DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
TRENT UNIVERSITY
HIST 3151H:
TRAGEDY AND TRIUMPH IN AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY, 1898PRESENT
“AMERICA THE INNOCENT” VS. AMERICA AS PERMANENT EMPIRE
WINTER SEMESTER 2015 Oshawa Campus
Instructor: Brian Thorn E-Mail (preferred method of contact): [email protected] Office
Phone #: 905-435-5100
Office: Trent Oshawa Faculty Wing Cubicles # 145
Office Hours: Mondays, 2:00-2:50 PM or by appointment.
Other times can be arranged if these hours are not convenient. I encourage historical
discussion inside and outside of class and am always pleased to see, talk, and/or email with you.
Class Meeting Times: Seminar/Lecture: Mondays 3:10-6:00 PM Location: Oshawa
Campus, Room 107
Please Check:
http://www.trentu.ca/admin/mytrent/Timetable/OshawaFWTimetable/TimeTableGen0.ht
m to confirm times and room location.
Administrative Contacts: Trent University Oshawa Phone #: 905-435-5100 E-Mail Address:
[email protected]
Administrative Coordinator: Amber Ashton, Phone #: 905-435-5102, ext. 5005. E-Mail:
[email protected]
Administrative Secretaries: Hailey Wright, [email protected], Joan Sirtonski,
[email protected] (These are your contacts for day-to-day administrative questions in
Oshawa).
Liaison: Anastasia Pheakos, Phone # 905-435-5102, ext. 5006, E-Mail:
[email protected]
Peterborough: History Department Administrator: Trisha Pearce, Office: LEC 101S
Telephone: 705-748-1011, ext. 7706
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
Note: This syllabus is final and cannot be changed.
What caused the increase in American foreign involvement after 1898? Has the U.S. ever
been an “isolationist” nation? How did Presidential politics, cabinet decisions, and business
leaders shape U.S. foreign relations? How did race, class, gender, and sexuality play roles in
American foreign policy? What was the “Open Door” policy in Asia and Latin America? Did the
1920s and 1930s represent a “break” with the rest of American diplomatic history? How did
World Wars I and II, Korea, and Vietnam shape and change U.S. history? What was the true
reason for the creation of NATO in 1949? Did the Iran Hostage Crisis, and the American
involvement in Iraq and Yugoslavia come about because of new ways of understanding
international relations? What has the post-9/11 world and the “War on Terror” meant for
Americans? Perhaps above all, is U.S. foreign policy related to Americans’ sense of identity
as a “chosen people”? Similarly, did domestic concerns drive U.S. foreign relations or did
international issues push forward domestic agendas? These are the main issues/questions
that we will be considering this term.
HIST 3151H will examine the main issues in American foreign relations from 1898 until the
present time, with a strong focus on the period since 1945. We will look at the major events in
American foreign policy during this period, as well as the different interpretations of these
events, and the major historians who have written on American foreign relations. We will look at
the Spanish-American War in 1898 and the beginnings of modern American foreign policy. We
will examine America’s ideology of individualism and “manifest destiny” and how these views
shaped American “Open Door” policy in Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. We will
examine World War I and the 1920s and 1930s and discuss how different Presidents, military
and business leaders, and civilians shaped official policy in Washington, D.C. and at the local
level. We will examine World War II and its immediate aftermath and how this laid the
groundwork for future American foreign relations. We will look at the Marshall Plan, the
establishment of NATO, the Korean War and the Cold War of the 1950s, and the Vietnam War
and the reshaping of the United States during the 1960s. Moving on to more recent topics, we
will examine CIA and American interventions in Iran, Chile, Cuba, Indonesia, Latin America,
and elsewhere during the 1970s and 1980s. We will examine Ronald Reagan and the end of
Communism, George H.W. Bush and the first Iraq War, and Bill Clinton’s interventions in
Somalia and the former Yugoslavia. We will conclude the course by discussing the post-9/11
world, the “War on Terror” and the Presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama. We
will discuss if these recent Presidential regimes represent continuity or change with earlier
administrations. We will examine “Old Right,” isolationist, neo-conservative, realist, liberal, and
leftist accounts of American foreign relations. We will attempt to look at the domestic and
international aspects of American foreign policy.
Throughout the course we will focus on diplomatic, military, and political history, but we
will attempt to combine this with social, cultural, and intellectual approaches to U.S.
history.
Grading:
Participation: 20% Based on attendance in seminar and oral contributions to
seminar discussions.
Short Review Essay (c. 5 pages): 15% Due Mon., Feb. 9th, 2015 .
