19th Century Europe - Syllabus

History 334 – Europe in the Nineteenth Century: The Industrial Nation and its Discontents

Instructor: Steven Maughan Fall 2007

Office: 209A Strahorn MWF – 2:10-3:10

Office hours: Mon., Weds. 9:00-10:00 KAIC 107

(and by appointment)

Course Web Page: http://www.albertson.edu/academics/history/courses/334/334f07index.html

Course Objectives: This course will examine the development of continental Europe in the turbulent years between the defeat of Napoleon in 1815 and the outbreak of the Great War in 1914. Special attention is given to politics and modern thought in France, Germany and Italy, nations which all struggled to achieve political unity, industrial growth and national stability, and the imperial expansion of European nations in the classic modern era of European colonialism. You will be required to demonstrate a basic mastery of the facts presented in both the lectures and the readings, but more importantly you should gain an understanding of how and why change occurred in societies and cultures that were at the center of the development of the modern industrialized, global world. This understanding will emerge from the development of important historical skills: the evaluation of evidence, the perception of logical connections between events and ideas, and the construction of reasonable arguments about historical change. This course will be conducted as an advanced lecture/discussion-based class, and it is expected that students enrolled will have a familiarity with the major political and diplomatic events of the era. The discussion sections are particularly important: your contribution to each scheduled discussion will be an integral part of your grade, and essential to the success of the course.

Texts:

Required:

Stendhal, Red and Black, trans. and ed. Robert M. Adams, Norton Critical ed. (1830; New York: Norton, 1969).

Emile Zola, Germinal, trans. and intro. Roger Pearson (1884; London: Penguin, 2004).

Carl Schorske, Fin-de-Siecle Vienna: Politics and Culture (New York: Vintage, 1981).

Textbook: There is no general history textbook assigned for this course. Students, however, will be required to read several selections from the "Europe" and "The History of European Overseas Exploration and Empires" articles from the 15th edition of The New Encyclopedia Britannica (1989). These selections will be linked in the syllabus schedule as Adobe Acrobat .pdf files. You will need the Acrobat Reader to read them, and you will need to access them on-campus as they are linked through the protected intranet for copyright reasons. If you do not have it you can download Acrobat Reader here. The New Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th ed., Macopeadia, vol. 18, s.v. "Europe", section: "Bibliography," pp.854-857 provides a basic, although somewhat dated, bibliography of materials for the course. You will be quizzed on the background reading material linked through the syllabus.

Recommended: Library Reserves for General Reference:

William Langer, An Encyclopedia of World History

Gordon Craig, Europe since 1815

Charles Breunig, The Age of Revolution and Reaction, 1789-1850

Felix Gilbert, The End of the European Era, 1890 to the Present

E.J. Hobsbawm, The Age of Revolution, 1789-1848

The Age of Capital, 1848-1875

The Age of Empire, 1875-1914

Course Requirements:

1) Exams: There will be a mid‑term and a comprehensive final exam based on the lectures and assigned reading. These will be given on the dates indicated on the lecture schedule.

2) Papers:

Option 1: You will write separate reaction essays on the two novels (The Red and the Black and Germinal) assigned for the course (5-6 pages each). The topic of the essays will be determined by the in-class discussion assignments. You will also write one "Wikipedia research/revision biography project" on a notable nineteenth-century individual. Finally, you will write a "critical book review" on the Schorske book, drawing on at least three published reviews of the book, but more importantly synthesizing your own analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, and importance of the work. These papers will be due on the dates indicated on the lecture schedule. Late papers will be penalized by a third of a grade for each late class period (i.e., after 3 class periods, a paper will lose a whole letter grade, NO EXCEPTIONS).

Option 2: You will write one original research paper on a subject of your own choosing. The research paper shall be 10‑15 pages in length (2500 word minimum-4000 word maximum) and will be produced in stages: 1) topic selection, 2) bibliography, 3) detailed outline, including a provisional thesis 4) critical annotated bibliography, 5) first draft (of at least 6 pages, including polished introduction and conclusion), and 6) final draft. The paper from stage one to stage six will be due on the dates indicated on the lecture schedule. These stages MUST be completed by the dates set. The purpose of this option is to develop high-level historical research and analysis skills. Failure to meet the requirements of this option at any stage will automatically require you to abandon your project and complete Option 1, all missed assignments due within one week of dismissal from the research option, NO EXCEPTIONS. For more detail, see the Research Paper Assignment. If you choose the research paper option you will perform a short class presentation of your paper topic (5-10 minutes) and answer questions from your classmates (presentations made in PowerPoint with outlines and images will receive extra credit). For guidance on research, see A Student's Guide to History (chap. 4); for guidance on writing a research paper (including citation forms and basic layout), see A Student's Guide to History (chap. 5). (N.b. both of these links are "internal" Intranet documents: you must be on campus and logged onto the campus network to access them).

