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• 5/25-31 • Current topics include the memory of the Holocaust, dealing with memorials in Germany, legacies of genocide and history, Benedict XVI Read: "Plague of Nationalism" (handout)

• 5/24 (Block 4) • Current topics include the breakup of Yugoslavia, nationalism and religion in Eastern Europe, effectiveness of EC in crisis situation

• 5/22-3 • Current topics include European immigration and its relation to nationalism, riots in France

• 5/18-9 • Today we did heavy research in the library for our project and discussed some research techniques.

• 5/15-6 • Current topics include interview techniques, topic overview, & European perspectives on religion Read: "Europe's Mosque Hysteria" by Walker (handout) Assignment: Be prepared to discuss the article Project: Contact your interview subject and plan for your time together.  See the new and improved Project Webpage for tips, links, and planning.

• 5/11-2 • Current topics include piety, beliefs, and religion in Europe Read: Time Europe: "O, Father Where Art Thou?" Assignment: Submit proposal of general and specific idea of where to head in "Making History Project" and identify your working groups. Be ready to discuss article assigned and your project.

• 5/8-9 • Current topics include the AP Test (in review), introduction of "Making History" project. Read: "Impious Europe" (handout) Assignment: Submit proposal of general and specific idea of where to head in "Making History Project" and identify your working groups. Be ready to discuss article assigned and your project.

• 5/4-5 • Current topics include essay writing review, political review, and Stalin versus Hitler AP Test: I hope you all did well on the test. We will talk about it when you return.

• 5/1-2 • Current topics include the Cold War and totalitarianism Remember: Get a good night's sleep the night before the test or your grade will not reflect your abilities. AP Test: Use your time wisely and study for the test on May 5th.

• 4/24-5 • Current topics include turning points of WW2, Operation Overlord. Read: McKay pp. 989-1000 (Sophs & Srs); McKay pp. 989-1000, 1001-1013 (Jrs) Study: There will be a reading quiz next week, first cycle. Use your time wisely and study for the test on May 5th.

• 4/19-21 • Current topics include the road to WW2, the Munich Pact, and the Holocaust Read: McKay pp. 957 through the end of Chapter 29 Study: Use your time wisely and study for the test on May 5th.

• 4/17-8 • Current topics include the rise of Adolf Hitler and fascism, post-war politics, and the start of WW2 Read: McKay pp. 953-957 through “Radical Totalitarian” & pp. 966-971, “Hitler" section QoD: Write your own quality question and answer it.

• 4/3-4 • Current topics include the Russian Revolution & the rise (and fall) of liberal Europe. There is a Unit Test next class on the Great War. Assignment: Study for the Unit Test next class.

• 3/30-1 • Current topics include strategies and weapons of the Western Front, "Total War" Read: McKay pp. 904-10 Assignment: DBQ handed out in class

• 3/26-7 • Current topics include strategies and weapons of the Western Front, "Total War" Read: McKay pp. 897-904, 911-916 "Peace Settlement" QoD: 1) Was it fair for the Allies to blame Germany for WWI at the Versailles talks? Explain your position.

• 3/23-4 • Current topics include pre-war tensions, invasion of Belgium, death of cavalry, Schlieffen Plan Read: "Never to Rise Again" from Krupp (handout) QoD: 1) Should Gustav Krupp have been tried as a war criminal?

• 3/20-1 • Current topics include alliance system of pre-war Europe, the start of WWI, and the German blame game  Read: Wells WWI sec. 8 (handout) and McKay pp. 895-900 from “The Marne” thru “Widening" QoD: 1) Is there any hint of Wells’ British affiliation in his description of the war he lived through? 2) Reflect on how the Germans could have better prepared for the war.

• 3/16-7 • Current topics include the MAIN causes of WWI, complex alliance system, effect of realpolitik Read: Tignor “Cultural Modernism” pp. 329-31, 48 (handout) QoD: 1) Did modernism set the stage for WWI as some have suggested or was WWI an effect of “pre-modern” thinking? 2) How much did modernism reflect the anxiety of post-industrial, pre-war Europe?

• 3/13-4 • Took unit test. Read: McKay p. 887 (intro) to p. 895 (end of "Discussions on the Outbreak") QoD: 1) What, in your best estimation, was the most important systemic cause of the Great War? Explain your argument and give clear examples.

• 3/9-10 • Current topics include power politics leading up to WWI, utilitarianism, imperial motives Assignment: Get ready for test next week in the first cycle. (#4 on Monday, #5 on Tuesday). 

• 3/7-8 • Current topics include the Pan-Slavic movement, reign of Abdulhamid II, realpolitik, utilitarianism, and power politics leading up to WWI Read: Study McKay Ch. 24-26 Assignment: Get ready for test next week.

