HIS4324 – The American Century: U.S. Foreign Relations since 1898
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
Arguably no other nation has done as much to shape the world we live in today as the United States. This course explores the rich and highly contested historiographical debate on the nature and legacy of this influence. The course begins with the United States’ victory in the Spanish-American War, then moves on to discuss the transformation of American power during the First World War, and then debates over the United States’ "retreat" from world affairs during the Interwar Period. After examining the United States’ rise to superpower status after 1945, the course examines the roots of the United States’ confrontation with the Soviet Union, before discussing dilemmas of American power during Cold War, including the impact of the Vietnam War and the domestic struggle for civil rights on U.S. foreign policy. The course concludes by examining how and why the United States emerged as the world’s sole superpower after the collapse of the Soviet Union and questions whether it still retains this status today.
Employing a range of primary sources, this course contrasts this established diplomatic history of the United States with more critical historiographical approaches. These aspects include the influence of gender on the United States’ war against Spain, the reaction to the U.S. rise to power from the perspective of the Global South, and the role of non-governmental organizations in shaping U.S. foreign policy during the 1970s.
Employing in-class student presentations and discussions, and culminating in a collaborative reflection exercise, the course examines fundamental questions regarding the essential nature of American power and reflects on how debates about the past continue to shape the evolution of U.S. foreign relations into the twenty-first century.
Learning outcome
When you have completed this course, you will be able to:
- Identify periods, themes, and key questions relating to the history of the United States and the world since 1898.
- Understand, evaluate, and compare different interpretive approaches to this history.
- Examine primary sources and understand how they underpin these interpretations.
- Reflect on the present-day influence of these historiographical debates.
- Develop and express your own arguments relating to these points, both orally and in written form.
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester?register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.
Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures.
Recommended previous knowledge
30 credits in humanities or social sciences.
A good ability to read and write in English is required for this course.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with HIS2324 – The American Century: U.S. Foreign Relations since 1898.
- 10 credits overlap with HIS2424 – America and the World since 1898: Middle East Politics in Transatlantic Perspective.
- 10 credits overlap with HIS4424 – America and the World since 1898.
Teaching
The course will be in a seminar format. Students will deliver prepared presentations on the assigned secondary texts and primary sources to start off the seminars. Please read the primary and secondary reading for each week, so that you will be able to take part in the in-class discussions.
Resources and information for this course will be provided in?Canvas.
Compulsory assignments:
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Students must write a proposal for their final term paper, formulating a research question relating to a key theme of the course and explaining how they will address it. Acceptance of the proposal, after possible revisions, is a prerequisite for submitting the final paper. Further information will be provided in the first class.
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Students must present at least one piece of research and associated primary source from the reading list during the in-class seminars.
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Students must participate in 8 out of 10 seminars.
This is how you apply for a valid absence from compulsory activities/compulsory attendance.
Examination
The course is assessed by a term paper. Your paper must not exceed 4500 words, notes included. Attachments and/or bibliography are not included in the word count.?
Examination support material
You should familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to?the use of sources and citations. If you violate the rules, you may be suspected of?cheating/attempted cheating.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.
Explanations and appeals:
Resit an examination
Special examination arrangements:
Application form, deadline, and requirements for?special examination arrangements
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.