The American Civil War and Reconstruction
Special Topics in American History
The American Civil War and Reconstruction
Spring 2014
John R. Seitter
50:512:320:14824
(Meetings by appointment)
Phone 856-816-1648
REQUIRED TEXTS:
BATTLE CRY OF FREDOM: THE CIVIL WAR ERA, McPherson, James M.
A SHORT HISTORY OF RECONSTRUCTION, Foner, Eric
SELECTED READINGS: During this course I will hand out approximately 6 journal articles or sections from a particular historic monograph. These readings will coincide with a particular week’s lecture topic. Students are required to discuss these readings in open class conversations. The contents from these selections will be included in exams. This discussion will play a major part in your class participation grade.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will provide students the opportunity for an in-depth study of the American Civil War and the era of Reconstruction that followed. The utilization of McPherson’s and Foner’s texts will allow us to incorporate a narrative format in our studies. Readings, class lectures and presentations will provide you with a study of the United States of America in the years 1861-1876 that begins on the battlefields of the American Civil War and ends with the elections of 1876 and the end of Reconstruction. Issues of military strategy, race, politics, economics and gender will all be addressed and discussed in detail.
GOALS: To provide you with a multi-dimensional view of the American Civil War and Reconstruction. Goals to be achieved in this class are the ability to place historic events into a narrative context, both in the written and spoken word and to understand the complexity of how historic events take place. I expect you to leave this course with more questions asked than answered. For in reality, history is not the skill of knowing the answers but of asking the right questions.
SKILLS: You will have the opportunity to develop skills that will benefit you in both academic and professional environments. Good note taking is a key in your successful completion of this course. During lecture I will utilize the white board and PowerPoint to present materials that will aide you in your studies. During class discussion I will inform you as to what may later appear on exams and be useful for your final paper. Finally, the art of reading and disseminating large amounts of data and translating them into useful information, in class discussions, papers and exams is a crucial skill to successful students and professionals.
GRADES
EXAMS
(70%)
There will be a midterm and final. They will not be cumulative. The instructor reserves the right to administer up to two quizzes during the semester.
PAPER
(20%)
You are required to write a 8 to 10 page paper based a question issued by the instructor on the first day of class. Each paper will have a minimum of 5 outside sources (other than the course text and assigned readings). No more than 3 of these can be material utilized via the Internet. Each paper should have a complete bibliography and footnotes. Yes, spelling and grammar count. Papers must be double spaced with 1.25” side margins.
CLASS PARTICIPATION
(10%)
Students are required to take an active part during class discussions. Individuals will be required to hand in a question concerning each week’s readings of McPherson. Inattention in class as well as lateness and absences will adversely affect this portion of your grade.
Section 1 (April 1861 to October 1863)
Tuesday January 14, 2014
Course Introduction
Video: The Civil War by Ken Burns Part 1, The Cause
Tuesday January 26, 2010
READING: McPherson 3-46
Lecture: The United States 1846-1860
Tuesday February 2, 2010
READING: McPherson, 308-368
Discussion: The Confederacy and Union prepare for War
Tuesday February 9, 2010
READING: McPherson 454-545
Lecture: The End of Limited War and The Emancipation Proclamation.
Tuesday February 16, 2010
READING: McPherson 591-625
Lecture Military Situation Winter to Spring 1863
Article: The Dialogue of Politics: Loyalty and Unity, 1863-1864
Tuesday February 23, 2010
READING: McPherson 626- 665
Lecture: The Battle of Gettysburg: A Battle on Two Fronts
Article: Union City: Philadelphia and the Battle of Gettysburg
Tuesday March 2, 2010
READING: McPherson 666-688
Lecture: Battles in the West
Review for Midterm
Tuesday March 9, 2010
MIDTERM
Paper Outline and Bibliography Due
Section 2 May 1864 to April 1865
Tuesday March 23, 2010
READING: McPherson 689-717
Lecture: The Politics of Winning the War and Women and the Civil War
Article: The Women’s Civil War
Tuesday March 30, 2010
READING: McPherson 718-750
Lecture: The Spring Campaign of 1864 and African Americans and the Civil War
Article: The Black Peoples Civil War
Tuesday April 6, 2010
READING: McPherson 751-862
Lecture: Military Campaigns, the Election of 1864 and the end of the War
(Grant, Sherman and Sheridan, oh-my)
Article: A Strategy of Annihilation: U.S. Grant and the Union
Tuesday April 13, 2010
READING: Foner 16-81
Lecture: The Making of Reconstruction
Tuesday April 20, 2010
READING: Foner 82-179
Lecture: Presidential vs. Radical Reconstruction
Tuesday April 27, 2010
READING: Foner 180-237
The End of Reconstruction & Review
Tuesday May 11, 2010
Papers Due
Final Exam
Research Paper Query: TBA