374, History Fall 2004 Instructor: Kaarin Michaelsen
MWF, 2 p.m. 225 McIver
"British History, 1688-2004" This upper-division course surveys British history from the late 17th century until the present day. Using intellectual treatises, novels, short stories, music, plays, and other primary sources, students will examine the major landmarks in the social, political, intellectual, and cultural history of the diverse peoples of the British Isles -- the "Glorious" Revolution of 1688, the creation of the world's first "modern," democratic, liberal nation in the 19th century, the construction and decline of global empires, world wars, punk rock, the Thatcher Revolution, and the emergence of Tony Blair and "Cool Britannia" in the late 20th century. Required Readings The following books are required for this course and are available for purchase at the UNCG Bookstore in Elliot University Center and at Addam's Bookstore on Tate Street. Copies of the books will also be placed on reserve in Jackson Library. Arnstein, Britain Yesterday and Today: 1830 to the Present, 8th Edition. Austen, Sense and Sensibility (Penguin). Dickens, Hard Times (Bantam Classics). Shaw, Major Barbara (Penguin). Graves, Goodbye To All That (Anchor). Other short readings for this course will be available via electronic reserve through Jackson Library. Grading Grades for this course will be assigned according to the following scheme: 20% -- Midterm 1 20% -- Midterm 2 15% -- Paper 35% -- Final 10% -- Participation (includes attendance, talking during class discussions, and written responses to readings) Exams There will be two midterm exams in this course. Midterm 1 will be held on Monday, September 20th. Midterm 2 will be held on Monday, October 25th. Each exam will consist of identifications (based upon the Key Word terms listed on each lecture outline and posted on the web site) and an essay portion. The Final Exam will be held on Monday, December 13th,
from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. in 225 McIver. The exam will consist of a Key Word ID section, a passage ID section (drawn from the assigned documents for this course), and an essay portion. Make up exams will only be given in extreme circumstances (e.g. serious illness, bereavement), and a note must accompany requests. No "Incomplete" grades will be given. Paper There will be one major written assignment in this course, an essay of no less than ten (10) pages on a topic to be assigned in advance. A choice of topics will be provided approximately 2-3 weeks prior to the due date, and students will be expected to draw upon the readings for the course in producing their essay. The paper will be due on Monday, November 22 by 4 p.m. in the History Department main office (221 McIver). Syllabus August 16: Introduction: From "Rule Britannia" to "Cool Britannia"
SECTION 1: POLITICS, SOCIETY, AND CULTURE IN THE LONG 18TH CENTURY August 18: August 20: August 23: August 25: August 27: August 30: September 1: Reading: 1688: A Glorious, Bloodless (!) Revolution and a New Political World The Making of a Great British Power, 1690-1715 Whigs and Tories: Politics and Political Culture in the Age of Party Cultivating "Taste": British Society in the 18th Century Methodism and the Religious Complexion of Britain Kaarin's out of town! No Class! Discussion: Sense and Sensibility Xeroxed chapters from Arnstein and Willcox Sense and Sensibility
SECTION 2: THE AGE OF REVOLUTIONS September 3: September 6: September 8: September 10: Reading: Forging the First British Empire Labor Day Holiday! No Class! Radicalism at Home, Rebellion Abroad: Or, The American Revolution Discussion: American Revolution Documents Cartwright, "The Need for Radical Reform" (1776) (E-Reserve) Burke, "Conciliation with America" (1775) Tucker, "The True Interests of Great Britain Set Forth in Regard to the Colonies" (1774) (ER) George III, "Speech from the Throne" (1775) (ER) Anonymous, "A of Criticism the Declaration of Independence" (1776) (ER)
