Many commentators believe that the United States is a declining power. History records many great powers that controlled large geographic areas in their time, and dominated their opponents, but later faded or disappeared. Mainly using factors discussed in Paul Kennedy's book, The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers (published in 1987), and selected newspaper/magazine articles, we will consider some recent and ancient great powers and the factors involved in their rise and fall, including the Roman, Habsburg, Ottoman, Austrian, and British empires. We will then discuss factors contributing to the rise and fall of great powers, updating the factors proposed by Kennedy in 1987, if necessary. Finally, we will consider where the United States and China stand on a "rise and fall continuum". As Yogi Berra famously said, "It is difficult to make predictions, especially about the future," so there will be lots of opportunities for discussion and exchange of views.