HIST 271
Fall 2011
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
EAST 270, SISP 271 |
| Certificates: International Relations |
The dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 was a pivotal moment in the 20th century. This course examines how Japanese history and the history of science and technology came to intersect at this time. It begins by examining the emergence of Japanese imperialism in the 19th century and how that led to Japan's war with the United States. Separately, it also examines the development of nuclear physics and the technology that created the bombs. It then looks at the political and cultural dimensions of these bombings, raising the question to what degree the bombs led to Japan's surrender and the impact the bombs had on both the Japanese and American peoples. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Ethical Reasoning
This course examines ethical issues such as: whether dropping the bomb on Japan was justified; how the atomic bomb should be remembered; what the ethical consequences might be if there was no decision to drop the bomb and if the historical record is ambiguous regarding the bomb's importance in ending the war in the Pacific; what leads scientists and engineers to develop weapons of mass destruction.
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS HIST |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (CEAS-Arcp/Hist) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Richard Rhodes, THE MAKING OF THE ATOMIC BOMB
J. Samuel Walker, PROMPT AND UTTER DESTRUCTION
Tsuyoshi Hasegawa, RACING THE ENEMY
Mark Selden, VOICES FROM HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI
Various State Department and other primary source materials.
DIARY OF ABE SPITZER (Spitzer Collection, online)
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Examinations and Assignments:
(Tentative)
Quiz
Short paper
Exam or final paper |
| Instructor(s): Johnston,William D. Times: .M.W... 02:40PM-04:00PM; Location: FISK302; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 40 | | SR major: 9 | JR major: 9 | | |
| Seats Available: 3 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 3 | JR non-major: 3 | SO: 8 | FR: 8 |
| Web Resources: Syllabus |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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