HIST 302W.001 Studies in the Founding Fathers
Schedule # 264112
T R 2:30P - 3:45P
Instructor: Dr. Wilson Moses
The great orators of the American Revolution, the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and the Framers of the Constitution disagreed on many points, from the separation of church and state to the right of the President to executive privilege. They attacked one another constantly, and, indeed, one of them killed another in a duel. Thus, the "original intent" of "The Founders" on Constitutional issues is extremely difficult to discern. This course focuses on the political thought and the literary excellence of those who shaped the Foundation Period of the United States, and concentrates on six of the Founders, including Presidents George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. To these we shall add Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton. The secondary literature of this course will include one book of moderate length on each of these six Founders, focusing on the ideology and political achievements of each. These books will be supplemented by weekly selected readings in the writings of each Founder and one additional book to be announced. This course will require an essay on each of the six Founders, which may be around 2,000 words in length. There will also be a final examination of the objective type, which will bedesigned to test the thoroughness of your reading, and scored numerically. Perfect attendance and active oral participation are among the normal expectations for students in the College of Liberal Arts at the Pennsylvania State University.
HIST 302W.002 Gender and the History of Women in the Modern Middle East
Schedule # 264115
W 2:30P - 5:30P
Instructor: Dr. Janina Safran
This course investigates trends in politics, society, and culture in the history of the modern Middle East with a focus on gender and the history of women. We will begin with the “Great Transformation” of the nineteenth-century and consider how major economic, social, political and cultural changes and developments associated with imperialism and integration into the global economy affected understandings of masculinity and femininity, the legal and political status of women, work, and the experience of women and men in relation to each other. Moving into the twentieth century we will consider these questions in the context of nationalism and independence movements, political regimes espousing liberal democracy and socialism, authoritarian rule and Islamist opposition movements, and the Islamic Revolution and foundation of the Islamic Republic of Iran. We will take a comparative approach, considering developments across countries, with a more concentrated focus on Egypt and Iran (students may do their research on other countries). Students will be required to write short papers every week and submit a substantial research paper at the end of the semester.
HIST 302W.003 Asian and Latin American Immigration 1882 to 1996
Schedule # 299521
TR 1:00P – 2:15P
Instructor: Dr. Grace Delgado
This course analyzes the causes and consequences of Asian and Latin American immigration into the United States from 1882 to 1996. Students will explore the relationship between U.S. economic and foreign policies and immigration, transnational ties between immigrants and their homelands, and the economic, political, and cultural influences of Asian and Latino immigrant communities on American society.
Historically, the United States has favored European immigration over Asian and Latino immigration with the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882 and the National Origins Act of 1924. In 1952, however, Congress removed racial barriers to immigration and naturalization, abolished the national origin quota system in 1965, and provided amnesty for 3.7 million undocumented immigrants under the Immigration Act of 1986. Furthermore, U. S. intervention in Southeast Asian, Central America, and the Caribbean spurred the entry of refugees into the United States. Today, Asians and Latinos are the fasting growing populations in the United States, due mostly to immigration.
Students will investigate:
- Domestic and international forces shaping immigration patterns both recent and historical
- The history of U. S. immigration laws (e.g. Chinese exclusion, Gentleman’s Agreement, IRCA)
- Varieties of immigrant experiences, contrasting arrival/survival experiences (border/non-border)
- Immigration laws and current debates about U.S. immigration/refugee policy; Proposition 187 in California (1994), anti-immigrant Congressional laws of 1996
- The post-industrial economy (economic restructuring, NAFTA) and immigrant labor
HIST 302W.004 Contemporary Relevance of Confucianism
Schedule # 299527
W 2:30P - 5:30P
Instructor: Dr. On-cho Ng
This is a writing-intensive seminar designed to help students develop writing and research skills by focusing on the following topic: the contemporary relevance of Confucianism through a historical examination of the ideological assumptions and political culture of the tradition. We are interested in what Confucianism has to say about human rights and global ethics. Confucianism, as political ideology and socio-cultural ethic, seems to promote collective good at the expense of individual rights and creativity. But can the core Confucian values provide the grounds for pluralistic manifestations? In what way can Confucianism be related to liberal, humanistic thinking? Do the conceptual apparatuses and symbolic resources in Confucianism offer cultural capital for a global ethic that features human rights? What are the problems engendered by the contemporary appropriation and manipulation of Confucianism?
HIST 302W.005 The Conquistadors
Schedule # 322261
R 2:30P - 5:30P
Instructor: Dr. Matthew Restall
This reading and writing seminar explores the history of the Spanish invasions, conquests, and early settlements in the Americas. We will follow the development of the latest historiographical movement in this field, known as the New Conquest History. Rather than following the traditional old narratives that emphasized military encounters and privileged the perspectives of the Spanish conquistadors, the NCH emphasizes multiple narratives and protagonists. We will pay particular attention to regions hitherto dismissed as marginal, and to indigenous and black conquistadors. We will read accounts written not only by Spaniards, but also by Aztecs and Mayas. Most of our sources will be texts translated into English, but we will also examine visual evidence, such as the pictorial accounts made by indigenous conquistadors.
You will be expected to attend every class session; your grade will be based on your attendance and participation in discussion, and on three papers, due approximately every five weeks.