Presentation and Notes for Presentation 15% Variable Dates. I will pass around a
sign-up sheet in the first two weeks of class.
Proposal for Term Paper (c. 4 pages) 15%. Due Mon., March 2nd, 2015.
Research Essay on Topic of Student’s Choice: 35% (c. 12-15 pages) Due Wed., April 15th,
2015.
Required Texts: (available through Follett at Trent University Oshawa):
Gabriel Kolko, The Age of War: The United States Confronts the World. Boulder, CO: Lynne
Rienner Publishers, 2006.
Dennis Merrill and Thomas G. Patterson, Eds., Major Problems in American Foreign Relations,
Vol. II: Since 1914. Seventh Edition. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010.
William Appleman Williams, The Tragedy of American Diplomacy. 50th Edition. New York:
W.W. Norton and Company, 2009.
Grading:
NB: I will let you know about 25% of your final grade (review essay, participation so far,
and proposal essay) by March 5th, the final add-drop date of the Fall Semester.
Participation: 20% This is based on attendance as well as your oral contributions in
seminar. We will have open discussions where the instructor will present questions to the class,
as well as debates, group work, and other activities designed to encourage interaction among
members of the class and with the instructor. I do take attendance and you will receive a grade
on participation each week (excepting the first week of classes and the week of the midterm
examination). Students who feel uncomfortable speaking in class are welcome to discuss their
participation grade with the instructor.
Short Review Assignment: 15% This will be due on Monday, February 9th and involves
you choosing one of the following topics and writing a five-page paper on it:
1.
Read up to page 59 (ie. pp. 1-59) of William Appleman Williams’s The Tragedy of
American Diplomacy. What does this author mean by the “Open Door”
Policy? Did this represent a break with earlier traditions in U.S. foreign
policy? Why or why not?
2.
Read chapter ten of Major Problems in American Foreign Relations (pp. 360-403). Why
did the Cuban missile crisis occur? Who was at fault for causing the crisis?
3.
Read chapter 11 of Major Problems in American Foreign Relations (pp. 406-44). What
did the Vietnam War mean for the United States? What, in your opinion,
was the real reason for the conflict in Vietnam? Was the war in Vietnam
connected more with international or domestic concerns (ie. concerns
related to the internal politics and economics of the United States)?
4.
Read chapter four (pp. 91-132) of Gabriel Kolko’s The Age of War. According to Kolko,
what led to the events of September 11, 2001? What were the
ramifications of 9/11 for the United States?
You will need at least two (2) sources outside of the main text that you use for this paper. Feel
free to come and see me or email me if you have trouble other sources. You could also consult
the footnotes of the text that you choose for suggestions for sources. As with the final paper, the
criteria for marking the essay will be: a strong argument/thesis statement, 2 or 3 points to back
up your main argument, and good, clear writing, including good grammar, spelling, and
organization. You will need footnotes or endnotes and a bibliography. We will discuss this
further in class.
Presentation and Notes for Presentation 15% I will pass around a sign-up sheet for this early
on in the course. You will choose a week that interests you and then lead the discussion for 45
minutes (approx.) of class. We want these presentations to be respectful, lively, informative, and
interesting! This is not to be a lecture so do not talk “at” the class! Assume that everyone
has done the readings for your chosen week. Come up with a list of questions for the class to
discuss and perhaps do something interesting or creative (show part of a video, play a musical
selection, engage the class in group work et al.) I will need your notes for the presentation (hand
written and/or point form is fine) so that there is a written record of it. Please do not hesitate to
get in touch with me if you have questions and/or concerns about the presentation or any other
aspect of the course! You may do the presentation in groups of two or three if you wish.
Proposal for Term Paper: 15% This will be due on Monday, March 2nd. Here, you simply need
to tell me about the topic that you have chosen for the major term paper that is due in April. This
should be around four pages. You need to briefly explain the topic to me, perhaps point to some
of the arguments that you might use for the term paper, and then discuss two or three of the main
historians who have written on the topic. Do not stress too much about this essay; it is meant to
get you started on the term paper earlier in the term so that it is not a surprise at the end of the
course. If you are having trouble coming up with a topic for the essay, please do not hesitate to
discuss it with me, either in person or over email!
Term Paper: 35% This will be due on Wednesday, April 15th and can be based on any topic
of your choice related to American Foreign Relations/Foreign Policy from 1898 to the present
time! It should be roughly 12-15 double-spaced pages (in Times New Roman Font preferably
and using Chicago Style for footnotes/endnotes). As with the review essay, it will be marked on
the basis of content and style. This should be based on some research (books, articles, online
articles) outside of the course material You will need at least eight sources outside of the course
readings for this essay. If you have any problems with this, or if you need help narrowing down
what you want to write on, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me!