3) Class Participation: You will be required to participate in an informed manner in classroom discussions of the assigned reading. You will be quizzed on the individual reading assignments and the books we read for the class and will be required to bring in at least two non-trivial questions prior to the class (the student must bring two typed copies of these questions to discussions and turn one copy in to the instructor), present these to the panel, and respond intelligently to the answers given by the discussion leaders. Short reading quizzes may also be given on the material assigned on the day scheduled for discussion.

4) Attendance: Regular attendance is a requirement in this course and attendance will be taken randomly. You will be allowed three unexcused absences. I consider habitual and persistent absences as a form of disrespect to your fellow classmates and to your own education. Discussion days are particularly important and attendance will certainly be taken on these days. If you must miss class for reasons of participation in college-sponsored activities, or illness, BEFORE CLASS, BY EMAIL, EACH TIME FOR EACH DAY that you will miss, and personally provide me with documentation from appropriate authorities (a coach, the college nurse, a doctor, etc.) supporting the reason for your absence. Failing this, the absence will be considered unexcused. You may not make up missed quizzes; if you miss a quiz due to a legitimate excused absence, it will not be averaged into your grade; otherwise you will receive zero credit for the quiz. If you fail to follow this procedure in all its particulars, the absence will be considered unexcused. After the third unexcused absence, each absence will result in a 1/3 grade reduction in your FINAL GRADE for the course (upon the third absence, an A becomes an A-, upon the fourth a B+, etc.). It is your responsibility to make appropriate arrangements to make up assignments and stay current on course work when you have excused absences. Attendance will be taken randomly.

5) Email capability: You must have a functioning albertson.edu or yotes.albertson.edu email address to take this course. You will be responsible for changes to the schedule, assignments, and other particulars for the course as they are announced by email. You should check your email daily and maintain a functioning account. You will be required to turn in your written papers for this course BOTH as electronic attachments by email and printed out hardcopies in class. You must turn these in as Microsoft Word files or as Rich Text Files (.rtf). Any word processing software can save text files in .rtf format. If you are not using Word, you need to learn how to do this.

Grades: In order to assure making a passing grade you must satisfactorily complete the assigned papers, achieve a score of at least 60% on the final examination, and achieve a cumulative average of at least 60% for the course. The grade distribution will be:

Class Participation and quizzes: 5%

In-class mid-term: 15%

Option 1: Two essays: 10% each

Wiki Research assignment: 15%

Critical Book review: 15%

            Option 2:         Research paper: (includes stages 1 through 6): 50%
                                              Stage 1: required
                                              Stage 2: required
                                              Stage 3:    2%
                                              Stage 4:    3%
                                              Stage 5:    5%
                                              Stage 6: 90%

Final Exam: 30%

Final grades will be assigned on the following percentages:

A ‑ 93‑100 B ‑ 84‑86 C ‑ 74‑76 D ‑ 64‑66

A‑ ‑ 90‑92 B‑ ‑ 80‑83 C‑ ‑ 70‑73 D‑ ‑ 60‑63

B+ ‑ 87‑89 C+ ‑ 77‑79 D ‑ 67‑69 F ‑ below 60

There is no way to earn "extra credit" in this course. The final examination may be taken only once. You may re‑take the mid‑term if your score falls below a 70, and count the average of the two scores toward your semester average. The mid‑term make‑up is given only once, and you must take it when it is scheduled.

Students with documented special conditions as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act who need test or course materials provided in an alternative format should notify me immediately. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate the needs of any students with special conditions.

Academic Integrity: The Albertson College community operates with integrity under the College Honor Code. That means, among other things, that I assume you will be honest in your work for this class. However, it also means if cheating comes to my attention, I will feel free to fail any student for the course who takes, accepts, or gives assistance on any quiz or examination, uses a crib, or cheats in any other way. The papers are individual projects. Obvious collaborative efforts or plagiarism of the work of another student or of a published author or of an internet site will be construed as cheating. Plagiarism is the act of stealing the ideas or words of another and presenting them as your own. Both the using of passages without quotation marks and/or citations (e.g. footnotes) and the use of ideas without citations are considered plagiarism. Experience shows that even upper-level students are sometimes confused about the definition of plagiarism. If you have any questions about plagiarism, please speak with me. You must also read, sign, and turn in a copy of the Academic Integrity statement of the Department of History when you turn in your first paper for the course. You will also be asked to pledge all of your papers and exams in this course.

Tentative Course Schedule

You will be liable to be quizzed on any day's "Reading" or "DISCUSSION" assignments

Sept. 7 Introduction: the legacy of the French Revolution

WEEK ONE

Sept. 10 Metternich, the Congress of Vienna, and the Concert of Powers

Reading: The New Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th ed., Macopeadia, vol. 18, s.v. "Europe", section: "Revolution and reaction, " pp. 762-774 Please note: the linked readings are available only on the College intranet and require you to be logged onto the network on campus. They are also mostly made available as Adobe Acrobat .pdf files. You need the Acrobat Reader to read them. If you do not have it you can download Acrobat Reader here.

