Course Details in 2026/27 Session

Module Title	LH Advanced Option: Terrorism in the USA: From the Klan to Al Qaeda to White Power
School	History and Cultures
Department	History
Module Code	09 38755
Module Lead	Steve Hewitt
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-10 hours Seminar-20 hours Guided independent study-170 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	Although viewed as a 21st century phenomenon, the modern roots of terrorism date from the latter half of the 19th century. This is certainly true of violent extremism in the United States of America. Violent extremism there has come in a variety of types, including racist terrorism, right-wing terrorism, anarchist terrorism, left-wing terrorism, ethno-nationalist terrorism, environmentally motivated terrorism, misogynist terrorism, and religiously motivated terrorism. This module provides an in-depth examination of various types of terrorism that have occurred in the United States. The approach includes examining the groups and individuals who have carried out attacks and the responses of the American state to violence. The module will do so through a theoretical, thematic, and chronological approach from the 19th century with the emergency of the Ku Klux Klan all the way to the 21st century and ongoing white power terrorism that will include a weekly detailed examination of relevant primary sources.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: analyse and explain key events and historical processes relevant to the subject under scrutiny, analyse and explain reasons for and implications of these events and processes (including analysis of primary evidence where appropriate) compare and evaluate the main scholarly views on the subject under investigation, critically evaluate the historiographical context and trends of the subject under exploration work with an appropriate degree of learner independence to explain and analyse the material under scrutiny summarise, analyse and evaluate the subject material clearly and effectively in writing, synthesise and evaluate themes across a wide range of diverse material
Assessment
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: S1 = 1 x 3,000 word essay (100%)
Other
Reading List