HIST 343 - Imperial Nature: The United States and the Global Environment

Cross-Listed as ENVI 343

Although the United States accounts for just five percent of the world’s population, it consumes roughly twenty-five percent of the world’s total energy, has the world’s largest economy, and is the world’s largest consumer and generator of waste. Relative to its size, its policies and actions have had a significantly disproportionate impact on global economic development and environmental health. Mixing broad themes and detailed case studies, this course will focus on the complex historical relationship between American actions and changes to the global environment. Meets global and/or comparative history requirement. Meets the History post-1800, and the global and/or comparative history requirements, and can count towards “Environment,” or “Law and Social Justice,” or “Global/Comparative” fields. Offered occasionally. (4 Credits)