Critical Social Inquiry 0159 - Histories of American Empire

This course uses historical methods to investigate the long arc of U.S. empire from the 19th century through the present. Our core work will be reading, discussing, and writing about past events, beginning with theoretical essays that establish the significance of the "imperial" as a category of analysis that helps us understand how power works. We will consider the United States in relationship to other world empires, and will explore why people have long resisted thinking of the United States as an empire. For many observers, 1898 and the Spanish American War were an exceptional moment of imperial expansion. We won't treat 1898 as an exception, but rather as a midpoint in a longer history of U.S. empire beginning with Native American dispossession and slavery. We will consider continuities and discontinuities between those experiences and more recent military, economic, and cultural imperialism including the wars on terror and drugs.

Power, Community and Social Justice Independent Work Multiple Cultural Perspectives Writing and Research Students are expected to spend at least six to eight hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time.