HIS 140Z: Early American History. The course examines the history of areas that came to compose the United States by 1840. The majority if the course will be devoted to the formation of the "United States of America" along the Atlantic coast and the westward progression of that country across the North American continent. As a class, we will examine the major cultures, demographic trends, military conflicts, and political and religious structures that shaped the growth of the US before 1840. This course stresses historical content but, just as important, hones critical thinking skills concerning how we as Americans interpret history. This course is an asynchronous online course. (3 credits)