HIST 206   The Civil War Era (US)

An examination of American society and politics from the Age of Jackson to the end of Reconstruction, directing its prime attention to the Civil War as the great crisis of national unity and a pivotal event in US race relations. Topics range from the underlying causes of the conflict and the political events that led to war, to the bloody battles and emancipation policies that determined its outcome, culminating in the postwar struggles over racial equality. Through lectures, readings, discussions, and written and oral presentations, students will be challenged to develop persuasive interpretations of the era and to evaluate Civil War-related narratives that endure in the public sphere.