Development promises to raise standards of living and improve material and social outcomes for the poorest people in the world. This course examines what development takes for granted: that there are people to be helped and people that can help; that programs can be measured and assessed in terms of failure and success; and that the proper information and expertise can transform everyday lives. From maternal and child health in South Asia to community work with West Indian Migrants in Britain, this writing intensive and discussion-based course investigates twentieth century social welfare projects in the British Imperial world. We will read and critically analyze primary sources—memoirs, government reports, ethnographies, novels, and films—to understand imperial development visions and their impact on colonial subjects. Writing assignments will demand the identification and interpretation of sources, the thoughtful consideration of the work of other historians, and the development and organization of an original argument. Workshops throughout the semester will provide students the opportunity to respectfully comment on each other’s work and to receive feedback from their peers. Ultimately, this course will help students understand the contemporary politics of development through investigation of its roots in the imperial past.