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(Photo by Joe O'Connell, 5 February 2005)

POLI 100K: RAILROADS AND AMERICAN POLITICS

Summer Session I, 2008
Department of Political Science
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, CA, 92093-0521

 Classroom: CENTR 203
Time: 2:00 - 4:50PM TuTh


 Instructor: Keith T. Poole

Office: Room 368 Social Sciences Building
Office Hours: Thursday, 2:00 - 4:00 or by appointment
E-Mail: KPoole@ucsd.edu
WebSite: Voteview Home Page


The following texts will be used in this course:

Requirements

Grades will be determined by two examinations -- one mid-quarter exam and a final exam. The exams will consist of short answer questions. The midterm will be worth 1/3 and the final 2/3 of the course grade.

The midterm will be a take home exam handed out at the end of class on Thursday, July 17. The exam will be due back at the beginning of class on Tuesday, July 22.

The final is scheduled for Saturday, August 2nd from 11:30AM to 2:29PM. (The exam will be 2 hours during this block).

The final exam will be closed-book closed-note -- no computers, PDAs, or cell phones allowed.

Course Outline
  1. Introduction: Why are Railroads Important?

    Assignment:

  2. American Politics, Economics, and Business prior to the Railroads: 1800 - 1830

    Assignment:

  3. Railroads as Big Business

    Assignment:

  4. Andrew Carnegie, the Standard Railway of the World, and the Industrialization of the U.S.

    Assignment:

  5. The Nature of Railroad Competition

    Assignment:

  6. Railroads and the Development of Agriculture

    Assignment:

    7. Midterm

  7. Railroads and Government Regulation: 1887-1920

    Assignment:

    8. Final Exam (due Monday, 4 August 2008 by 12:00 Noon)

  8. Railroads Triumphant: 1980 - 2001

    Assignment:

  9. Railroads and the Future of the American Transportation System