Key Issues in American Foreign Policy Up to World War II 4219-SG017
The course will focus on the process of gradual rise of the United States to a position of the world nuclear superpower in less than two centuries. In such a relatively short period of history the newly-born Republic, a weak post-colonial nation became first local, then regional and continental power. After first one hundred years of its existence, marked by such dramatic internal conflicts like a Civil war, it s joined the "club" of world powers. At the end of World War One the USA, the chief winner, proposed a new international order that aimed at making any future war impossible. It was then that for the first time almost all nations accepted American plan for the new world order. Even the later withdrawal of American support of this idea and return of most Americans to isolationist sympathies did not change the United States position as a world power. During World War Two the USA first acted as a neutral "Arsenal of Democracy", then, since 1941, played a role of chief coordinator of Allied efforts. In 1945 the United States was the number one of the victorious powers - for the second time in less than thirty years. The possession of atomic bomb made America the one and only superpower for next few years. Political, military, geographic and economic factors making that process possible will be analyzed using American source material (diplomatic documents, press articles, memoirs and correspondence).
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Upon completing this course student:
1. KNOWLEDGE
a/ Knows basic facts in the history of US foreign policy since the creation of the nation up to the end of World War II
b/ Recognizes complex relations of the USA with other nations during that period
c/ Has a basic knowledge of the varieties of methods of American diplomacy and foreign policy in general up to the mid-20th Century
2. SKILLS
a/ Identifies and recognizes relations between the regional role and policies of Great Powers and their neighbors
b/ Is able to explain the reasons for the steps being taken by the consecutive Administrations of the United States in their foreign policies of given periods employing his or her knowledge of historical sources
c/ Formulates his or her own judgments concerning interpretations of doctrines and practices of American foreign policy in historical perspective
3. COMPETENCES
a/ Understands and appreciates role of the USA in World History - after 1945 too
b/ Is able to formulate his or her own opinion about tjhe still controversial issues of judgment of the steps taken by the USA
in the period the course focuses on
c/ Completes and improves his or her knowledge in the field of the history of American foreign policy
Assessment criteria
Active participation in the classes (40%); presentation on one of the subjects discussed, chosen by student and approved by teacher (30%); 5-page end of semester essay on a subject on a subject accepted by teacher (30%) and a short interview with teacher before the deadline for graduation.
In a case of course taught online only:
Active participation in the classes (10%); presentation on one of the subjects discussed, chosen by student and approved by teacher (25%); quizzes at some classes (20%); comments on chosen fragments of primary sources assigned to the 2 – 4-person groups (20%); and a 5 page end of semester essay on a subject accepted by teacher (25%).
Bibliography
The Annals of America, Chicago 1976, tomy 10-16
Richard Hofstadter (ed.) Great Issues of American History. From Revolution to Civil War. 1765-1865, New York 1958
Henry L. Stimson: On Active service in Peace and War, New York 1948
Harry S. Truman: Memoirs, New York 1953, tom 1.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: