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Course Overview
This course focuses specifically
on the creation, use and aftermath of the Atom bomb.
Students will study the development
of the A-Bomb as an icon in World History, with particular attention
to United States' foreign and domestic policies; public opinion;
and global perceptions.
Questions discussed may include,
but are certainly not limited to:
What was the reasoning behind
the development of the Atom bomb?
Why was it dropped over Hiroshima?
What were the immediate reactions of the military, the general
public, the scientific community and U.S. government officials?
How has the existence of 'the bomb' been represented and absorbed
into popular culture or lifestyles?
Why have atomic weapons remained unused despite continued global
conflict?
Does this illustrate the success of deterrents or merely underscore
the uselessness of such unfocused power?
What are the responsibilities of scientists with regard to their
discoveries?
And what obligations do such discoveries place on those in political
power?
Sample Bibliography
Course readings may include selections
from:
Boyer, Paul.By the Bombs Early
Light
Brodie, Bernard. The absolute weapon: atomic power and world
order
Cottrell, Leonard S. & Sylvia Eberhart. American opinion
on world affairs in the atomic age
Dan, Jean & Ruth Sieben-Morgen (trans.) Children of the
A-bomb, the testament of the boys and girls of Hiroshima
Del Tredici, Robert. At work in the Fields of the Bomb
Giovannitti, Lenand & Fred Freed. The decision to drop
the bomb
Hershey, John. Hiroshima
Laurence, William L. Dawn over zero: the story of the atomic
bomb
Levine, Herbert M. & David Carlton. The nuclear arms race
debated
Lefever, Ernest W. Nuclear arms in the Third World: U.S. policy
dilemma
Loeb, Paul. Nuclear culture : living and working in the world's
largest atomic complex
Masters, Dexter & Katharine Way. One world or none
Millot, Marc Dean, et al, "The day after..." study
: nuclear proliferation in the post-Cold War world
O'Hefferman, et al. The First Nuclear World War
Robertson, Gene D. "A Scientist Remembers Hiroshima and
Nagasaki", in STANDARDS 5:2
Zuckerman, Sally. Nuclear Illusion and Reality
Sample Syllabus
This course is interdisciplinary,
and will rely heavily upon period print, film and audio media,
to illustrate the varied means by which 'the bomb' entered U.S.
culture. Following from the history survey courses, extensive
use of library periodical resources and the immense variety of
Internet documents shall be a mandatory and integral part of
the course. It is also intended that e-mail advisors be established
at a wide variety of sites connected with the issues of atomic
weaponry or power sources. These contacts will be allocated after
focus topics have been chosen by the students, probably in the
third week of the semester. Contacts may represent establishments
such as Lockheed, Martin Marietta, Rockwell International, the
National Atomic Museum in Albuquerque, Los Alamos research labs
in New Mexico, the Senate Arms Committee, The U.S. Department
of Energy, Greenpeace etc.
Students will be expected to
incorporate two referenced periodical articles into each term
paper; four such articles will be referenced in the final paper.
Relevance of the material is entirely subject to the focus of
the report; sources will not be unacceptable simply by being
traditionally "non-academic."
Group discussions will be a central
part of the course structure, with groups often being assigned
differing documents for discussion. This allows for a broader
scope of material and should encourage students to view themselves
and their classmates as teaching assistants. It also generates
a strong environment for discussion and debate.
Students shall complete two one-page
papers, each contributing 20% to the individual final grade;
and a focus project worth 40% of the final grade. A final 20%
of the student grade will comprise of grading for class participation
and for a continual log book of reactions to each class.
Each unexcused absence after
three will drop the grade by one-half point; that is, if the
student is earning a B and has four unexcused absences, the overall
grade will be no higher than B-; five absences will drop the
overall grade to a C+, and so on.
Late materials will be accepted
throughout the semester, but will normally be down-graded, unless
for an excused absence. ALL MATERIALS MUST BE TYPED AND, IF LONGER
THAN ONE PAGE, STAPLED, OR THEY WILL NOT BE READ.
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