Suggestions for Essay Topics: (you are also free to choose your own topic, or to take these
suggestions in other directions!)
1. How important was the Spanish-American War of 1898 in the broader scheme of U.S.
foreign policy? Was it a real turning point in American foreign relations? Why or why
not?
2. How did various U.S. interventions in different countries (choose one or two
nations/areas: Latin America, Middle East, Asia, Iran, Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico) shape
the policies of those nations as well as the U.S.?
3. How did a particular war (World War I or II, Korea or Vietnam, Iraq/Afghanistan) shape
American foreign relations and American domestic policy?
4. How did the increase in the “military industrial complex” (CIA, NSA, Pentagon) change
American history?
5. What impact did sexism, racism and/or homophobia have on American foreign policy
during the 1950s (or another decade)?
6. How has war and foreign policy become a key part of American culture in TV, radio, the
internet, or films? (choose a particular decade if you choose to do this topic: ie. the 1950s
or 1960s et al.)
7. What did dropping the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki mean for American
foreign relations? Was it necessary to drop the bomb to defeat Japan?
8. Was the United States or the Soviet Union primarily to blame for starting the Cold War?
9. How did a particular President (Woodrow Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt, FDR,
Eisenhower, JFK, LBJ, Reagan, Dubya), General (George Patton, John Pershing, William
Westmoreland, David Petraeus), or business leader/politician (Elihu Root, John Foster
Dulles, Donald Rumsfeld, Henry Cabot Lodge, William Jennings Bryan, Averill
Harriman, Henry Kissinger) influence American foreign policy?
10. What role has the United States played in the United Nations? Has that role been a
positive one?
11. Why have certain Americans opposed war in some historical periods? What role has the
“Old Right” (Robert Stuart, Robert McCormick, Charles Lindbergh, Burton Wheeler,
Eugene Siler, H.R. Gross, John T. Flynn, Ron and Rand Paul) played in American foreign
policy?
12. Is the United States, and the American Empire, unique in history? Why or why not? Is the
United States an “exceptional” nation? What are the ideological origins of American
foreign policy?
Deadlines: All deadlines are final. Late Assignments will be deducted 2% per day, after the
due date. Assignments more than two weeks late will not be accepted. Extensions will be granted
only on the basis of physical, mental, or emotional affliction certified by a recognized
professional.
HIST 3151H: LECTURE, SEMINAR, AND READING SCHEDULE
January 12: Introduction to the Course. Past Experiences, Background, Expectations. Key
Themes in American History and in the History of U.S. Foreign Relations. Questions to
consider: What are the intellectual origins of American foreign policy? Is the United States an
“exceptional” nation? Reading: William Appleman Williams, The Tragedy of American
Diplomacy, forward, pp. ix-xvii.
January 19: 1898-1920: The Spanish-American War and World War I. Questions to consider:
Was 1898 a turning point for U.S. foreign relations? Why? What was the “Open Door” policy?
Was Woodrow Wilson’s ideology typical of American Presidents? Reading: Williams, pp. 1-89,
Major Problems in American Foreign Relations, chapters one and two, pp. 1-67.
January 26: The 1920s and 1930s: The High Tide of American Isolationism? Questions to
Consider: Was the U.S. ever an “isolationist nation”? How might we describe the foreign
policies of Presidents Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover? Did the 1930s see the beginnings of the
American “national security state”? Reading: Williams, pp. 108-201, Major Problems, chapters
three and four, pp. 69-151.
February 2: World War II and the Onset of Modern American Foreign Policy. Questions to
Consider: How might we describe the performance of Franklin Delano Roosevelt during World
War II? Was the U.S. right to drop the Atom Bomb on Japan? Did the U.S. pursue a more
forceful role on the World stage after the war? Why? Reading: Williams, pp. 202-258, Major
Problems, chapter five, pp. 153-185.
February 9: The Onset of the Cold War and the Korean War. The Truman Doctrine and the
Marshall Plan and NATO. Questions to Consider: Who or what was responsible for the
beginning of the Cold War? What were the real reasons behind the Marshall Plan and NATO?
Why did the Korean War start? Reading: Williams, pp. 258-293, Major Problems, chapters six
and seven, pp. 186-274, Gabriel Kolko, The Age of War, pp. 1-12. Review Essay Due February
9th.
February 16: Study Week. No classes or readings.
