History of Leisure and Sport in America

This course examines the evolution of leisure and the role of sporting activities in the development of American culture from the colonial period to the present. The first part of the course looks at the growth of leisure time and its experiential qualities (class, gender, and ethnicity) in Early America. The second part focuses on the distinctive post-industrial construction of leisure time and the rise of modern sports in recent America. Students will examine why Americans needed these “pastimes” and how this need changed over time, accounting for the political, economic, and social significance of leisure and sports in America.