HI 305: THE UNITED STATES IN THE WORLD MONDAY

HI 305: THE UNITED STATES IN THE WORLDMONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY, 2:30PM-3:20PM,WALC B058Professor: David C. AtkinsonEmail: atkinsod@purdue.eduOffice: University Hall 25Office Hours: By appointmentCOURSE OVERVIEWThis course explores the central issues and themes of American foreign relationsduring the twentieth century with a primary focus on the expansion of Americanpolitical, military, economic, and cultural power and the broader global context ofAmericans’ engagement with the world. We will begin by exploring the United States’emergence as a world power at the end of the nineteenth century, a process thatculminated in the Spanish-American War and the United States’ acquisition of acolonial empire in the Caribbean and the Pacific. We will then turn our attention toAmericans’ experience in the First World War, and Woodrow Wilson’s failed attemptto remake the international state system. We will then assess the United States’ rolein the world as it languished in economic depression and as tensions intensified inEurope and Asia, culminating in the Second World War and the United States’emergence as the preeminent world power. We will trace the early strategiesemployed by American policymakers toward the emerging Soviet threat(containment, NSC-68, and Massive Retaliation). We will also explore the UnitedStates’ increasing involvement in the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America, withparticular focus on the Arab-Israeli Conflict, U.S. support for “friendly” dictatorshipsin the Western Hemisphere, and American involvement in the Vietnam War. We willconclude by addressing the end of the Cold War, the United States’ role in the worldduring the 1990s, and the ongoing global War on Terror.LEARNING OUTCOMESThe course is designed to help you understand how and why the United Statestransformed from a relatively minor regional power in the nineteenth century intothe global power we recognize today. It will also introduce you to some of theinnovative ways in which historians are expanding our understanding of Americans’role in the world. Finally, this course will emphasize the often competing andconflicting nature of historical interpretation and encourage you to assess variousforms of primary source evidence to form your own conclusions about the UnitedStates’ place and experience in the world.

REQUIRED TEXTS George C. Herring, The American Century & Beyond: U.S. Foreign Relations,1893-2014 (2017)J. Samuel Walker, Prompt & Utter Destruction: Truman and the Use of AtomicBombs Against Japan (2016)Jeffrey A. Engel et al, America in the World: A History in Documents (2014)All of the books are available on Amazon and at the campus bookstores. All of thereading assignments listed in the course syllabus are required and it isimportant that you complete each week’s reading before you come to class, since thiswill allow you to participate effectively in class discussions.You must turn off your cell phone before class begins. Laptop computers arepermitted for note-taking only. Persistent texting, internet browsing, and otherdisruptive behavior will result in a reduction of your overall grade. I will be happy toanswer any questions you have so do not hesitate to email me (after class ).COURSE REQUIREMENTSGRADE BREAKDOWN: The following elements will constitute your final grade:Primary Source Reading ResponsesMidterm ExamAnalytical PaperFinal Exam(5 for a total of 25%)(25%)(25%)(25%)CLASS ATTENDANCE & LECTURESThis year is obviously going to be a little different than normal. Since this is a face-toface class, I expect everybody to be in attendance when you are healthy, but on thoseoccasions when you cannot due to quarantine of isolation, our class will live streamhere:Live stream URL: http://www.kaltura.com/tiny/zvixc.You can also watch recorded lectures later on Boilercast through our courseBrightspace 4Students should stay home and contact the Protect Purdue Health Center (496-INFO)if they feel ill, have any symptoms associated with COVID-19, or suspect they havebeen exposed to the virus. In the current context of COVID-19, in-person attendancewill not be a factor in the final grades, but the student still needs to inform theinstructor of any conflict that can be anticipated and will affect the submission of anassignment or the ability to take an exam. Only the instructor can excuse a student

