Texts required for the course: 

Charles Sowerwine, France Since 1870: Culture, Politics, Society 

William Cohen, ed.  The Transformation of Modern France 

Leo Loubère, The Red and the White: The History of Wine in Italy and France 

Emile Zola, The Ladies' Paradise

Among the films to be shown for the course:
Paris 1900 - La belle époque.  Nicole Vedrès, 1947 

Au Revoir les Enfants. Louis Malle, dir. 1987. 

De Gaulle and France. Three-part documentary, 1991. 

Course Requirements: 
    Students are responsible for all material listed on this syllabus; class attendance is expected and participation in class discussions will be evaluated in the determination of the final grade. 
   Four papers are required as indicated during the semester.  No paper will be accepted for credit which lacks appropriate citations. The History department's policy on citation can be found on the History Department web page. 
   The four papers should be approximately five pages, double-spaced, with appropriate citations of research; those papers which deal with fictional works or films should include specific references to the film or novel under discussion and to historical materials which are relevant to the argument. 
     These papers will be graded for depth, accuracy, insight, and use of evidence. 

Grading: 
Papers                  60% 
Final Exam            20% 
Class participation 20% 

Assignments: 
September 4  A Revolutionary Tradition

Sep 8, 9, 11   The Triumph of the Republic
Charles Sowerwine, France Since 1870: Culture, Politics, Society, chapter 1, 2, 3 
Janet Polasky, "The Legacy of the French Revolution," Transformation of Modern France

Sep 15, 16, 18  The Third Republic and French Society
France Since 1870: Culture, Politics, Society, chapter 4 
Kathryn Amdur, "The Making of the French Working Class," Transformation of Modern France
Emile Zola, Ladies' Paradise

Sep 22, 23, 25  French Culture and the Culture of the Vine 
France Since 1870: Culture, Politics, Society, chapter 5 
Leo Loubère, The Red and the White: The History of Wine in Italy and France, chap. 6-8, 10 
Patricia Prestwich, "Food and Drink in France," Transformation of Modern France

Sep 27 Trip to a vineyard 

Sep 29, 30, Oct 2 The Belle Epoque
France Since 1870: Culture, Politics, Society, chapters 6, 7 
William Cohen, "The Development of an Urban Society," and Donald Reid, "The Role of the Intellectual," Transformation of Modern France
Paris 1900  [film] 

Oct 6, 7, 9  Imperialism and the Third Republic
William Hoisington, "Colonial Mission: France Overseas,"  and Karen Offen, "Women, Citizenship, and Suffrage," Transformation of Modern France
Jean de Florette  [film] 

Oct 13, 14 Columbus Day Weekend 

Oct 16, 20, 21, 23   The Great War
France Since 1870: Culture, Politics, Society, chapter 8 
William Keylor, "France and the First World War," Transformation of Modern France 

Oct 27, 28, 30   The Popular Front 
France Since 1870: Culture, Politics, Society, chapter 11, 12 

Nov 3, 4, 6   The Fall of France and Vichy
France Since 1870: Culture, Politics, Society, chapters 13, 14 
Au revoir les enfants  [film] 
 

Nov 10, 11, 13    Liberated France, Legacies of War and Resistance
France Since 1870: Culture, Politics, Society, chapters 15, 16 
De Gaulle and France [video] 
Marguerite Duras, "Monsieur X" [photocopy] 
J. E. Talbott, "Vichy and Resistance France," Transformation of Modern France

Nov 17, 18, 20  The Cold War,  Vietnam
France Since 1870: Culture, Politics, Society, chapter 18 

Nov 24, 25   The American Challenge, The Algerian War
France Since 1870: Culture, Politics, Society, chap. 19, 20, 21 
 Richard Kuisel, "The French Search for Modernity"  from Transformation of Modern France

Nov 26 - 28 Thanksgiving Break 

Dec 1, 2, 4   After DeGaulle, A United Europe
France Since 1870: Culture, Politics, Society, chapters 24, 25, 26 
F. Roy Willis, "France and the European Union" from Transformation of Modern France

Dec 8, 9  France and the World
France Since 1870: Culture, Politics, Society, chapters 27, 28 
"The Crescent and the Tricolor" [article on E-Res]
Dec 19  Final Examination