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History 201 : Twentieth-Century Global History to 1945
Fall 2014
Professor: Andrew Cavin
Email:
Office:
Office Hours:
Tuesday and Thursday - 5th - 3:20-4:40pm
Livingston Campus
Beck Hall 251
Course Description
“War is only a cowardly escape from the problems of peace.”
—Thomas Mann
This course will introduce students to a series of major events and processes in global history
between 1900 and 1945, a time of great upheavals, marked by the apogee of European imperial
power across the globe; the collision, conflict, and destruction of two world wars; the
dissolution of old empires; the emergence of new global distributions of political power;
challenges from women, colonial subjects, racial and ethnic minorities, and the working class;
innovative and often dangerous experiments in forging new utopias of social and political life;
and heinous crimes against humanity.
Our field is world history albeit with a focus on Europe, as Europe played a dominant role on
the world stage during this period. To make sense of this tumultuous time, we will reach back
into the late nineteenth century to set the stage, identifying the major social, technological, and
economic changes taking place, the main figures involved, and the ideologies which shaped
their worlds and influenced their actions. We will make extensive use of contemporary source
materials, including novels, letters, news accounts, films, art and music, in order to get a vivid
impression of the dynamism and excitement of this era as well as the horrific violence and
suffering.
Major topics will include:
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The global expansion of an industrial and capitalist economy
The major imperialist powers, and sources of resistance
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The ideologies which defined the period, including nationalism, liberalism, socialism,
and feminism as well conflicting ideas about progress, civilization, and modernity
The emergence of communist, fascist, and totalitarian governments
The rise of the US to global power
The social, economic, and political effects of World War I, the Great Depression, and
World War II
Course Objectives
1. Historical Knowledge
The first aim of this course is to provide you with an enhanced understanding of this period in
modern world history: the major events, figures, and topics, the relations between causes and
effects, ideas and actions, people and politics.
2. Critical thinking & Historical thinking
The second aim of this course is to enhance your cognitive abilities. History, like other
disciplines, teaches you how to think critically, analyze arguments, consider evidence, identify
assumptions, and construct your own interpretations. It also teaches you something unique,
the power of historical thinking, by focusing on questions of continuity and change, familiarity
and difference. The study of history provides greater understanding of oneself, one’s society,
and one’s world, by showing how these things came into being, and how they are transformed.
At the same time, through the encounter with different worlds, history encourages reflective
examination of one’s own beliefs and assumptions.
More specifically, you will learn how to:
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Read, summarize, and analyze works of primary and secondary historical literature.
Produce arguments based on evidence.
Write effectively, by practicing successful writing habits, such as planning, locating good
sources, taking good notes, drafting, responding to feedback, revising, editing, and
polishing the final product.
Required Texts and Films
Required Texts
Pamela Crossley et al., eds., Global Society: The World Since 1900, 3rd edition (Cengage
Learning, 2012)
William Bowman et al., eds., Imperialism in the Modern World: Sources and Interpretations
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M.K. Gandhi, Hind Swaraj and Other Writings
Salim Tamari, Year of the Locust: A Soldier's Diary and the Erasure of Palestine's Ottoman
Past
Christopher Browning, Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion and the Final Solution in
Poland
Recommended Texts:
Mary Lynn Rampolla, A Pocket Guide to Writing in History, 6th Ed. (New York: Bedford/St.
Martin’s, 2010)
This quick-reference guide provides an easy-to-read introduction to writing effective
history papers; it emphasizes critical reading skills and provides tips for evaluating
primary and secondary sources, conducting research, and avoiding plagiarism
through proper citation.
Required Films
Modern Times (1936)
Triumph of the Will (1935)
Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
The Wind Rises (2013)
Some films will be shown in class, others must be watched outside of class. These are required
viewing. I will usually organize an evening film screening, although attendance of the screening
is not mandatory. You are free to watch the film on your own time, as long as you complete the
viewing assignment before we discuss the film in class.
Course Requirements
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory. Everyone gets sick and has emergencies—you may miss a class or
two over the course of the semester. However, more than two unexcused absences or
persistent tardiness will negatively affect your grade: each unexcused absence will result in a
deduction of 2% in the final course grade. Attendance will be recorded on a sign-in sheet
available before the beginning of class. It is your responsibility to sign the attendance sheet.
Late arrivals and early departures are disruptive. If you arrive late, I will notice. More than two
late arrivals will impact your grade.
