HIS 396.60, Topics in US History: The End of the Century, 1975-2000 more

The End of the Century American History from Vietnam to 9/11 HIS 396.60 – DEC K – Skill 4 Monday & Wednesday – 3:30pm-4:45pm Office Hours: 2:00-3:00pm + by Appointment Email – Seth.Offenbach@stonybrook.edu The purpose of this course is to help students understand American history at the end of the twentieth century. The twentieth century ushered in the rise of America as the world’s most formidable power. During the last twenty-five years of the century, the Soviet Union collapsed, leaving America as last remaining hegemony in the world. Despite the rise to world dominance, the United States suffered much internal turmoil and discord. We will explore how American life changed during these years and what happened which helped to create our contemporary culture. Overall Course Goals: One of the goals of this course is to help students gain a series of critical thinking skills applicable not only to the course material but to their entire university experience and professional careers. This means I will ask that students focus on your writing and thinking abilities. Additionally, it is important that students learn to think and present their opinions in public. Thus, classroom discussion is a vital part of this class. The ultimate goal of this class is that students will be able to realize the ability to better negotiate the complexities of contemporary society and culture. Course Requirements: Attendance in this course is mandatory. Excessive, unexcused absences will result in automatic failure regardless of your grades in coursework. Additionally, if a student does not hand in any single assignment, they will automatically fail this course. Technology: Students should note that in the twenty-first century, technology has become an integral part of our lives. With technology come technological complications. Last minute computer malfunctions, printer problems, and email mishaps are no excuses for late material. Please be prepared and protect yourself by managing your time and constantly backing up your work in multiple places. Should you have a problem, you must notify the instructor immediately and without hesitation. Grading: Grades represent the instructor’s interpretation of how your work has progressed throughout the semester. Your grades are a combination of your work compared to your natural ability and that of your classmates. Attendance – 10% Participation – 12% Paper topic – 3% Mid Term – 20% Research Paper – 25% Final Exam – 30% Any student requiring special accommodations must notify the instructor as soon as possible. Failure to do so will jeopardize your receiving those accommodations. Required Reading: Retrieving the American Past by Seth Offenbach (Coursepack) The Long Road to Baghdad by Lloyd C. Gardner Morning in America: How Ronald Reagan Reinvented the 1980s by Gil Troy The Disuniting of America: Reflections on a Multicultural Society by Arthur Schlesinger The book is available for purchase through the Barnes and Noble bookstore on East 18th Street and 5th Ave in Manhattan. It is the student’s responsibility to have the book purchased before the second lecture. Plagiarism: Academic dishonesty is a serious offense and will be treated as such. All work submitted by students must be original work. Any attempt to pass someone else’s work off as your own will be penalized and action will be taken. Additionally, if you are found guilty of any academic violations, the instructor will recommend the most severe penalties – including expulsion – to the Academic Judiciary Board. If you have any questions about plagiarism and academic honesty, the instructor strongly recommends that you consult with him. Communication: Should any issue arise that keeps you from completing any assignment in a timely fashion, it is imperative that you notify the instructor immediately and prior to the assignment’s due date. Proper communication will help ensure that accommodations can be made to help you finish your work without a severe penalty. Failure to communicate with the instructor in a timely fashion may result in serious penalties along with a failure to offer any accommodations. Additionally, if you find that you are falling behind the class at any time, it is the student’s responsibility to speak with the instructor. Course Schedule Monday – January 31 - Introduction Wednesday – February 2 – The 1950s/60s Begin Reading: Morning in America Monday – February 7 – Discussion: 1950s and 1960s Culture  Retrieving the American Past, p4-26  Martin Luther King, “A Time to Break Silence” http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/45a/058.html  YouTube Video: Duck and Cover http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2kdpAGDu8s Wednesday – February 9 – Vietnam Monday – February 14 - Watergate & Détente Wednesday – February 16 - Jimmy Carter & the American Dream Monday – February 21 – NO SCHOOL Happy Presidents’ Day! Wednesday – February 23 – Discussion: Gay Rights in the 1970s  Retrieving the American Past, p29-49  See Blackboard for further readings Monday – February 28 – Feminism in the 1970s Wednesday – March 2 – The Birth of the New Right Monday – March 7 – Discussion: Women’s Rights and the New Right  Retrieving the American Past, p51-71  Hand-out: Catherine Rymph, Republican Women, “Going Down in Flames: Republican Feminism and the Rise of the New Right” Wednesday – March 9 – Movie: Red Dawn Monday – March 14 – Discussion: Morning in America Wednesday – March 16 – IN CLASS MID TERM Begin Reading Disuniting of America Monday – March 21 – Discussion: Reagan’s Early Cold War  Retrieving the American Past, p134-168  See Blackboard for additional readings Wednesday – March 23 – Culture and Race Monday – March 28 – Discussion: Declining Race Relations  Retrieving the American Past, p75-95  See Blackboard for additional readings Wednesday – March 30 – 1989 & the End of the Cold War Monday – April 4 – Discussion: The End of the Cold War  Hand-out: Home Fronts, “The Paradox of North’s Popularity”  Hand-out: John Lewis Gaddis, The Cold War: A New History, “The Triumph of Hope” Wednesday – April 6 – Discussion: Disuniting of America Monday – April 11 – Individual Meetings with Instructor all week Wednesday – April 13 – The 1990s Economy & Culture BEGIN READING The Long Road to Baghdad Monday – April 18 – No School (Spring Break) Wednesday – April 20 – No School (Spring Break) Monday – April 25 – No School (Spring Break) Wednesday – April 27 – Creating a Uni-Polar World Monday – May 9 – Living in a Post- 9/11 World  America First Hand, “Daughter of America”  Major Problems in America Since 1945, “In the Wake of 9/11” Wednesday – May 11 – Discussion: Culture of the 00’s RESEARCH PAPERS DUE IN CLASS Monday – May 16 – Discussion: A Long Road to Baghdad Wednesday – May 18 – Final Exam Review Friday – May 20 THROUGH Wednesday – May 25 - FINAL EXAM WEEK Final Exam Date Determined by Registrar’s Office In Class Final Exam is mandatory Students who miss the final exam for legitimate medical reasons and provide documentation will receive an incomplete in the course. All other students who decide not to attend the final exam will automatically fail the course. © All lectures and assignments are the official copyright of the Seth Offenbach. Stony Brook University students of HIS 396.60 may record and keep records of the class for personal usage, but you may not share your material with anyone outside of the classroom without express written permission of Seth Offenbach, nor may you post the material on the Internet.