HIST 377: U.S. Women's History: 1870 to 2000

HIST 377 at the University of Maryland Global Campus is a three-credit examination of the history of women in the United States from 1870 to the eve of the twenty-first century.

The goal is to examine primary and secondary sources to comprehend and articulate the impact of gender on the historical experiences of American women.

The catalog notes that methodologies focusing on race, class, ethnicity and sexuality are used to analyze varied experiences, and the relationship between those experiences and larger forces such as social movements, technology and changing family roles is evaluated. The main challenge is avoiding a single story of what women's experience was.

What HIST 377 Covers

The catalog describes the approach rather than a unit list. The table groups typical content; your syllabus sets the schedule.

Key Concepts Explained

Gender as a Category of Analysis

Gender is not just a topic but a lens. Ask how expectations about women and men shaped a policy, a job or a movement.

Intersectional Approaches

Experiences differ by race, class, ethnicity and sexuality. Avoid treating "women" as one group; compare at least two groups when you can.

Women and Larger Historical Forces

Link women's experiences to events such as wars, economic change and technology. Ask both how those forces changed women's lives and how women shaped them.

Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them

The catalog does not list assessments, so these are typical. Confirm in your syllabus.

Finding Women's Voices in Sources

Women's perspectives can be harder to find in official records. Look for diaries, letters, periodicals, organization papers, oral histories and court records.

Note the limits of each, and say whose voices your evidence does not include.

Writing an Argument, Not a Catalog

A common weakness is a list of notable women. Instead, make a claim about change, such as how a technology or law altered options for some women more than others, and use individuals as evidence. Explain what each example proves and where it was unusual.

A Study Plan You Can Adapt

A thematic plan helps keep different groups of women visible. This invented plan can be adapted.

In each stage, include at least two groups of women, differing by race, class or region.

Where Students Get Stuck

• Biography lists. Build an argument, not a roll call.
• One universal women's experience. Compare across race and class.
• Presentism. Use the terms and context of the time first.
• Thin sources. Seek varied voices.
• Weak links to larger forces. Tie examples to movements, wars or technology.

Study Tips for HIST 377

• Keep a timeline from 1870 with movements and legal changes.
• Tag each source by group (race, class, region).
• Use library databases for periodicals and archives.
• Write one sentence on what gender adds to each topic.
• Revisit your thesis after each reading.

How We Help with HIST 377

Send the assignment prompt, rubric, readings and feedback. A history writer can prepare a custom essay, explain a source or review your draft. The research paper help guide covers structure and sourcing.

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