HIST 512: Civil War and Reconstruction Era

This course explores the Civil War and Reconstruction Era, a period that begins with the Mexican-American War and ends with the Populism in the 1890s. Beginning with the Mexican-American War in 1846, territorial expansion threatened the uneasy truce Americans made regarding slavery and its expansion. From that time to the election of 1860, Americans divided, argued, threatened, and acted violently against other Americans who sought to limit or expand slavery. Yet the Civil War also failed to solve some of the problems of land ownership, labor, and rights for other Americans for the rest of the century and into the next. As we read about themes, problems, and possibilities in the years from 1840-1890, we will also discuss how historians read sources (primary and secondary sources), ask questions, and present arguments. We will also explore how to teach some of these topics to students, some of whom may have misconceptions about this era

This is a synchronous course.

Please review the course syllabus for full course information.

This is a Full Semester course. Participants may register for one Full Semester course OR one course each in Winter/Spring I and Winter/Spring II.

Related Courses by Institution
HIST 594 Who is an American? (Winter/Spring 2021)
HIST 598 Studies in Segregation (Summer 2021)
HIST 547 Contested Heritage (Fall 2021)
HIST 512 Civil War & Reconstruction: 1848-1877 (Winter/Spring 2022)
HIST 598 Environmental History (Summer 2022)