The third lecture of our series America 250: Society, History, Politics. With Dr. Robert Zwarg.

Many of the images and ideas associated with the United States of America today can be traced back to the 19th century and the process called the "westward expansion“. Much more than a concrete material settlement process, the westward expansion informs the U.S.’ understanding as a nation and has had a enormous impact symbolically and ideologically. The lecture will trace some of the motifs that eventually created the image of the „Wild West“ and analyze them within the framework of the Frankfurt School of Critical Theory. 

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America 250: Society, History, Politics. This public lecture series explores the history of the United States from the precolonial age and early settlement through American Independence and the Civil War. Against the backdrop of the 250th anniversary of the United States, the series takes a historical perspective to better understand where the country stands today.

By examining key historical turning points, debates, and conflicts that shaped American society, politics, and identity, the lectures offer valuable insights into contemporary developments in the United States. Understanding America’s present through its past allows for a deeper and more nuanced view of current political, social, and cultural dynamics.

The lecture series is open to students and the general public and invites all interested audiences to engage in discussion and critical reflection on the history and present of the United States.

A cooperation between the Institute for American Studies Leipzig and the German-American Institute Saxony.