POLS Y384-American Political Ideas II

 Spring 2010-Elliot Bartky

Office: CM 213

Office hours T, Th: 1:30-2:45 & by appointment

email bartky@ipfw.edu

http://www.ipfw.edu/pols/SYLLABI/bartky/homepage.htm

COURSE DESCRIPTION

An examination of the ideas, texts and actions informing the American political tradition from the post Civil War era to contemporary politics. This is a reading intensive course designed to engage students in a discussion of the profound issues shaping the American political experiment.

COURSE TEXTS AND READINGS

The readings immediately below are required and are available from the campus bookstore

Up From Slavery                    Booker T. Washington, Dover Thrift Editions, ISBN: 0486287386

The Souls of Black Folk W.E.B. DuBois, ISBN: 0486280411

In addition students are expected to read all the assigned readings listed on the course reading schedule. The readings are available online and are linked on the course syllabus on Professor Bartky’s website. http://www.ipfw.edu/pols/SYLLABI/bartky/homepage.htm

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Regular Attendance is required

Since a large share of each test is based on class lectures you must attend class in order to do well on the tests. If you need to leave class early inform me prior to the beginning of class. The use of computers is not permitted in this course except under special circumstances requiring prior approval. Cell phones must be turned off or put on a silent mode. 

Reading Assignments
Follow the reading assignments on the course syllabus "Course Reading and Lecture Schedule." Your understanding of the lectures and performance on the tests will benefit by your having read the materials prior to attending class. It is especially important that you are able to integrate the reading material with the course lectures.

Exams
There are two exams. Each exam will count for 30% of the final grade. The exams consist of multiple choice, short answer and essay questions that indicate your progress integrating and comprehending course readings, lectures, and discussions.

Papers

Two 7-8 page papers each worth 15% of the grade.

Participation

10% 0f grade

A Note on Academic Honesty:
Students should familiarize themselves with and abide by the IPFW Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct. Students who violate the Code through cheating, plagiarism or other misconduct, or who assist others in engaging in prohibited conduct, will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

COURSE READING AND LECTURE SCHEDULE:

1.   Introduction

       1/12     No assigned reading

2.   The New Science and the New Politics

       1/14 - Holmes, A Soldier’s Faith

               - Dewey, The Influence of Darwinism on Philosophy

 3.   1/19 - Andrew Carnegie, Wealth
               - William Graham Sumner, What Social Classes Owe to Each Other, Introduction, Ch. 1, 11

 4.   1/21 - William Graham Sumner, The Absurd Effort to Make the World Over

 5.   1/26 - Theodore Roosevelt, “Ordered Liberty”

  - Theodore Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address
 6.   1/28 - Woodrow Wilson, Constitutional Government, Selections

  - Woodrow Wilson, Public Administration, Selections

  - Woodrow Wilson, First Inaugural Address

  7.  2/2   - William Jennings Bryan, “Cross of Gold Speech”

  8.  2/4   - Henry George, Social Problems, Selections

         - Eugene V. Debs, “The Issue”

  9.  2/9   - Brownson, The Democratic Principle

 10. 2/11 - William James, What Pragmatism Means

 11.  2/16 - Booker T. Washington, Up From Slavery

 12.  2/18 - W.E.B. DeBois, The Souls of Black Folk

 13. 2/23 - The Souls of Black Folk continued

 14. 2/25 - Theodore Roosevelt, Ordered Liberty and Inaugural Address

 15. 3/2   - Theodore Roosevelt, Expansion and Peace

 16.                                          Midterm Exam 3/4

 17. 3/16 - William Jennings Bryan, Anti-Imperialism

                - Mark Twain, Defense of General Funston

 18. 3/18 - Woodrow Wilson, War Address and 14 Points

 19. 3/23 - Randolph Bourne, The War and the Intellectuals

 20. 3/25 - Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural & Selections from Speeches

 21. 3/30 - Movie: Malcolm X

 22. 4/1   - Malcolm X, Ballots or Bullets

 23. 4/6   - Movie: Malcolm X

 24. 4/8   - Martin Luther King, Jr. Letter from a Birmingham Jail

 25. 4/13 - Lyndon Johnson, Great Society

 26. 4/15 - Milton Friedman, Economic Freedom, Political Freedom, Human Freedom

        27. 4/20 - Ronald Reagan, Farewell Address

                            - George Bush, First and Second Inaugural Addresses

           - Barak Obama, Inaugural Address

 28. 4/22 - Selections on War and Peace

 29. 4/27 - Selections on War and Peace continued

 30. 4/29 - Selections on War and Peace continued

Final Exam Tuesday, May 4, 1-3 p.m