February 23: Eisenhower-JFK: The “Military Industrial Complex” and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Questions to Consider: Why did Eisenhower warn against the growth of the national security
state? How might we describe the foreign policy of John Foster Dulles? Who was ultimately
responsible for the Cuban Missile Crisis? Reading: Williams, pp. 294-312, Major Problems,
chapters eight, nine, and ten, pp. 276-358
March 2: The Vietnam War, the 1960s, and American Relations with the “Third World.”
Questions to Consider: Was the U.S. justified in going into Vietnam? Was Vietnam different
than previous U.S. military adventures? How might we describe American relations with the
“Third World”? Reading: Major Problems, chapter 11, pp. 406-445, Kolko, pp. 13-59. Proposal
for Term Paper Due Today in Class!
March 9: Nixon, Kissinger, the 1970s, and Jimmy Carter. Détente with the Soviets. Questions to
Consider: Why is Richard Nixon considered the “last liberal President” in some circles? What
does this tell us about American politics and foreign policy? Why did Nixon recognize China
and pursue “détente” with the Soviets? Reading: Major Problems, chapter 12, pp. 447-497.
March 16: The 1980s and Early-1990s: The End of the Cold War and the Early Clinton Years.
Questions to Consider: Did Reagan actually “win” the Cold War for the U.S.? Why did the Cold
War end? How might we describe Bill Clinton’s foreign policy? Was it a break with that of
earlier American administrations? Why or why not? Reading: Major Problems, chapter 13, pp.
500-548, Kolko, pp. 61-90.
March 23: 9/11 and the Wars in the Middle East and Afghanistan. Questions to Consider: Why
did 9/11 occur? How did this change U.S. foreign policy? What was the “Bush Doctrine”?
Reading: Major Problems, chapter 14, pp. 551-594, Kolko, pp. 91-132.
March 30: American Foreign Relations in 2015 and Onward. What does the future hold? The
Obama Years. Questions to Consider: Do you think that a new paradigm for U.S. foreign policy
will emerge in the coming years? How have recent American wars influenced domestic policy in
the U.S.? Is it fair to describe U.S. foreign policy as being part of a “long war” since 1945?
Reading: Kolko, pp. 133-178, Williams, afterword, pp. 313-326.
Term Paper will be due by 11:59 PM on Wednesday, April 15th via email,
[email protected]!
Learning Outcomes: As a third-year course, HIST 3151H is intended to broaden students’
knowledge of American history and to use ideas from the history of U.S. foreign policy. We will
continue to build on methodologies, debates, interpretations, historical approaches, and skills
learned in first and second-year history courses. Students will further develop their skills in
research, analysis, interpretation, and problem solving, working with secondary sources, and
critically evaluating the ideas and arguments of major thinkers in the field of American foreign
relations. Students will be encouraged to make use of historical theories and historiography to
situate their own original arguments in the context of ongoing historical debates, and to assess
evidence critically. Students will evaluate and interpret information through seminar discussions
and debates, listening to and evaluating short lectures, and writing, exploring the relative merits
of different methodologies, interpretations, and approaches to the study of American foreign
policy. Students will hone their speaking and writing skills and write a research paper, based on
secondary sources and some limited primary sources. As a third-year course, students will hone
their understanding of the basic conventions of historical writing, the rules of academic integrity
and professionalism, the importance of personal initiative and accountability, and the evolving
nature of historical knowledge. Students should improve their abilities to communicate their
arguments to the instructor and their peers with clarity, accuracy, and logic through a research
paper and class discussions. Successful graduates of this course should understand more about
the conventions of historical writing, the rules of academic integrity and professionalism, the
importance of personal initiative, and the evolving nature of historical knowledge. They should
be in the process of improving their skills at evaluating historical writing through examinations
of sources, arguments, and methodologies.
University Policies
Academic Integrity: Academic dishonesty, which includes plagiarism and cheating, is an
extremely serious academic offence and carries penalties varying from failure on an assignment
to expulsion from the University. Definitions, penalties, and procedures for dealing with
plagiarism and cheating are set out in Trent University’s Academic Integrity Policy. You have a
responsibility to educate yourself – unfamiliarity with the policy is not an excuse. You are
strongly encouraged to visit Trent’s Academic Integrity website to learn more:
www.trentu.ca/academicintegrity.
Access to Instruction: It is Trent University’s intent to create an inclusive learning
environment. If a student has a disability and/or health consideration and feels that he/she may
need accomodations to succeed in this course, the student should contact the Student
Accessibility Services Office (SAS). For Trent University – Oshawa Student Accessibility Office
contact 905-435-5102, ext. 5024 or email [email protected].