US-China Relations in Historical Perspec

The relationship between China and the United States is now, and will likely continue to be, the most important international relationship of our era. But this relationship has a long history, which we must study if we wish to understand present and future challenges and opportunities more fully. In this course, students will explore diverse aspects of the history of Sino-American relations since the early nineteenth century. We will cover major episodes such as the Boxer intervention, the first and second world wars, the Korean War, the Mao-Nixon rapprochement, and the post-Mao relationship. We will also examine central themes such as trade, migration, cultural perceptions, war, and revolution. It is also designed to help undergraduate students develop and complete historical research projects of their own, using archival materials to answer questions of contemporary policy relevance.