Introduction to Asian American History

This course provides an introduction to the histories of people of Asian descent in the United States from the late 18th century to the present. We will focus on the experiences of people with ancestries in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Central Asia, considering commonalities and differences by nationality, class, gender, religion, place, and other factors. Topics include orientalism in U.S. culture, immigration and exclusion, Asian American civil rights struggles, and the “model minority.” We eschew any claim that an “authentic” or “typical” Asian American experience exists, instead working from the idea that Asian Americans and their lives are multifaceted, complex, and dynamic. Course materials will include primary and secondary sources and incorporate interdisciplinary scholarship and approaches while being anchored in history.