September 13: September 15: September 17: Reading:
Quelle Excitement! Quelle Horreur!: The French Revolution in Britain "No Identification in Anything": The Act of Union with Ireland Discussion: French Revolution Documents Burke, "Reflections on the Revolution in France" (1790) (ER) Paine, "The Rights of Man" (1791) (ER) More, "Village Politics" (1793) (ER) Midterm Exam 1
September 20:
SECTION 3: BUILDING THE VICTORIAN LIBERAL STATE September 22: September 24: September 27: September 29: October 1: Reading: Life in the First Industrial Society The Victorian Liberal State and Its Subjects The Price of Progress: Liberalism's "Triumphs" The Great Rivalry: Disraeli and Gladstone Discussion: Hard Times Arnstein, pp. 7-18, 24-30, Chapters 3 and 8 Hard Times Ure, "The Philosophy of Manufactures" (1834) (ER)
SECTION 4: BRITISH CIVILIZATION AT HOME AND ABROAD October 4: October 6: October 8: October 11: October 13: October 15: Reading: The Changing Landscape of Victorian Society Victorianism and Its Critics Fall Break Holiday! No Class! Fall Break Holiday! No Class! "The Sun Never Sets...": Building the Second British Empire Discussion: Imperialism Documents Arnstein, Chapters 5, 10, and 11 (pp. 191-199) Orwell, "Shooting an Elephant" (1936) (ER) Grieg, "Shall We Retain Our Colonies?" (1851) (ER) Disraeli, "The Maintenance of Empire" (1872) (ER) Gladstone, "England's Mission" (1878) (ER)
SECTION 5: NEW VOICES, NEW CHALLENGES AT THE FIN-DE-SIECLE October 18: October 20: October 22: October 25: Liberal Socialism or Social Liberalism? The Strange Death of Liberal England Discussion: Major Barbara Midterm Exam 2
Reading:
Arnstein, Chapters 11 (pp. 199-210) and 12 Major Barbara
SECTION 6: THE GREAT WAR AND THE BIRTH OF THE 20TH CENTURY October 27: October 29: November 1: November 3: Reading: "Goodbye to All That": Britain and the Great War Re-Building "Middle England" Crises and (Imperfect) Resolutions in Ireland Discussion: Goodbye to All That Arnstein, Chapters 15 and 16 Goodbye to All That
SECTION 7: THE ROAD TO THE SECOND WORLD WAR November 5: November 8: Reading: "Peace for Our Time"?: Britain in the 1930s "Their Finest Hour"?: World War II Arnstein, Chapters 17 and 18 Optional Film: "Hope and Glory"
SECTION 8: POST-WAR BRITAIN, 1945-1979 November 10: November 12: November 15: November 17: November 19: Reading: Creating the "New Jerusalem": The Politics of Affluence and Consensus The End of Empire and the New, Multicultural Britain Swinging in the "Permissive Society": Britain in the 1960s "Anarchy in the UK": Punk and the End of Consensus Politics Discussion: Post-War Documents Arnstein, Chapters 19, 20, and 21 Powell, "Rivers of Blood Speech" (1968) (ER) Churchill, "A Protest Against Britain's 'Shameful Flight'" (1947) (ER) Excerpts from The Times on the Notting Hill Riots (1958) (ER) Optional Film: "My Beautiful Laundrette"
THANKSGIVING BREAK! NO CLASS! November 22: November 24: November 26: Paper Due in 221 McIver by 4 p.m. No Class! Thanksgiving Holiday! No Class! Thanksgiving Holiday! No Class!
SECTION 9: BRITAIN IN A POST-MODERN WORLD
November 29: December 1: December 3: December 6: Reading:
The Thatcher Revolution and Its Discontents 1997 and Britain's Future: New Labour and "Cool Britannia" Discussion: Conservative and Labour Election Documents The Janus Dilemma: "Britain" and "Britishness" in the 21st Century Arnstein, Chapters 22 and 23 Thatcher, Speech to the Conservative Party Conference (1975) (ER) Kinnock and Thatcher, Debate on the Thatcher Government (1987) (ER) Blair, Speech to the Labour Party Conference (1997) (ER) Optional Film: "Brassed Off!" Monday, December 13, 12:00-3:00 p.m. in our usual room.
Final Exam: