"To be sure, the America that awaited the dawn of 1900 was by no means ready for its eventual role as guardian of what we now call the free world.  The years around the turn from the nineteenth to the twentieth century became the hinge of a new age . . ."  (New York Times editorial, December 31, 1999).

            Through an examination of domestic and international factors and events, this class will examine what is sometimes referred to as the "American Century" in international affairs.  Using a combination of lectures and discussion sessions, this course will not only assess the historic nature of America's relationship with the world but also lend insight into where the nation might be headed in the future.

Michael C. Wall, Ph.D., Georgetown University; Professorial Lecturer in History, Georgetown University.