History of the Holocaust

HST 230    Introduction, Context and the Dreyfus Affair

I. Introduction
A. Course Website
	- bookmark it!
B. Reading Assignments
C. Course Grade Breakdown
	- no extra credit; no curve
D. Class Schedule
E. Other Important Items
F. Field Trip to the Holocaust Memorial Center (MAP)
G. Attendance
H. Document Analysis Assignment - sections of Anne Frank's Diary

II. Context
A. What was the Holocaust and why should we study it?
B. European antisemitism [MAP]
	1. Medieval and Early Modern antisemitism
		a. treatment in the Roman Empire and early medieval Europe
		b. religious revival and reform in the High Middle Ages
		c. the Crusades - the beginning of violent antisemitism
		d. occupational separation
		e. physical separation - the ghetto
		f. visual separation - clothing
		g. expulsion from various kingdoms
	2. the French Revolution
		a. equality
		b. citizenship
		c. occupational freedom
	3. the 19th century
		a. Industrial Revolution
		b. horrible working and living conditions
		c. successful Jews became scapegoats

III. Discussion: the Dreyfus Affair

Discussion Topics
1. Was the power of the press positive or negative during the Dreyfus Affair?
2. Would Dreyfus have spent the rest of his life on Devil's Island had it not been for Emile Zola?
3. Theodor Herzl was a Hungarian Jewish journalist covering the Dreyfus Affair.  His reaction 
to it was to promote Zionism, the idea that Jews should leave Europe and develop a separate 
state in Palestine.  Was this an overreaction?
4. How does the Dreyfus Affair foreshadow the Holocaust?
5. Does the Dreyfus Affair resonate in the US today?