American Diplomatic History to 1900
Dr. Adamiak
Spring 1999
This course will provide an overview of American Foreign Relations from the American Revolution to the United States' emergence as a great power. Since a nation's diplomacy does not form in a vacuum, the course will also examine factors that shaped American policies, such as domestic politics, economics, and outside forces.
Texts: Howard Jones, The Quest for Security: A History of U.S. Foreign
Relations, Vol. I
Thomas G. Paterson, Dennis Merrill (eds.), Major Problems in American Foreign
Relations, Vol. I
Recommended: Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers,
Theses, and Dissertations
Office Hours: My office is 204E LA and I will be there Monday
and Wednesday from 9:00 to 10:00, Tuesday and Thursday between
2:00 and 3:00, and Thursday evenings between 6:30 and 7:30. I am also available
by appointment. This time is set aside to aid students with questions or
problems regarding the course. The office phone number is 974-5451.
My email is sadamiak@aix1.uco.edu.
Grading:
FIRST HOUR EXAM
25%: Feb. 23
SECOND HOUR EXAM 25%: April 6
TERM PAPERS
25%: DUE April 29
FINAL EXAM
25%: 1:00 Tuesday, May 11
Grading Scale: 90-100 = A 80-89
= B 70-79 = C
60-69 = D Below 60 = F
NOTE: All exams will include both essay and objective questions
and will be based on BOTH lectures and readings. Failure to take
any exam will result in failing the class.
No Makeups will be given without prior permission except under the
following conditions: (1) Death (or serious crisis) within the immediate
family, (2) Serious verifiable illness, or
(3) University sponsored activities. In all such cases you must
notify the instructor as soon
as possible.
Term Papers: Each student will complete a research paper of approximately 15 pages in length on some aspect of American foreign relations before 1900. Further details will follow in a separate handout. A preliminary topic and bibliography is due no later than February 25th. The final paper is due no later than April 29. Late papers will be penalized by one letter grade per day.
Attendance: Each student is expected to attend class on a regular
basis. Attendance will
be taken periodically through the semester. While attendance is
not calculated into
the student's course grade, it may be considered as a factor in
determining borderline grades. In case of absence, the student remains
responsible for any lecture material or announcements made during the missed
class.
Academic Dishonesty: Under no circumstances will academic dishonesty
be tolerated. Typical examples of academic dishonesty include (but are
not necessarily restricted to) cheating on examinations and/or plagiarism.
Plagiarism means representing someone
else's work as your own. Some examples of plagiarism are:
• Quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing text or other works on an exam, term paper, or assignment without citing the source.
• Handing in a paper purchased from a term paper service, the internet, or taking a paper from a "file."
• Retyping a friend's paper and handing it in as your own
Guidelines for avoiding plagiarism will be distributed in class. Academic dishonesty may result in the student failing the course.
Students with disabilities who believe they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Equity Officer Brad Morelli at ext. 2573, or see me after class as soon as possible to better ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.
Class Schedule:
Jan. 19: Introduction, Readings: Paterson, Ch. 1
Jan. 21,26: The American Revolution, Jones, Ch. 1; Paterson, Ch.
2
Jan. 28: Problems of Confederation, 1783-89,
Feb. 2,4,9: The Federalist (1789-1801), Jones, Ch. 2; Paterson,
Ch. 3
Feb. 11,16: The Jeffersonians (1801-09), Jones, Ch. 3; Paterson,
Ch.4
Feb. 16,18: Madison and the War of 1812, Jones, Ch. 4; Paterson,
Ch.5
Feb. 23: Exam I - Bring a bluebook
Feb. 25, Mar. 2: To the Monroe Doctrine (1815-1823), Jones, Ch. 5;
Paterson, Ch. 6
Preliminary topic and bibliography due Feb. 25!
Mar. 4,9,11: Domestic Security and Foreign Trade (1824-1842), Jones,
Ch. 6;
Paterson, Ch. 7,9
Mar. 23,25: Manifest Destiny, Jones, Ch. ; Paterson, Ch. 8
Mar. 30, Apr. 1: U.S. policy between the wars, (1848-1860), Jones,
Ch. 8
Apr. 6: Exam II
Apr. 8,13: Civil War, Jones, Ch. 9
Apr. 15,20,22: "From the old diplomacy to the new," (1865-1897),
Jones, Ch. 10;
Paterson, Ch. 10
Apr. 27,29: The Spanish American War, Jones, pp. 236-254; Paterson
Ch. 11
Term paper due 29 April!
May 4,6: Consequences of Empire and the Open Door, Jones, 255-60;
Paterson, Ch. 12,13.