of American history change if we consider the
experiences of American expatriates and migrants and the places to
which they moved?
To tell the story of the United States as a nation of emigrants and
migrants, “Leaving America” will consider such questions as: Why did
they leave? What factors did race, gender, class, and age play? How
did they choose their new home? Was it an improvement? Did they stay
away permanently? Why has American history largely ignored
expatriates? What motivates 21st century Americans to leave?
Leaving America” will seek answers to these questions through an
examination of historical writing and documents, movies, television
shows, and works of fiction, through class discussion, and through a
portfolio of writing and research projects.