Spring, 2002

MWF 11:00-11:50 am

This course will examine the major events of the past two centuries. We will begin with the French Revolution of 1789 and follow the course of history up to the past few decades. Along the way, we will explore major intellectual, social, economic, political and artistic movements that have had a profound effect on our world today. Some of the "isms" and "tions" that we will examine include nationalism, the industrial revolution, Marxism and communism, Darwinism and racism, romanticism, imperialism, and fascism. In addition, we will examine in depth the causes and effects of the major wars of the period, including World Wars I and II, and the Cold War. The objectives of this course are to familiarize you with past issues and events and to bring critical awareness to historical phenomena that still affect our world today.

Along the way of our journey through history, I hope that you will also learn more about the issues that directly affect you and your place within our society today by engaging in our scheduled and impromptu class discussions.

Instructor: Allison Thomason

Office: 1214 Peck Hall

Office Hours: M,W, F 10:00-11:00, W 12:00-1:00, or by appointment

Phone: 650-3685 (my office); 650-2414 (department office)

Email: althoma@siue.edu

Teaching Assistant:

Office: 0204-5 Peck Hall

Office Hours:

Phone: 650-3231 or -5462

Email:

Expectations of Students, Classroom Conduct, and Attendance Policy:

1. You are first and foremost expected to arrive on time, attend class alertly, conduct yourself with respect for your fellow students and myself, and participate in class discussions.
2. Consistent lateness to class, disrespectful treatment of or behavior towards others, and early departures will seriously affect your grade and can result in involuntary withdrawal from the course (for policies on Academic conduct, see the Student Conduct Code: www.siue.edu/POLICIES/3c2.html).
3. Lectures and readings may not cover the same material in the same manner, but you are responsible for the information contained in BOTH for your exams. If you have to miss a class, make sure that you get the notes from someone.
4. More than three absences will cause your attendance grade to drop and will ultimately have an effect on your final grade.
5. I have an absence-blind policy. This means that if you have to miss a class or two, I won’t ask you why you were not in class, nor do you need to tell me, but of course it will show up in the attendance records. If you miss more than three classes, then your attendance grade will be severely downgraded. If you have to miss a large chunk of classes, PLEASE COME SEE ME either after class, during office hours, or make an appointment with me so that we can discuss your situation.
6. In addition, I hope that you will contribute to the group and class discussions, and ask questions in class. This will not only help your attendance and participation grade, but it will also help you to become more engaged in the class, and therefore more prepared for exams and more understanding of history.

1. Cannistraro, P. and J. Reich, The Western Perspective. Harcourt, Brace,

1999. (C&R)—Textbook Rental

2. Weber, E., The Western Tradition, Volume Two, Fifth Edition. D.C. Heath, 1995—Textbook Rental
3. Hegi, U., Stones from the River, Simon and Schuster, 1997 —Purchase at University Bookstore
4. Supplemental Handouts which will be given in class.

There will be a midterm and a final exam consisting of both short answer and essay questions. In addition, there will be one map quiz. The written assignment, which will be handed out later in the semester will deal with the fictional novel that we will read, Stones from the River. The paper must be at least 5 typed pages, double-spaced, no more than 12-point font, and 1-inch margins.

Attendance and Participation: approx. 15% 100 points

Map Quiz 10% 50 points

Midterm Exam: 25% 150 points

Final Exam: 25% 150 points

TOTAL: 100% 600 points

Make-up Policy:

Make-up quizzes and exams will only be given in cases of unforeseen medical or family emergencies. You will need to contact me prior to the exam time if you would like to be excused from an exam. Make-up exams must be taken within one week of the original exam date and the exam time will be scheduled at the discretion of the graduate assistant and myself (in consultation with you). If you do not show up for a quiz or an exam and I did not excuse you ahead of time, you will receive a zero (0) on the exam.

