Welcome to HIST 1302 Online
United States History, 1877-
Part II: America in the Turbulent Twentieth Century
In this half of the course you will learn the background and causes of the United States’ participation in the two bloodiest wars in world history as well become conversant with the nation's struggle with economic collapse during the Great Depression. You also will learn about the rise of a new post-World War II rivalry between the U.S. and the Soviet Union which defined much of the rest of the century's international relations. And, from your readings in the text, you will learn about revolutionary social developments that reshaped much of American life in the last half of the twentieth century.
Your Assignments for Part 2
1. Answer two essay questions from the "Essay Questions" below (submit via Blackboard, Course Tools, Assignments).
2. Summarize seven offsite web pages (submit via Blackboard, Course Tools, Assignments).
3. Complete the Course Website Quiz 1; this is an un-timed quiz. (complete in Blackboard, Course Tools, Assessment)
4. Complete the Textbook Quiz 1; this is an un-timed and open book quiz. (complete in Blackboard, Course Tools, Assessment)
5. Complete the Final Exam in the Testing Center. (in person)
Readings
First, read chapters 24-31 in the textbook.
Course Web Pages
1. Background to the War Nobody Won: World War I, 1914-19182. Depression and New Deal, 1929-1940s
3. An Overview of U. S. Foreign Policy, 1901-1941
4. Origins of the Cold War: Developing a Foreign Policy of Containment, 1945-1953
5. The "Second" Red Scare: Fear and Loathing in High Places, 1947-1954
While reading the course web pages, explore the the links provided to offsite web pages which provide details on particular topics.
Menu of Essay Questions
Select any two (2) of the following eight choices and write a factually accurate, well-written and thoughtful essay in which you demonstrate your command of the reading assignments on this site, the linked sites and the text. The essays will be evaluated for their substance (accuracy and detail), insight (level of analysis and thoughtfulness) and writing (adherence to format requirements, mechanics [spelling, punctuation, grammar], clarity and ease of expression). Do not be intimidated by the questions. Once you have given yourself time to read the textbook assignments and read and explore this site, your confidence in your ability to answer these questions will increase. If you have questions, call me at (972) 881-5834 or email me at Kwilkison@ccccd.edu.A. The War Nobody Won: World War I, 1914-1918. Describe both the long term and the immediate causes of World War I in Europe. Generally characterize the outcome of the first two-and-a-half years of the war. What was U.S. policy toward Europe during this period? Why did the U.S. change its policy? With which major powers did the U.S. eventually ally itself? Would you describe President Woodrow Wilson’s war goals as mainly successes or failures? Did the U. S. benefit from its intervention?
B. Depression and New Deal, 1929-1940s. Explain why the U.S. economy was at such a low point when Franklin D. Roosevelt became President in 1933. Describe the Roosevelt Administration’s response to the Depression. Some analysts have claimed there were two New Deals. What differences do they point out? What sparked the "Second New Deal?" Give your brief assessment of the New Deal’s long-range impact on American society.
C. An Overview of U. S. Foreign Policy, 1901-1941. Describe and summarize U. S. foreign policy from the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt to the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt. What three major periods does your instructor identify during this era? What is the basis for that classification?
D. World War II, 1939-1945. Examine the impact of World War II on these four civilian populations: African-Americans, Japanese-Americans, American women and European Jews. This question may be successfully answered based only on your reading assignment in the textbook.
E. Describe and explain the "containment" policy of the United States and analyze the application of that policy by the United States between 1947-1953.
F. Describe and explain the development of the red scare which took place in the late 1940s and 1950s. What role did Senator Joseph McCarthy play? Why did the red scare diminish by the mid-1950s? What did the American people learn from this whole episode?
G. How and why was significant civil rights and other social legislation enacted during the mid-1960s? What was the short-term and long-term significance of that legislation? What does that era teach us about change in America?H. Trace the course of the conflict in Vietnam that led up to U.S. intervention. Characterize the length and scope of U.S. involvement. What finally became of the conflict?
Internet Web Page Summaries
Select seven web pages that you find linked within the text of topics 1-5 above and write one paragraph each summarizing the contents. For example, topic #1 above, "Background to the War Nobody Won: World War I, 1914-1918," contains the link "The Three Emperors’ League." Students wishing to select that website would simply follow the link in blue text, read its contents and write a paragraph summarizing what they learned.