HISTORY 770

          STUDIES IN U.S. DIPLOMATIC HISTORY, to 1941

                          Autumn 2004

                   Professor Peter L. Hahn

     This is a reading and discussion course; it cannot succeed unless each member of the class does both.  The purpose of the course is to master the literature on the history of U.S. foreign relations to 1941 and the major schools of thought and interpretive approaches in the field. To accomplish this task, we will hear reports on fifty to sixty books and read a number of articles and historiographical essays.  The historiographical essays will help us understand how the discipline has evolved, introduce us to books and essays not read in class, and enable us to put our reading in a larger context.  The goal is to learn to think like a historian, specifically a diplomatic historian, and to recognize the different ways in which specialists approach the discipline. 

     Each student must complete a substantial amount of reading, including both common and individual assignments.  Common readings will consist of essays and articles that must be read before each class session.  Individual readings will consist of eight to ten books assigned periodically over the course of the quarter.  For each weekly session, four to six students will report on the same number of books and the class will discuss the books and the common readings.  Individual assignments will be made as far in advance as possible.

     Reports on the books are due at 4:00 pm sharp on the Thursday preceding the class in which they are to be discussed.  Copies of the reports should be delivered to every member of the class by that time.  Each report should number 3 to 4 pages, typed and single-spaced.  It must include a cogent summary of the book, both in its narrative details (period covered, major topics and issues discussed, etc.) and its interpretive dimensions.  Each report should also summarize what reviews published in major journals (Reviews in American History, Journal of American History, American Historical Review, Diplomatic History) have said about the book, relate the book to the common readings for the week, and clarify the reporter's own critical evaluation of the book.  Bibliographic information should appear at the top of page 1.  

     In preparing for class, the reporters for each week are required to meet informally for approximately one hour prior to the class.  At this meeting they should discuss the differences and similarities among the works they have read and relate these works to the common readings.  They must also devise a teaching strategy for the collective presentation of the books to the class and for the facilitation of discussion that will follow.  During class, each reporter will be allowed five minutes to present a summary of his or her report, emphasizing the interpretive similarities and differences between the assigned book and other literature on the subject (and not simply reiterating the written report).  One member of the reporting group will be designated in advance as the group leader, and this person will be responsible for running the group meeting and moderating the class discussion.  All students are expected to digest the reports, relate them to the common readings, and come to class prepared to ask questions, make comments, and engage in vigorous discussion.  This discussion should avoid narrative details and focus on the conceptual ideas, methodologies, and analytical models revealed in the books under study.

     Depending on the number of students enrolled, some books will be assigned for “silent” reports.  Such reports must be prepared in the same manner as those described above and must be delivered by the same deadlines, but they will not be presented or discussed in class.  They will be graded.

     Course grades will be based on written reports (60%) and class discussion (40%).

     The following assigned texts for this course should be available at the bookstores:

Michael J. Hogan, ed.  Paths to Power: The Historiography

of American Foreign Relations to 1941.

Michael J. Hogan and Thomas Paterson, eds.  Explaining the History

of American Foreign Relations.

     All students must be officially enrolled in the course by the end of the second full week of the quarter.  No requests to add the course will be approved by the department chair after that time.  Enrolling officially and on time is solely the responsibility of the student.

     Academic misconduct will not be tolerated in this course.  For university regulations governing academic misconduct, see http://oaa.osu.edu/coam/home.html.

     Any student who thinks that she or he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact Prof. Hahn privately to discuss specific needs. The student should also contact the Office for Disability Services at 614-292-3307 or in 150 Pomerene Hall to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.

     In the event that you cannot attend a meeting, you should notify Prof. Hahn as far in advance as possible.  Written work that is turned in late will be penalized.  Rare exceptions might be made but these must be approved by Prof. Hahn in advance of the due date.

     Prof. Hahn's office is in Dulles Hall 271 (292-7200; hahn.29@osu.edu), and his office hours are Mondays 9:30-11:30 and 3:30-4:00 and by appointment. 

Schedule of Class Meetings

Sept. 27  Introduction to the course and to the field

Oct.   4  Revolutionary and Federalist Eras

      11  Jeffersonian America and the War of 1812

      18  Antebellum Expansion

      25  Postwar Expansion 

Nov.   1 TR and Taft  

       8  Wilson   

      15  The 1920s

      22  Origins of World War II

      29  New Approaches

Please note that early deadlines for papers during certain weeks of this quarter might be announced in class.