Sept. 12 The material bases of European power

Reading: The New Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th ed., Macopeadia, vol. 18, s.v. "Europe", section: "The Industrial Revolution," pp. 777-784

Sept. 14 The Intellectual foundations of Liberalism

Reading: The New Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th ed., Macopeadia, vol. 18, s.v. "Europe", section: "Romanticism and Realism," pp. 785-789"

WEEK TWO

Sept. 17 Monarchism, Liberalism, and Nationalism in France to 1830

Reading: Robert Adams, "France in 1830," in Red and Black, Norton Critical ed., pp. 411-419.

Sept. 19 The Germanies: From French occupation to German Nationalism

Sept. 21 Germanic Kulture

WEEK THREE

Sept. 24 DISCUSSION: Red and Black; Discussion questions and instructions

Reading: Red and Black, entire novel.

Erich Auerbach, "In the Hotel de la Mole," in Red and Black, Norton Critical ed., pp. 435-446.

Rene Girard, "Triangular Desire," in Red and Black, Norton Critical ed., pp. 503-521.

Robert Adams, "Liking Julien Sorel," in Red and Black, Norton Critical ed., pp. 538-549.

Sept. 26 Radicalism and the road to 1848

Option 2: TOPIC SELECTION DUE (I must have a formal, typed submission)

Reading: The New Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th ed., Macopeadia, vol. 18, s.v. "Europe", section: "Liberalism, nationalism, socialism," pp. 774-777

Sept. 28 1848: The French Second Republic

Option 1: Stendhal PAPER DUE

WEEK FOUR

Oct. 1 Napoleon III and the Second Empire

Oct. 3 DISCUSSION: Karl Marx, "The Communist Manifesto"; "The Class Struggles in France, 1848-1850"; "The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte"; Discussion questions and instructions

Oct. 5 To the Paris Commune: The Liberal Empire and the Franco-Prussian War

Option 2: BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE (typed, accurate Chicago Style bibliography entries; at least 8 quality academic sources)

WEEK FIVE

Oct. 8 The Unification of Germany

Oct. 10 The Risorgimento and the unification of Italy

Oct. 12 The erosion of certainty: philosophy and criticism

Reading: The New Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th ed., Macopeadia, vol. 18, s.v. "Europe", section: "Social and Political Thought," pp. 789-795

WEEK SIX

Oct. 15 The erosion of certainty: Positivism and biology

Oct. 17 Culture and society at mid-century: the supermarket

Oct. 19 MID-TERM EXAM

FALL BREAK

WEEK SEVEN

Oct. 29 The Paris Commune and the French Third Republic

Reading: The New Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th ed., Macopeadia, vol. 18, s.v. "Europe", section: 1870-1914, pp.796-807

Option 2: OUTLINE DUE (Detailed, multiple headings; provisional thesis; 3 pages double spaced, minimum.)

Oct. 31 DISCUSSION: Germinal and Marx, "The Civil War in France"; Discussion questions and instructions

Nov. 2 The German Second Reich: Bismarckian and Wilhelmine Germany

Option 1: Zola PAPER DUE

WEEK EIGHT

Nov. 5 European Empires

Reading: The New Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th ed., Macopeadia, vol. 18, s.v. "History of European Overseas . . . Empires," (1870-1914) pp. 876-891

Nov. 7 Workers of the World: Socialism, Marx and the organization of labor

Option 2: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE (10 sources or more, at least 4 pages single spaced. Follow the annotated bibliography link for more more information on the production of an annotated bibliography.)

Nov. 9 Blood and Soil: the new nationalism

WEEK NINE

Nov. 12 Which Nation? Citizenship and race in the French Third Republic

Nov. 14 The Bismarkian system and its breakdown: international relations at the end of the century

Nov. 16 Gender relations and the “New Woman”

Reading: The New Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th ed., Macopeadia, vol. 18, s.v. "Europe", section: "Modern Culture," pp.813-817

WEEK TEN

Nov. 19 The Arts Transformed

Option 2: FIRST DRAFT DUE (at least 6 pages; polished introduction and conclusion)

Nov. 21 NO CLASS

THANKSGIVING BREAK

WEEK ELEVEN

Nov. 26 Reason and the New Science

Nov. 28 DISCUSSION: Wikipedia Research/revision biography exercise; Discussion questions and instructions

Option 1: Research Biography PAPER DUE

Nov. 30 The rising threat of revolution

WEEK TWELVE

Dec. 3 DISCUSSION: Fin-de-Siecle Vienna; Discussion questions and instructions

Option 1: Critical Book Review PAPER DUE

Dec. 5 The road to Total War

Dec. 7 DISCUSSION: What is the legacy of the nineteenth century? Review and Summary

Option 2: FINAL DRAFT DUE

Thursday December 13 - FINAL EXAM - 1:30-3:30 PM