History 7442: US Diplomatic History (fall 2015)
This course explores US foreign relations from independence to the present.
Requirements
- Research Paper: 50%
- Participation: 30%
- Study Questions/Supplementary Reading: 20%
Books: (all available through amazon.com, at link below)
- John Lewis Gaddis, George F. Kennan: An American Life
- Felix Gilbert, To the Farewell Address
- Piero Gleijeses, Conflicting Missions: Havana, Washington, and Africa, 1959-1976
- Thomas Hietala, Manifest Design
- Efraim and Inari Karsh, Empires of the Sand: The Struggle for Mastery in the Middle East, 1789-1923
- Fredrik Logevall, Embers of War
- Erez Manela, The Wilsonian Moment
- Nigel Hamilton, The Mantle of Command
- Michael Oren, Ally
- Hans Schmidt, The United States Occupation of Haiti, 1915-1934
My Contact Information:
- email: kcjohnson9@gmail.com
- cell: 207-329-8456
- skype: kcjohnson9
Schedule:
September 1: Origins of U.S. Foreign Policy
- Felix Gilbert, To the Farewell Address
- U.S. Constitution & ratifying debates–foreign policy matters
September 8: Expansionism [study questions: Beth]
- Thomas Hietala, Manifest Design
Supplementary Reading: Robert May, Southern Dream of a Caribbean Empire: Lawrence Bosket
September 15: No class–college closed
September 22: No class–college closed
September 25 (Tuesday class day, per college schedule: Growth of U.S. Power (articles will be e-mailed) **Course Paper Topic Due** Study questions: Lawrence
- Cyrus Veeser, “Inventing Dollar Diplomacy,” Diplomatic History 27, pp. 302-328.
- Michael Devine, “Was James G. Blaine a Great Secretary of State?,” Diplomatic History 27, pp. 689-694.
- Daniel Rodgers, “In Search of Progressivism,” Reviews in American History 10, pp. 1-21.
- Stephen Valone, “‘Weakness Offers Temptation’: William H. Seward and the Reassertion of the Monroe Doctrine,” Diplomatic History 19, pp. 583-600.
Supplementary Reading: (Walter LaFeber, The New Empire): Emma Timothee
September 29: International Relations of the 19th Century Middle East Study questions: Emma
- Efraim and Inari Karsh, Empires of the Sand: The Struggle for Mastery in the Middle East, 1789-1923.
Supplementary Reading: (James Field, United States and the Mediterranean World; Samir Zaimi
October 6: Wilsonianism Study questions: Samir
- Erez Manela, The Wilsonian Moment
Supplementary Reading: (Thomas Knock, To End All Wars): Marina Cowal
October 13: Interwar Imperialism [study questions: Marina]
- Hans Schmidt, The United States Occupation of Haiti, 1915-1934
Supplementary Reading: (Akira Iriye, After Imperialism): Timothy Dillon
(Emily Rosenberg, Financial Missionaries to the World): Jessica Drain
October 20: Reading Day
October 27: Onset of War [study questions: Timothy, Jessica]
- Nigel Hamilton, The Mantle of Command
Supplementary Reading:
(Julian Hurstfield, America and the French Nation): Yunis Esa
(Akira Iriye, Power and Culture): Aliza Friedman
November 3: Containment [study questions: Yunis, Aliza]
- John Lewis Gaddis, George F. Kennan: An American Life
Supplementary Reading: (Melvyn Leffler, A Preponderance of Power): Christopher Furnari
(Thomas Alan Schwartz, America’s Germany): Mary Gallagher
November 10: Vietnam [study questions: Christopher, Mary]
Supplementary Reading: (Thomas Alan Schwartz, Lyndon Johnson and Europe): Kristen Mattina
- Fredrik Logevall, Embers of War
November 17: Third World Adventurism [study questions: Kristen]
Supplementary Reading: (James Mann, The Rebellion of Ronald Reagan): Javier Medina
(James Baker, The Politics of Diplomacy): Jeanette Cohen
- Piero Gleijeses, Conflicting Missions: Havana, Washington, and Africa, 1959-1976
November 24: The Road to 9/11 [study questions: Javier, Jeannette]
Supplementary Reading: (Lawrence Wright, The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11): Miriam Sicherman
(Samantha Power, A Problem From Hell): Lukas Bergmann
- Steve Coll, Ghost Wars
December 1: The Obama Era [study questions: Miriam, Lukas]
Supplementary Reading: (Robert Gates, Duty): Beth Manes
- Michael Oren, Ally
December 8: Review Session
KC Johnson 