This lecture course will take a broad view of the political, social, economic, and cultural history of the United States in the mid-19th century in order to explore both the causes of the Civil War and its effects on American development. Major topics will include slavery and race relations (north and south), class relations and industrialization, the organization of party politics, and changing ideas about and uses of government power.

The devastating military conflict between the Confederacy and the Union between 1861 and 1865 remains one of the most studied and contested events in the history of the United States. Whereas whole courses are devoted to the war itself, this class zooms out to explore the larger period in which the war was centered. Although we will discuss the causes and consequences of the Civil War and the experience of soldiers and civilians during the four years that it lasted, this is not a military history and does not concern itself it primarily with battlefields, strategies, or outcomes. Instead, it is a broad history of the United States in the 1850s, 1860s, and 1870s, with a special focus on race relations, partisan politics, popular culture, religion, gender, class conflict, and white-Indian relations. Requirements include 2 in-class midterm exams, 2 short document analyses, and an in-class final.

Repeat Rules

Course is not repeatable for credit.

Requirements class fulfills