The first half of the course will focus on the United States's emergence as a world power, its projections of influence in East Asia and Latin America, and its involvement in World War I and the peacemaking that followed. The second half will concentrate on American economic policy and strategy in the 1920s, the origins of World War II, the diplomacy of the Second World War, and the wartime origins of the Cold War. Lectures and readings will introduce you to historical controversies and conflicting interpretations of events, which you will be expected to analyze critically in writing and discussions. The following books are required reading and should be available at the bookstores and at the closed reserve desk at the Main Library.
Attendance is mandatory at all class meetings.
Attendance will be taken, at random, five times during the quarter, and you will earn one point for each time you are recorded present. All students must be officially enrolled in the course by the end of the second full week of the quarter. No requests to add the course will be approved by the department chair after that time. Enrolling officially and on time is solely the responsibility of the student. Both exams will cover material from lectures and assigned readings and will consist primarily of essay questions.