• 3/2-3 • Current topics include Victorian Britain, modes & methods of imperialism, the fall of the Ottoman Empire, and the Dreyfus Affair Read: McKay “Reactions to Imperialism” pp. 877-882 QoD: Write your own this time. make sure it is broad and covers the topic at hand. Make sure it also asks you to "judge" something and that it is high-level. Answer it.

• 2/27-8 • Current topics include late 19th century political parties and Germany  Read: McKay “Imperialism” pp. 868-877 QoD: 1) How much of a factor was the "cult of science" in the development of new imperialism? 2) How did African imperialism of the Victorian era break with the sort of imperialism that preceded it?

• 2/23-4 • Current topics include the reign of Wilhelm II, Kaiserliche Marine, Victorian political parties Read: McKay “The Great Migration” pp. 863-8 QoD: 1) What played the greatest role in the mass emigration of the “Great Migration?” (i.e. political troubles, war, overcrowding, economic difficulty, modernization, etc.) Make your argument using specific examples.

• 2/21-2 • Current topics include document analysis (APPARTS) and the German Empire Read: McKay “Industrialization...” pp. 855-863 QoD: 1) Was the British involvement in the Opium War justified? Why or why not? 2) How much of a role did late 19th century industrialization play in the rise of the second wave of  imperialism?

• 2/16-7 • Current topics include differing perspectives of German Unification, the relation of Victorian imperialism and technology Read: McKay “Modernization of Russia” pp. 835-838 and “Marxism and the Socialist Movement” pp. 846-50 QoD: 1) What conclusions can you draw about Alexander II’s rule in Russia? Was he a good leader or a poor one for Russia at the time? 2) Was Marxism, in its pure form, a good solution to the problems of the masses in Europe?

• 2/14-5 • Current topics include the rise of Bismarck, the Franco-Prussian War, and Paris Commune. Read: McKay "The Responsive National State" pp. 838-846 QoD: 1) Were Bismarck’s policies effective in strengthening Germany's position as a major world power? How so or how not? 2) How was nationalism in the second half of the 19th century different from the nationalism of the classical liberals? Explain using specific examples.

• 2/9-10 • Current topics include the rise of the German nation, the Seven Weeks' War Read: "Paris 1870-71" (handout) QoD: 1) Who was the more legitimate controller of the government in Paris: the Paris Commune or the Versaillist forces of the emperor?  2) If you were a Paris communard, what would have been your response to the report in the London Daily News?

• 2/6-7 • Current topics include career of Napoleon III, fate of industrial cities. Read: McKay pp. 812-7 "Science and Thought" QoD: 1) To what extent was the rise of the "cult of science" an effect of the Industrial Revolution? 2) What dangers exist politically and philosophically because of the rise of the "cult of science?"

• 2/2-3 • Current topic is the 1848 revolutions and their political consequences. Read: McKay pp. 787-95 "Taming the City" QoD: 1) What, do you feel, was the biggest problem early industrial cities faced  in the mid-1800’s?  2) What was the most effective way to rid the cities of disease? 

• 1/30-1 • Current topic is the 1848 revolutions and its consequences. Read: House of Krupp Ch. 4. (handout) QoD: 1) What would Alfred Krupp think of the 1848 revolutions? Justify. 2) What effect do you feel the unification will have on Krupp’s steel business? Was it the reason or part of the reason Krupp became a great power in the industry?

• 1/24 • Semester Exam taken

• 1/19-20 • Current topics include the Concert of Europe & 19th century art movements. Final exams are scheduled. Block 4 (Tuesday 1/24  8:30 a.m.); Block 5 (Tuesday 1/24 10:20 a.m.)

• 1/17-8 • Current topics include the Age of Metternich, 19th century political and social direction. Read: McKay Ch. 25 pp. 823-833. (If you have time begin Ch. 24 pp. 787-804.) QoD: 1) Was the unification of Germany beneficial to the "German" people? to Europe in general? Explain your argument.

• 1/12-3 • Current topics include mid-19th century political movements, role of Napoleon in mid-19th politics, Congress of Vienna. QoD: Define the political status of these three characters from mid-19th century Europe using quotes from their own writings, which can be found all over the Internet.   Metternich, Tocqueville, & Marx. What are their opinions on 1) property rights, 2) monarchies, 3) democracy ?

• 1/9-10 • Current topic is construction of history and the 19th century "ism's".  Read: McKay "Mazzini" pp. 784-5 and begin Ch. 25. QoD:  1) How, do you feel, the 1848 Revolutions affected the outlook of this later writing by Mazzini? 2) Compare your beliefs about what makes a nation with Mazzini’s. How are they different and similar?