If you cannot attend class due to excusable circumstances (athletics, medical issues, etc.), other
arrangements may be made as deemed appropriate—please see me to discuss. Please note,
missing class does not absolve you from having to complete the reading and writing
assignments for that day. If you miss a quiz or in-class writing assignment, you will need to
complete a make-up assignment.
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The Rutgers Self-Reporting Absence Website is a system that asks students to take
responsibility for reporting their health and other emergency absences (much as they will be
called upon to do as employees after they leave us). The system then generates email notices
to instructors teaching these students. Website: https://sims.rutgers.edu/ssra//
Participation
Participation in class discussions is an integral part of the learning experience. Participation
includes asking questions and making observations, listening attentively to others, and
engaging in respectful debate. Since our discussion will be based upon the readings, it is
essential that you do the assigned readings before you come to class, and come prepared with
questions and ideas to share. You are not expected to be an expert; at the same time, quality is
more important than quantity. Class participation can be daunting, but it is a skill which we will
work to improve during the semester. If you are having difficulties speaking in class, please feel
free to come see me in office hours.
Assignments
Informal writing
Throughout the term you will complete several short informal writing exercises: these will
include in-class writing exercises as well as response papers. In-class writing exercises will be
collected; you must therefore bring to class a pen/pencil and paper. Response papers must be
completed outside of class. These will be short responses (about 300-400 words) to the reading
assignments, and in most cases I will direct your attention to particular questions.
These writings are informal; however, they should still be well-written and thoughtful. The
purpose of these writing assignments is twofold:
1) For you to gain practice and familiarity with expressing your thoughts in writing. Regular
writing is the best way to work through new ideas, retain information, and develop your
own perspective.
2) For me to assess your engagement with the course material and trace the development
of your thinking over the course of the semester.
These writings will not be graded, but they will be evaluated. If you make a serious effort, you
will get full credit. If you fail to turn in a paper, or I think you are not taking the assignments
seriously, your writing grade will suffer.
Quizzes
There will be occasional quizzes during the semester. These quizzes will assess your
comprehension and familiarity with the material. The first quiz will be announced. The others,
however, will be unannounced. You will be allowed to drop your lowest grade.
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Reading Introductions
Twice during the term you will be required to prepare before class a short “introduction” to the
reading material for that day. This includes a few sentences of synopsis and a few sentences
about how a particular reading is connected to the course themes; you must also make two
comments or questions you have about the reading. You must submit these notes to me before
class, and bring a copy to class, which you will use to introduce the reading to the class,
preparing the groundwork for our discussion.
Essays
There will be two short graded essays (800-1000 words) during the term.
Exams
There will be a midterm and a final exam assessing your achievement of the course goals. These
will be timed written exams, in which you will identify and explain major issues, identify people
or events, and write short essays. We will go over the format of the exams in class.
Grading Distribution
Participation, Introductions, Informal Writing, Quizzes:
Essay 1:
Midterm Exam:
Essay 2:
Final Exam:
25%
15%
20%
20%
20%
Class Format and Policies
The class period will combine interactive lectures and class discussions. Classes will frequently
include activities, such as in-class writing assignments, peer-review workshops and other types
of group assignments. In order for the class to work it is imperative that you come prepared by
doing the reading before class.
Accommodations
If you have individual learning needs or are in need of certain instructional and/or examination
accommodations please contact me within the first two weeks of the semester so that I can
provide or facilitate in providing accommodations.
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey abides by the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments (ADAA) of 2008, and Sections 504 and
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508 which mandate reasonable accommodations be provided for qualified students with
disabilities and accessibility of online information.
If you have not already done so, you will need to register with the Office of Disability Services,
Lucy Stone Hall, Livingston Campus, 54 Joyce Kilmer Ave., Suite A145. Phone: (848) 445-6800 •
Fax: (732) 445-3388.
Contact information for Disability Services:
Lucy Stone Hall, Livingston Campus
54 Joyce Kilmer Ave., Suite A145
Piscataway, NJ 08854-8045
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM until 5:00 PM • Friday 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM
E-mail Address: [email protected]
Phone: (848) 445-6800 • Fax: (732) 445-3388
Website: http://disabilityservices.rutgers.edu/
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is unacceptable. Plagiarism is not limited to copying another writer’s text – you are
also guilty of plagiarism if you use another author’s ideas and arguments without citation, even
if you word them differently. If you are caught plagiarizing the penalty will be a failing grade for
the course and referral to the Dean of Student Affairs.
