PART 1: HISTORY 1. The creation of the United States. Revolution and independence of the Thirteen Colonies (1773-1815). 2. Border, migrations and reorganization of the system in the first half of the nineteenth century. 3. Secession and civil war (1861-1965). The end of slavery and the consolidation of contemporary American society. 4. Reconstruction and growth (1865-1914). International politics and birth of the American Empire. 5. United States and world wars in the twentieth century (1914-1945). Technological take-off and the welfare society (1945-1975). 6. Civil rights and social changes. The crisis of the American Empire in the last quarter of the 20th century (1975-1991). 7. The United States in the post-Cold War period. The reorientation of American hegemony in the face of the challenges of the new century (1991-2001). PART 2: POLITICS 8. Electoral behaviour and party politics in the USA. Internal debates and conflicts in the Democratic and Republican parties. The growing level of politi- cal polarization in the USA. 9. US foreign policy since the Cold War. The political, economic and military power of the USA in global perspective. Evolution of US relations with mul- tilateral organizations such as the United Nations and NATO. 10. The evolution of the modern Presidency in the USA. Principal problems of relations between the Executive and Legislative branches of government. 11. Interest groups in contemporary US politics. The influence of the private sector, organized labour, and religious organizations on the legislative pro- cess. 12. The role of race, ethnicity and immigration in contemporary US politics. 13. Trends in economic and social inequality in the USA. 14. Judicial politics in the USA. Principal debates on the power and political role of the Supreme Court.