History 282-51

Dr. James Scarry

Modern China


Office Hours:  10:00-10:50 MWF & by appointment
AD 253

Course Description: This course surveys Chinese history emphasizing the modern era of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Students will acquire an understanding of political and social developments within China and its relations with foreign powers, especially the United States. As part of this class students will also study, practice and develop the skills of historical study, critical thinking, research and writing. Instruction will integrate lectures, discussion, and audio visual media.

Readings:  Edwin E. Moise, Modern China: A History 2nd ed. 1994
Cheng, Lestz and Spence, The Search for Modern China: A Documentary Collection 1989
Nien Cheng, Life and Death in Shanghai 1988

Course Outline: (Documents as Assigned in Class)  
8/28 INTRODUCTION Moise, Introduction
8/30 OLD CHINA Moise, Chap 1
9/1 CONFUCIANISM  
  LABOR DAY  
9/6 BUDDHISM  
9/8 CHINA AND THE WEST Moise, Chap 2
9/11 THE OPIUM WAR  
9/13 WESTERN DOMINANCE  
9/15 THE BOXER REBELLION  
9/18 ACTIVISM and REFORM  
9/20 THE REVOLUTION OF 1911  
9/22 THE ERA OF THE WARLORDS  
9/25 THE MAY FOURTH MOVEMENT  
9/27 CHINA and COMMUNISM Moise, Chap 3
9/29 COMMUNISM and NATIONALISM  
10/2 JIANG JIESHI and THE GUOMINDANG  
10/4 EXAM 1  
10/6 THE PEOPLE and MAO ZEDONG Moise, Chap 4
10/9 THE LONG MARCH  
10/11 JAPANESE AGGRESSION  
  FALL BREAK  
10/16 NATIONALIST v. COMMUNIST RESISTANCE  
10/18 CHINA and WORLD WAR II Moise, Chap 5
10/20 CHINA'S CIVIL WAR  
10/23 CHINA and THE COLD WAR  
10/25 THE CHINA LOBBY and THE LOSS OF CHINA  
10/27 COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT Moise, Chap 6
10/30 COLLECTIVIZATION  
11/1 INDUSTRIALIZATION  
11/3 EXAM 2  
11/6 THE GREAT LEAP FORWARD Moise, Chap 7
  ELECTION DAY  
11/8 REBUILDING FROM DISASTER  
11/10 CHINA'S FOREIGN POLICIES  
11/13 BECOMING A NUCLEAR POWER  
11/15 THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION, part I Moise, Chap 8
11/17 THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION, part II Nien Cheng
11/20 THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION, part III  
11/21 NIXON and THE THREE WAY GAME  
  THANKSGIVING BREAK  
11/27 REFORM AFTER MAO  Moise, Chap 9
11/29 DENG XIAOPING and THE NEW CHINA  
12/1 THE DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT IN CHINA Moise, Chap 10
12/4 TIENANMEN SQUARE  
12/6 SINCE TIENANMEN  
12/8 CHINA TODAY  
12/13   FINAL 8:00-9:50  

Every student has the right to learn as well as the responsibility not to deprive others of their right to learn. In order to establish a classroom environment that promotes academic learning seating may be restricted and students must refrain from eating, using pagers, cell phones or personal stereos in the class. If classroom distractions interfere with your ability to participate and learn please bring them to the attention of the instructor.


Attendance, punctuality and class participation are essential for all students in all class sessions. This is an information intensive course and your participation in class is necessary for you to gain the most benefit from the course. Be prepared to discuss and ask questions about the readings by finishing the assignments before the meeting indicated on the schedule. Approximately ten percent of your final grade will be based on attendance and class participation. Whenever students must be absent from class for reasons other than illness they are required to consult the instructor beforehand. Students are allowed three (3) absences during the term. If an exam must be missed for any reason, students must notify the instructor, in advance, in order to make up the exam. Students arriving to class late (don't make it a habit) should do so quietly and without drawing attention to themselves.


Mid-Term exams will be worth 100 points each. Each exam will be composed of one essay covering the lectures and textbook worth 60 points, and five identification terms worth eight points apiece. The Final will be worth 150 points and contain the following additional essay for 50 points:

Consider the themes, events or controversies we have discussed this semester. What, in your opinion, has been the most significant for the development of Modern China? You must make a choice, and support your conclusions with specific detail.

This is a "process" question intended to test your ability to use the historical skills outlined in the course objectives. What you choose to discuss is less important than your ability to form, advance and support a point of view.


A research paper worth 100 points toward the final grade will be required of each student. Papers are to be 7 pages in length, typed (free of errors), double spaced and will be due November 21. Students must analyze the sources used for their interpretations and synthesize them into an overall viewpoint. Topics must be cleared with the professor with a proposed bibliography by September 27. Late papers will be penalized one letter grade (ten points) per week. Detailed instructions for the assignment will be presented in a separate handout.


Grades will be calculated on the scale 90-100% A, 80-89% B, 70-79% C, 60-69% D. Plus and minus grades will be assigned as appropriate. In borderline cases the instructor will make the final determination based on improvement.


Students are required to complete all work assigned for this class as scheduled in this syllabus. Work turned in after the assigned date will be subject to a half letter grade penalty for each class period late.


Academic Honesty, expected of every student as a member of the University community, is essential to the process of education and to upholding high ethical standards. Cheating or any other kind of unethical behavior may subject the student to severe academic penalties, including failure of the course and possible expulsion. This policy and will be enforced in this class. (See student Handbook)

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