The USA - A Colonial Empire?

elective courses

The main objective of this course is to gain knowledge of a little known aspect of the history of American foreign policy - participation of this great power in competition for colonies and history of the American colonial experiment in the Philippines (1899- 1946)

One of the most interesting issues of American history is that of territories belonging to the USA and being neither States nor Territories of the Union. The cases of such areas throughout US history will be discussed on the basis of political programs, doctrines and disputes as well as policies applied to solve them from the plans of seizing the Caribbean Islands in early 19th century to the contemporary issue of Puerto Rico.

One of the most interesting issues of American history is that of lands belonging to the USA and being neither States nor Territories of the Union. Contrary to the popular belief, the United States did obtain, and in some cases owns today, such possessions both in 19th and 20th century. They were even called colonies by Americans themselves one hundred years ago. Some of them, like Philippine Islands, became the independent nations, while others still belong to the USA today. The cases of such areas will be analyzed and discussed in chronological order on the basis of, mostly American, official documents, press articles, speeches of politicians and memoirs. We will focus on American views, programs and disputies over seizing and retaining or giving up the places like Caribbean Island in early 19th century, the Philippines between 1898 and 1934, accepting the League of Nations mandates or UN trusted territories up to the problem of Puerto Rico today.

Annals of America. Series, Chicago, 1976;

Documents of American History. ed. by Harry S. Commager, 9th edition, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1973;

Harry B. Hawes: Philippine Uncertainty. An American Problem. NY 1932;

Manuel L. Quezen: The Good Fight. NY, 1946;

United States Policy Toward China. Diplomatic and Public Documents 1839-1939. ed. by P. H. Clyde, NY 1940.

Topics:

1 Class: General introduction to the course (the specifics of history courses, sources - primary and secondary).

2 Class: The beginnings - plans of "going South" during and after the Latin American Revolution

3 Class: Expansionist programs in the middle of 19th Century.

4 Class: Beyond the Rio Grande - Mexico as future United States' colony?

5 - 6 Classes: Alaska and...?

7 - 8 Classes: The New Manifest Destiny - expansionist ideology of the Imperialist Era.

9 - 10 Classes: A Splendid Little... Colonial Empire?

11 Class: Semi-colonies of the U.S.A. in Central America and the Caribbean in early 20th Century.

12 - 13 Classes: The Philippines - the end of American colonial experiment.

14 Class: U.S. possessions and semi-colonies in Latin America - towards the Good Neighborhood, 1919 - 1934

15 Class: Final Decolonization?

1. Knowledge

Upon completing this course a student:

• has advanced knowledge of place and role of colonial problems in American politics throughout the history of the USA

• understands the American debates and disputes over seizing and retaining of dependent territories in the United States' history

• is able to recognize how the American and European understanding of imperial status differed in 19th and 20th century

2. Skills

Upon completing this course a student:

• is able to analyze and interpret the sources to political history of the USA

• identifies and recognizes relations between the economic development of industrial nations of 19th and 20th centuries and the concepts of colonial policies

• formulates research questions regarding the beginnings and development of the imperial ideology in American history

3. Competences

Upon completing this course a student:

• is aware of the importance of cultural differences for understanding of European and American concepts of colonialism

• understands the importance of American approach to the issue of colonialism for the image of USA as a global power in the countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America

• is able to formulate his or her own opinion about the role of USA world's history in 19th and 20th century

Active participation in the classes, and presence at most of them (60%); presentation or paper on one of the subjects discussed, chosen by student and approved by teacher (20%); a 5-page end of semester essay on a subject accepted by teacher (20 %) and a short interview with teacher before the deadline for graduation.

Final grade (composing the above)

above 90% - 5,0

85 - 89% - 4,5

75 - 84% - 4,0

70 - 74% - 3,5

60 - 69% - 3,0