OSHER 475 - America's Role in the Cold War, 1918 to 1990

The shadow of the Cold War was a constant presence in our childhoods. Now, as adults, we can examine America's involvement more objectively, discussing the continued influence this period has had on world affairs. We will focus on traditional views regarding American foreign policy and recent revisions to theories that guided Americans during the period. We will look at events from the end of World War I to the breakup of the Soviet Union, exploring American reactions to presumed Communist provocations. This will include moments in the Korean and Vietnam wars that demonstrate how deeply American policy makers believed in the containment policy and the domino theory.