Course description
The primary aim of this course is to examine the place of Ireland in the British Empire and the imperial experiences of the Irish people.  We will cover the main themes of Irish history from the Tudor conquest to the outbreak of the Troubles, all the while being attuned to the broader imperial context.  Ireland was arguably England’s first colony; it was also among the first to assert its independence.  We will explore English methods of conquest and colonization, Irish modes of resistance, and the constantly changing nature of the so-called “Irish question.”  While the English and Scottish colonized the Emerald Isle, the Irish colonized other parts of the world.  Indeed, Irish migration is one of the most salient themes of imperial history.  We will look at the Irish in the Caribbean, North America, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand; we will explore the contribution of Irish soldiers, sailors, officers, merchants, colonial servants, and others to the building of the British Empire.  We will see why the British feared the emergence of “New Irelands” overseas, with United Irishmen, Young Irelanders, Fenians, and Orangemen passionately asserting their opinions in the colonies.  Finally, we will place Irish history in comparative perspective, examining processes and events like colonization, famine, colonial nationalism, partition, and civil war in light of the ways they played out in other parts of the British Empire.


Textbooks [available at Gator Textbooks, 3501 SW 2nd Ave., Suite D (374-4500)]:

Joseph Cohill, Ireland: A Short History (Oxford: Oneworld, 2005) $19.95 new

J. G. Farrell, The Troubles (NYRB, 2002) $16.95 new

EUH 3533 Coursepack c. $35 [available at Target Copy, 1412 W University Ave (376-3826)]

Selected reading on ARES (electronic reserves)


Attendance policy and expectations
Students are expected to attend class. Late work will not be accepted without penalty.  Please make every effort to apprise the instructor of adverse circumstances that affect your ability to attend class or complete assignments on time. Official documentation is required to excuse an absence and to schedule make-up assignments.  Please keep electronic distractions to a minimum. While you may feel perfectly comfortable multi-tasking in lectures, it is disturbing to the instructor and to those around you. If your behavior proves distracting, you will be asked to leave. History classes are most rewarding when students interact with the texts, each other, and the instructor on a sustained basis. Readings provide the raw material for class discussion, where much of the learning takes place.  Effective class participation is therefore essential. Students can expect a respectful atmosphere in which to express their opinions. In writing papers, be certain to give proper credit whenever you use words, phrases, ideas, arguments, and conclusions drawn from someone else’s work.  Failure to give credit by quoting and/or footnoting is PLAGIARISM and is unacceptable. Please review the University’s honesty policy at http://www.dso.ufl.edu. Please do not hesitate to contact the instructor during the semester if you have any individual concerns or issues that need to be discussed. Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office.  The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the instructor when requesting accommodation.


Assignments and grading [grade scale]
Papers
Paper 1 [Sept 14]: based on documents, course pack, and outside readings (15%) [guidelines]
Paper 2 [Dec 2]: based on Farrell's The Troubles and limited outside research (15%) [guidelines]


Activities and short assignments (10%)

18th-c activity report [Sept 23] [guidelines]
Out of Ireland response paper [Oct 26]
Emigrant letters [Nov 2] [guidelines]

optional extra-credit assignment: Historical memory exercise
Choose one person, place, or event we're studying in class. Conduct research to find out how the person, place, or event is commemorated in Ireland. Has commemoration led to any controversies? Write a 2-3-page report. Due any time before the last class (though it's better if you complete it while we are studying your person, place, or event.)


Tests
Map quiz [Aug 31] (5%)

Two tests [Oct 7; Nov 21] (10% each): fill-in-the-blank and document identifications [guidelines]

Exit essay [Dec 16] (15%) [guidelines]


Participation (20%)

• attendance: if you miss a class without notifying the instructor and/or presenting documentation, your overall grade will be deducted by three points.
  
  
• contributions to class discussions: effective class participation entails sharing your impressions of the reading, exploring authors' arguments, offering critiques, and engaging in debates with other students. For each discussion, you will receive points as follow:

3 points: sustained engagement
2 points: limited contribution
1 point: in attendance but no contribution; limited contribution but tardy
0 points: absent

At the end of the semester, I will average your points and assign grades based on the spread (0-3).