Plagiarism and Use of Internet:

Plagiarism is the use of someone else's ideas or writing without giving credit to that individual. Plagiarism can take several forms. It can consist of paraphrase or word-by-word transcription; the uncited source can be a published work, from a website or discussion group on the internet, or the unpublished work of another student or acquaintance. It is every student's responsibility to know what plagiarism is and to avoid committing it. If you are in doubt, it is better to document a source than not to. The penalty for this offense, which is quite serious, is outlined in the Student Conduct Code (http://www.siue.edu/POLICIES/3c2.html.

Class topics are subject to change, Exam dates and Assignment due dates are fixed and will not change. Readings are all REQUIRED unless otherwise noted. All reading assignments should be completed by the day under which they are placed in the syllabus.

You will understand my lectures and contribute more if you read the sections that we will be discussing before you come to class. After hearing the lecture, you might also choose to go BACK OVER the reading to familiarize yourself even more with the topics, names, and dates.

Week 1: Monday: Orientation

Reading: Get a head start on next week’s reading

Week 2: Monday: The Old Regime

(Jan. 14-18) Wednesday: The French Revolution

Friday: The French Revolution, continued

Reading: C&R: 676-711, and 738-743

Weber: Rousseau=s The Social Contract, pp. 224-32

Week 3: Monday: NO CLASS: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

(Jan. 21-25) Wednesday: French Revolution and aftermath

Friday: Video and MAP QUIZ

Reading: C&R: 743-781

Weber: Declaration of the Rights of Man, p. 294-6

Week 4: Monday: Napoleon and France after 1815

(Jan. 28-Feb. 1) Wednesday: DISCUSSION: How do we define nationality?

Weber: Mazzini, On the Duties of Man, 391-94

Alexis de Tocqueville, Recollections,

Week 5: Monday: Capitalism and the Industrial Revolution

(Feb. 4-8) Wednesday: Capitalism and the Industrial Revolution, continued

Friday: Critiques of Capitalism: Socialism and Marxism

Friday: Darwinism and Racism

Reading: C&R: 894-99

Weber: on Darwinism, pp. 451-54, 457-8

Week 7: Monday: Artistic Movements of the 19^th century

(Feb. 18-22) Wednesday: Imperialism and Colonialism

Weber: on Romanticism, pp. 339-47

Handout: on Imperialism

You should have begun reading Stones from the River by now

Week 8: Monday: Imperialism and Colonialism, continued

(Feb. 25-Mar. 1) Wednesday: Bismarck and German Unification

Friday: World War I: Causes

Reading: C&R: 855-66, and 1005-1020

Weber: Bismarck’s writings: pp. 478-9

Week 9: Monday: World War I: Progress

(Mar. 4-8) Wednesday: World War I; Resolution

Friday: Russian Revolution

Weber: The Treaty of Versailles, pp. 537-39

Week 10: SPRING BREAK, No Classes

(Mar. 11-15)

Week 11: Monday: Russian Revolution, continued

(Mar. 18-22) Wednesday: The Soviet Union, Stalin

Reading: C&R: 1029-74

Weber: Mussolini, "Fascism", pp 586-593

Week 12: Monday: Adolph Hitler and the NAZIs

(Mar. 25-29) Wednesday: World War II: Causes and Progress Friday: World War II: Progress

Week 13: Monday: World War II: Resolution

(April 1-5) Wednesday: Video: "Genocide"

Friday: Video: "Genocide", continued

Reading: C&R: 1096-1107

Handout: on the Holocaust

Week 14 Monday: DISCUSSION of Video

(April 8-12) Wednesday: Recovery of Europe

Friday: DISCUSSION of Stones from the River

Reading: FINISH READING Stones from the River

Week 15 Monday: The Cold War: Korea, Kennedy and Kruschev

(April 15-19) Wednesday: The Cold War: Prague spring and Vietnam

Week 16: Monday: Video, continued and DISCUSSION of VIDEO

(April 22-26) Wednesday: Collapse of the Soviet Union

Friday: Loose Ends and Summary

Reading: C&R: 1181-85

Week 17: FINAL EXAM: Monday, April 29, 10:00-11:40 am