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Session One: Lecture Outline Orientation + Trends in Domestic and Diplomatic History (for Tuesday, Sept.

13, 2011) I. Introduction. Thematic overview of course. Key questions. II. What is foreign policy? Why study American foreign policy? III. Specifics about the course A. Course objectives B. Course requirements C. Attendance policy D. Presentations (20%) E. Quizzes and reading questions (20%) F. Scribd site (http://www.scribd.com/) G. Lecture outlines H. Research paper (30%) I. Final exam (30%) J. Extra credit (6 points on final exam). Nov. 10, Dec. 1 IV. The Fulbright program. My background. V. Who are you? (Personal Background Questionnaire) VI. Diagnostic Quiz VII. Trends in American Domestic and Diplomatic History A. 1776 and 1991: metamorphosis of USA from weakest to strongest country. Prevailed in three global conflicts in the 20th century B. Isolationism and geography were contributing factors in the strengthening of the U.S. C. American colonists felt they were destined to expand across the North American continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. ("Manifest Destiny") D. The War of 1812: last war with the British. E. Monroe Doctrine, 1823. Europeans to stay out of Latin America, or we will intervene. US will stay out of European politics. F. Territorial expansion reignited the issue of slavery and led to a bloody civil war (18611865) that almost ended the Union. 1) Election of Abraham Lincoln was the last straw that sparked the Civil War. His highest priority: preserve the Union, with or without slavery. 2) He was assassinated five days after the South surrendered to the North. First US president to be assassinated. G. Spanish-American War of 1898 was 1st major US international war of conquest. Acquired territories: Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Phillipines H. U.S. entered World War I in 1917 when its neutral rights were threatened by German unrestricted submarine warfare. Germans offered to help Mexico win back Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico. I. Woodrow Wilson proposed the League of Nations, but failed to persuade the Republicans to ratify the treaty authorizing U.S. membership. U.S. entered another period of isolationism. Economic depression.

J. Hitler systematically violated the provisions of the post-World War I peace treaty of 1919. U.S. and European allies followed policy of "appeasement." K. Franklin Roosevelt first came to office in 1933. 25% unemployment in US. L. The attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 was the catalyst FDR needed to enter U.S. in World War II. US entry in World War Two altered world history. M. From late 1943, FDR worked to obtain bipartisan consensus supporting US participation in a collective security organization. The UN was officially established on October 24, 1945. (FDR died on April 12, 1945). N. Due to the growing Soviet threat, the U.S. began a permanent interventionist foreign policy. The Cold War would make total isolation impossible.

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