We will study the major turning points that shaped the modern world, from the late eighteenth century through the present, including the cause and course of the two world wars. We will trace the rise of democratic ideas and develop an understanding of the historical roots of current world issues, especially as they pertain to international relations. From this students will be able to extrapolate from the American experience that democratic ideals are often achieved at a high price, remain vulnerable, and are not practiced everywhere in the world. Students will develop an understanding of current world issues and relate them to their historical, geographic, political, economic, and cultural contexts. Students will consider multiple accounts of events in order to understand international relations from a variety of perspectives.