from a course requirement or responsibility. When conflicts can be anticipated, suchas for many University-sponsored activities and religious observations, the studentshould inform the instructor of the situation as far in advance as possible. Forunanticipated or emergency conflict, when advance notification to an instructor is notpossible, the student should contact the instructor as soon as possible by email,through Brightspace, or by phone. When the student is unable to make direct contactwith the instructor and is unable to leave word with the instructor’s departmentbecause of circumstances beyond the student’s control, and in cases of bereavement,quarantine, or isolation, the student or the student’s representative should contactthe Office of the Dean of Students via email or phone at 765-494-1747. Our courseBrightspace includes a link on Attendance and Grief Absence policies under theUniversity Policies menu.You must turn off your cell phone before class begins. Laptop computers arepermitted for note-taking only. Persistent texting, internet browsing, and otherdisruptive behavior will result in a reduction of your overall participation andattendance grade. We will be happy to answer any questions you have so do nothesitate to email us (after class ).PRIMARY SOURCE READING RESPONSESFive primary source reading assignments will account for 25% of your final grade.There will be nine opportunities to choose from over the course of the semester.You will input your responses directly into Brightspace, and I will post the prompts afew days before the discussion. They will always relate to that week’s primarysource readings from the Engel book.You will have multiple opportunities over the course of the semester to completethese primary source reading responses, which will always be due on those Fridayswe have a scheduled discussion. You only need to complete five of these over thecourse of the semester, and it is entirely your choice when you complete theseassignments, as long as you complete a total of five.Each one should be 250 words in length, and each one is worth 0-10 points. Yourresponses are due through Brightspace by 10am on the day of the discussion.These are informal writing assignments. The purpose of these responses is not toimprove your writing skills but to stimulate thinking about issues, questions, andproblems raised by the primary sources we are discussing that week. The goal is foryou to discover, develop, and clarify your own ideas. You should do the appropriatereading; then sit down and write in response to the question for 20-30 minutes. Youwill not be assessed on things like spelling, organization, and grammar. But I will belooking for evidence that you are thinking seriously about the course materials. Youressays should show that you are wrestling with concepts explained in the reading andin lectures and that you have done your reading and thinking before attempting youressays. For the most part, you will be rewarded for the process of thinking ratherthan for the end product you deliver.

EXAMINATIONSThere will be two examinations this semester. Given the situation, these will be takehome examinations. The first examination will be due by 3:30pm Monday, March1. The date of the final examination will be announced once the schedule is available.Each examination will consist of short identification questions reflecting upon thesignificance of specific individuals or events from the class readings and a longeranalytical essay on a broader theme. I will provide further guidelines and informationas the semester progresses. If you miss an examination, you must contact me as soonas possible.Both exams will be a take home exam administered remotely.They will be due on Brightspace by 3:30pm on the assigned day.In order to prepare for these exams, I strongly advise you to take legible, constructivenotes throughout the semester, to regularly engage with the course lectures, and toconsistently reflect upon the main themes and issues raised in the course readingsand lectures. I will share more details as we get closer to the exams.ANALYTICAL PAPERAn analytical paper of 6 - 7 pages (double-spaced, 12-point font) is due throughBrightspace by 2:30pm on Friday, April 16. If you hand in your paper after thedeadline, you will be penalized 5 points for each additional day.This paper will provide an analysis of a primary source document or a collection ofdocuments (if they all relate to a single theme) NOT contained in the Engel reader.There are many published and online document repositories, and I will providefurther guidelines during the coming weeks. I will need to approve your document, soyou should plan to meet with me sometime in the first six weeks of the semester todiscuss your paper topic and document selection. You will be required to interpretand analyze your chosen document(s), analyze the historical context in which thedocument was written, convey what you understand to be the author’s intent—implicit and explicit—and assess to what extent you believe they were successfuland/or influential in their goals.CHEATING / PLAGIARISMPlagiarism refers to the reproduction of another's words or ideas without properattribution. University Regulations contain further information ondishonesty. Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are serious offenses,and will be treated as such in this class. You are expected to produce your ownwork and to accurately cite all necessary materials. Cheating, plagiarism, andother dishonest practices will be punished as harshly as Purdue University policiesallow. Any instances of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of F for the courseand notification of the Dean of Students Office. Please make sure that you are familiarwith Purdue’s academic integrity arning/honor-pledge.html“As a boilermaker pursuing academic excellence, I pledge to be honest and truein all that I do. Accountable together - we are Purdue.”