Modern
B310/H509:
Fall Semester, 2003
Dr. Erik L. Lindseth
A general study of the concept of modern "
attempts to unify and move towards a blurring of the concept of national
identity. Indeed the
unification of nations to create a British identity at the beginning of the
18th century provides a
model for state building throughout the modern era. This class will
examine "important modern
political, economic, social, and cultural developments including
industrialization and imperialism
and the emergence of ideologies like liberalism and socialism."
(University bulletin description)
In a way, the overall goal of this class is to study the same transition from a
feudal society into
a modern age, which is similar to the process which is usually covered in H114,
the History of
Western Civilization since 1648, though in substantially greater breadth and detail
of course.
Course policy Resources Midterm Exam questions Final Exam
Syllabus
August
20
Introduction to course - What do we mean by the term "
August 25
Lecture 1 - The Glorious Revolution and the last of the Stuart Dynasty
(Chapter 16 of Roberts)
August 27 Lecture 2 The
Economic Revolution!
September 1 Labor
Day, No Class meeting
September 3 Lecture 3 -
Assignment 1 - Profile a web site. Using the
Resources link above surf through a few
of the British sites available. Choose one site and consider the
scope of the information contained, the source of the information,
reliability, currency, general usefulness. Prepare a one page write-up
and be ready to summarize in class (not a presentation as such).
(Chapter 17 of Roberts)
September 8 Lecture 4 The
Jacobite Revolt
September 10 Lecture 5 - The Age of
(Chapters 18 and 19)
September 15 Lecture 6 The
45 and the colonies
September 17 Lecture 7 The French (again) and
the
idea of Empire
September 22 Lecture
8 -
George III and the Revolution(s).
(Chapters 20 and 21)
September 24 Lecture 9 - George IV and
the
dawning of the Industrial Age
Assignment 2 - Find two or three articles on
the same story (preferably dealing with
your subject area) which contrast perspectives. Prepare a couple of
paragraph comment on what you found.
(Chapters 21 and 22)
September 30 Lecture 10
William
IV, political crisis and Liberalism
October 1 Lecture 11 – The great Irish
migration
October 6
Lecture 12 -
October 8 Lecture
13 -
October 13 Lecture 14 - Disreali,
(Chapters 24 and 25)
October 15
Lecture 15 - The sun begins to set. Edward VII
(Chapter 26)
October 20 Lecture 16 - The Great War
Assignment 3 - Introduction to Expanded
Academic Index ASAP and bibliographic
searching. Find two articles and two books which seem to contain
information on a sub theme of modern British history or culture. Turn
in a short annotated bibliography of the four texts (the citation plus at
least a sentence or two about the author, content of the text, or what
ever else you can find which will help you to evaluate whether or not
it is a good resource.) This a good chance to
try out possible topics
for your project and see if there is any chance of finding information.
(Chapter 27)
October 22 Lecture 17
Post-war crisis to the triumph of
(Chapter 28)
October 27 Lecture 18
The Depression and the National Government
October 29 Lecture
19 - The
(Chapter 29)
November 3 Lecture 20 - Socialist
(Chapters 30 and 31)
November 5 Lecture 21 Macmillian and the new Conservatives
November 10 Lecture 22 - Thatcherism
(Chapter 30 again)
November 12 Lecture 23 – The
Troubles
November 17 Lecture 24 The
Poll Tax and the National Parties
November 19 Lecture 25 Labour
and the end of Britain
November 24 Lecture 26 The
November 26 Thanksgiving Break
December 1 Final Exam -
December 3 Student Presentations
December 8 Student Presentations Final Project Papers Due