Contact
I will respond to emails as quickly as possible, usually within 24 hours, except on weekends. I
will hold office hours weekly, and students are strongly encouraged to attend. If you are unable
to attend office hours due to a time conflict, I am happy to arrange another time to meet with
you. Office hours are an excellent opportunity to meet one-one-one in an informal
environment to discuss the course material, reading assignments, writing assignments, the
study of history, or your education in general. If you think you may need a letter of
recommendation at some point, you are also highly advised to see me in office hours.
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Schedule and Readings
Section 1. The World at a Tipping Point: 1900-1914
Week 1 — The World in 1900
Sept. 2 - Introduction
Doing history: primary and secondary sources
Understanding and questioning historical narratives
Activity: Reading, Interpreting, Debating
Sept. 4 - The World in 1900: Social, Technological, and Economic Change
Assigned Reading:
the Syllabus!
Rampolla, p.1-5
Crossley, “Chapter 1: The World in 1900,” p.1-32
Mini-quiz #1
Week 2 — The Life and Times of Nation-States
Sept. 9 - Nationalism and Liberalism / Unification in Germany and Italy
Herbert Spencer, “Progress: Its Law and Cause”
L.T. Hobhouse, “Liberalism”
GHDI, Documents on German Unification
Sept. 11 - The Bourgeoisie and its Others: Women, Workers, Socialists, Jews
Emmeline Pankhurst, “My Own Story”
Karl Marx and Fredrick Engels, Manifesto of the Communist Party
Week 3 — Imperialism & its Critics
Sept. 16 - Ideologies of Civilization and Progress
Michael Adas, “Machine as Civilizer”
Karl Pearson, “National Life from the Standpoint of Science”
Herbert Spencer, Illustrations of Universal Progress
Jules Ferry, “On French Colonial Expansion,” Modern History Sourcebook
Joseph Chamberlain, “The British Empire: Colonial Commerce and the ‘White
Man’s Burden’”
1904 World’s Fair, Filipino Exhibit, Documents and Images
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Sept. 18 - Anti-Imperialist Critiques
Edward D. Morel, The Black Man’s Burden
José Martí, “Mother America”
M.K. Gandhi, Hind Swaraj
Week 4 — Globalization and Modernization
Sept. 23 - The Rise of Japan
Crossley, “Ch. 2: Imperialism Encompasses the Pacific, 1900-1914,” p.33-58
“Emperor Meiji’s Letter to President Grant on Iwakura Mission, 1871”
Natsume Sôseki, Sanshirô, excerpt
Sept. 25 - The Ottoman Empire
“An Ottoman Government Decree Defines the Official Notion of the ‘Modern’
Citizen, June 19, 1870”
Section 2. World War I — The Great War
Week 5 — Total War
Sept. 30 - Origins of the War
Crossley, “Ch. 3: Great War, Little Peace, 1914-1918,” p.59-76
Rosa Luxemburg, “The War and the Workers” (1916)
Oct. 2 - War in the Trenches
Film clip: All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
Due: Paper 1
Week 6 — The War at Home and Abroad
Oct. 7 - The Homefront and the Influenza Pandemic of 1918
Crossley, “Ch. 3: Great War, Little Peace, 1914-1918,” p.78-84
Alfred W. Crosby, America's Forgotten Pandemic: The Influenza of 1918, excerpt
Oct. 9 - The War in the Middle-Eastern Theatre
“The Treaty of Sèvres and the Birth of Modern Turkey,” in The End of the
European Era, p.154-157
Salim Tamari, Year of the Locust: A Soldier's Diary and the Erasure of Palestine's
Ottoman Past (Introduction, p.1-19, and Ihsan Turjman’s diary, p.91-160)
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Week 7 — The War Ends: The Russian Revolution, the U.S. Enters the War, and Versailles
Oct. 14 - The Russian Revolution
Crossley, “Ch. 3: Great War, Little Peace, 1914-1918,” p.84-100
“Lenin Giving a Speech,” in Imperialism in the Modern World
Lenin, The State and Revolution, excerpt
Leon Trotsky, “In Defense of the Russian Revolution”
Oct. 16 - The Treaty of Versailles
Crossley, “Ch. 4: Internationalism, Empire, and Autarchy, 1919-1929,” p.101-115
Woodrow Wilson, “Fourteen Points Speech”
