Fall
2003 Tues./Thurs
9:30-10:45 DuSable 422
Office:
Zulauf 618 Office Hours:
Tues/Thurs 8:45-9:15, 11:00-12:00 and
by appointment
Ph:
753-6815 email:
rfeurer@niu.edu
website: http://www.niu.edu/~td0raf1/index.htm
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will cover important
themes in U.S. History from 1960 to the present. Key themes we will explore are
the challenge to the status quo in the 1960s; the response to and legacy of
that challenge, the conservative political agenda of the late 20th
century, deepening inequality in the capitalist global order, an understanding
of 9/11 and U.S. foreign policy.
Although I will lecture to provide
context that is not provided in the readings, this course will require you to
engage in discussion of the readings and videos. Readings are assigned for each
class, and I expect you to come prepared, having read and reflected on them.
You should read to determine the arguments, perspectives, and conclusions of
the author and prepare your comments about them.
REQUIREMENTS:
This course
is a lecture/discussion course. The grade for this course will be based on:
1) Attendance, preparation, and participation
in class discussions—25%
If you miss
more than 2 classes, you should expect your grade to be seriously affected. If
you don’t prepare for class, your grade will be seriously affected. There are 2
times during the semester, on September 23 and October 14, that you are
required to attend something outside of class.
2)
Unannounced quizzes. 20% of grade; at least 8 over the course of the semester.
These quizzes are designed to provide motivation to read the assigned material
before coming to class.
3) Two take-home exams on the course material – 20% each,
40% total; Due October 16 and December 9
4)
Analytical oral history written assignment.
15%; The deadlines for this will be determined by who your choice is for
an interviewee.
READINGS:
Isserman
and Kazin, America Divided: The Civil War of the 1960s
Bruce
Shulman, The Seventies: The Great Shift in American Culture, Society and
Politics
Rahul
Mahajan, The New Crusade: America’s
War on Terrorism
Gabriel
Kolko, Another Century of War?
Additional
readings available from my website http://www.niu.edu/~td0raf1/index.htm
COURSE DATES AND TOPICS
August 26-28 Introduction to the
Course, Life in the Postwar Order
Read for
August 28: Isserman and Kazin, America Divided, 1-23
September 2: The Opening to the
Sixties: The Black Freedom Movement
Read:
Isserman and Kazin, America Divided, 23-45; on-line reading
September 9: Vietnam: introduction
Read: America Divided, 67-83, on-line reading
September 11: “Lies, Deceptions and Conspiracies”
Read: America Divided 85-105; on-line reading
Read: America Divided 107-149; on-line reading
Read: America
Divided, 147-194; on-line reading
Read: America Divided , 195-220, on-line reading
September 23: View Hearts and
Minds— time and location TBA –this is required.
Read: America
Divided 221-240; on-line reading
Read: America
Divided 296-300; Seventies,
23-52; on-line reading
Read: The Seventies 1-20 America
Divided 301-309
America Divided 249-267 Seventies 78-101
October 14— Michael Honey on King’s Legacy: required attendance
Tuesday evening--Time and Location TBA—
October
16—midterm due
Read:
On-line
Read:
Seventies, p. 102--143, 193-217; on-line reading
Read: Seventies,
218-241; on-line reading
November
6: The
Making of the modern global corporate order:
Read: Begin
Mollie’s job
November
11-13 Mobile
Capital, Migrating Workers
Read:
Conclude Mollie’s Job
November
18: Iran-Contra and terror in the 1980s
Read: Review Seventies, 218-229, on-line
reading
November
20: End of
the Cold War through Gulf War
Kolko Another
Century of War, 1-85
November
25: From the
Gulf War to 9-11 November
27—no class, Thanksgiving break
Begin New
Crusade; on-line
December
2: Background
to 9/11
New
Crusade, discuss
entire
December
4: The
Military Industrial Complex and the New Global Order
Kolko,
86-150
Final
Take-home Paper is due to the history office on December 9, 10:00 a.m.