HON 101 (02)

In Our Image: America's Empire in the Philippines

Alternate Fridays 1:00-2:40

 Hearst 204
 

Long before America attempted to introduce western-style democracy to Iraq, it had tried something similar in another part of the world. In the late nineteenth century, the Philippines was ceded by Spain to the United States in the Treaty of Paris, and with that the US acquired its first and only colony. In this seminar, we will study the immediate and long-term effects of America’s political experiment in, to use President McKinley’s words, “educating, uplifting, and civilizing the Filipinos.” Our discussions will initially work from Stanley Karnow’s prize-winning book “In Our Image.” The seminar should appeal strongly to potential majors in History, Politics, Sociology and Philosophy, although everyone is welcome to take part in this stimulating exercise in intellectual give-and-take to propose particular ways in which the seminar can explore the various manifestations of conflict, collusion, compromise, and creativity that constitute colonial experiences. Students with ties to the Philippines will find that they have something in common with both instructors.

Text:

Please Purchase: In Our Image: America’s Empire in the Philippines. Stanley Karnow (NY: Ballentine Books). Copies are available in the OU Bookstore.

Seminar Schedule:

    Sept. 8: Chapters 2 & 3 (Spanish colonial period)

    Sept. 22: Chapters 4, 5, & 6 (U.S. wars with Spain and the Philippines)

    Oct. 6: Chapters 7, 8, & 9 (U.S. colonial rule and autonomy)

    Oct. 20: Chapters 10 & 11 (MacArthur and World War II)

    Nov. 3: Chapters 12 & 13 (From independence to the Marcos years)

    Nov. 17: Chapters 14, 15, & 1 (The Aquinos, the Edsa Revolution, and beyond)

    Dec. 1: Presentations

Session Contents & Grading:

            class participation, including leading discussion 40%

            quizzes 30%

            final project and presentation 30%

Attendance: each seminar participant is allowed one absence, regardless of the reason; any additional absences will result in the grade of FA

Discussion: To facilitate a lively discussion as well as to provide seminar participants with experience in the art and skill of leading discussions, at the start of the term students will divide into 5 groups. Each group will be responsible for leading discussion one week (Drs.’ Herschler and Tiu will lead discussion September 8).

--> Each group is to email out discussion guides to the rest of the class the Friday before class meets so as to enable more time for rumination and cogitation.

Quizzes: Each session will begin with an easy quiz involving who / what / where / how / why questions. Each quiz will be worth 6%, and the lowest quiz score will be dropped. No make up quizzes will be given.

Projects: Projects present the opportunity for seminar participants to relate the seminar’s topic to their own areas of interest and/or expertise. By class on October 20th, students will form groups on the basis of shared interests (5 groups of 3 students each). After an initial vetting with and approval from Dr.’s Tiu and Herschler, each group will undertake independent research on the topic they have chosen. They will craft this research into a presentation to be delivered before the class on December 1st. These presentations should manifest a combination of creativity, insight, and professionalism, striving to effectively impart knowledge to others.