A post WW II contemporary history class that will focus on the United States during the Cold War. It will focus both on internal politics and culture, as well as external politics. Topics not usually covered in history classes will be emphasized. This will include an in depth analysis of the struggle for Civil Rights in the 60's, various feminist movements that materialized during the 70's, as well as topics often given short shrift in standard history classes such as urban decay, crime, the AIDS epidemic, and the vast cultural shifts that occurred in 80's, including Reaganism and the rise of the Religious Right. Foreign policy that will be covered includes the Vietnam War, the US's role in the Soviet-Afghan war during the 80's, Perestroika and the fall of the Iron Curtain in the late 80's and early 90's. There will be many opportunities for discussion in the class, and students will be given opportunities to debate what the proper role of the government in society should be, as well as what role the US should play in the international sphere as the world's only remaining economic, cultural, militaristic, and political superpower.