Woodrow Wilson, League of Nations Speech (1919)
Section 3. The Interwar Period
Week 8 — Aftermath of War
Oct. 21 - Internationalism, Empire, and Autarchy
Midterm Exam
Oct. 23 - The US between the Wars: The Roaring 20s, the Great Depression, and
F.D.R.’s New Deal
Crossley, “Ch. 6: The Economic Consequences of War and Peace, 1919-1938,”
p.172-197
Franklin D. Roosevelt, Fireside Chat, Sept. 30, 1934 (“Greater security for the
average man”)
Film clip: Modern Times
Week 9 — In the Shadow of Catastrophe: Europe in the 20s and 30s
Oct. 28 - Legacies of War: Unrest and Chaos in Weimar Germany
"The Treaty of Versailles: The Reparation Clauses" (1919), Weimar Sourcebook,
p.8-9
Paul von Hindenburg, “The Stab in the Back,” Weimar Sourcebook, p.15-16
Ernst von Salomon, "The Outlawed," Weimar Sourcebook, p.24-25
Emil Gumbel, "Four Years of Political Murder," Weimar Sourcebook, p.100-104
Visions of War and Weimar: German Expressionism
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Oct. 30 - Fascism in Italy / Communism in the Soviet Union
Crossley, “Ch. 7: The Murderous Politics of the 1930s,” p.198-223
Benito Mussolini, The Doctrine of Fascism
Sheila Fitzpatrick, “Palaces on Monday,” in Everyday Stalinism, p.67-88
Leon Trotsky, The Revolution Betrayed
Week 10 — National Socialism and the Crisis of Modernity
Nov. 4 - National Socialism in Germany
Wolfgang Benz, A Concise History of the Third Reich, excerpts
Joseph Goebbels, “National Socialism or Bolshevism?” (1925), p.127-129
Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf (1927, excerpt), Weimar Sourcebook, p.130-133
Joseph Goebbels, “Why Are We Enemies of the Jews?” (1930), p.137-138
The Degenerate Art Exhibition
Nov. 6 - Mass Culture, Modernity and Everyday Life
Siegfried Kracauer, The Mass Ornament: Weimar Essays (selections)
Film clip: Triumph of the Will (1935)
Evening Film: The Wind Rises (2013)
Week 11 — Old Empires and National Self-Determination
Nov. 11 - Nationalism and Communism in East Asia
Timothy Cheek, Mao Zedong and China's Revolutions: A Brief History with
Documents, p.1-21
Li Dazhao, “The Victory of Bolshevism,” in Bowman, p. 208
Ho Chi Minh, Letter to the US Secretary of State (1919)
Ho Chi Minh, “Equality” (1922)
Nov. 13 - Upheaval and Resistance in the Colonial World
Crossley, “Ch. 4: Internationalism, Empire, and Autarchy, 1919-1929,” p.115-136
Aimé Césaire, Discourse on Colonialism (1950) excerpt in Bowman, p.78-80
Section 4. World War II
Week 12 — World War II: Global Conflict and Mass Murder
Nov. 18 - The Path Towards War: The Spanish Civil War, Japan, and Germany’s
Expansion in Europe
Crossley, “Ch. 8: From Regional Wars to Global Conflict, 1936-1946,” p.224-254
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Nov. 20 - The Holocaust
Daniel Goldhagen, Hitler's Willing Executioners, excerpts
Christopher Browning, Ordinary Men
Evening Film: Letters from Iwo Jima
Week 13 — Representations of War & Historical Memory
Nov. 25 - The War in the Pacific
Continue discussion of Browning and Goldhagen
Discuss Letters from Iwo Jima
Due: Paper 2
Nov. 27 - No Class
Week 14 — The End of the War and the Emerging Postwar World
Dec. 2 - The War Ends: From Stalingrad to Hiroshima
Crossley, “Ch. 9: From the United Nations to a Bipolar World, 1945-1953,” p.255292
Dec. 4 - The United Nations, the Cold War, and the Third World
United Nations – Charter (1945) excerpt
United Nations – Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
WEB Du Bois, “Is it Democracy for Whites to Rule Dark Majorities?” (1945)
Week 15 — Conclusions
Dec. 9 - Review and Reflection
[A contemporary news or journal article to use as a demo for how students can
begin applying their knowledge of the course themes towards interpreting and
understanding contemporary issues; e.g. Tony Judt, "Israel: The Alternative,"
New York Review of Books]
Final Exam (Date TBA Dec 15 - 22)
Syllabus subject to change
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