HIST 615: Problems in American History

HIST 615-002: The World the Civil War Made
(Spring 2018)

07:20 PM to 10:00 PM R

Section Information for Spring 2018

Reconstruction Era scholars have recently moved away from Eric Foner’s notion that postwar US policy in the South was an unfinished revolution.  Newer interpretations are more pessimistic, and illustrate less faith in the idea that change can happen quickly or that entrenched power can be un-entrenched effectively in a generation or less.  In the introduction to the The World the Civil War Made, editors Kate Masur and Greg Downs lay out many of the ways that current scholarship has illustrated the complexities and contradictions inherent in the study of the Reconstruction Era.  It was an era in which the federal government became increasingly powerful, but also one in which people on the ground, including former slave and rebels, western settlers, and Natives were able to resist or overthrow its actions.  The rise of liberal individualism and the freedom of contract were hallmarks of the period, but recent scholarship has shown how events on the ground resulted in more regionally focused, pragmatic understandings of rights.  We will take these complexities and inconsistencies as our starting point and trace them through the late nineteenth century as we survey some of the best new works, as well as classic texts in the time period.

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Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 1-6

Readings and discussion of bibliographies, interpretations, and research trends in topics selected by instructor. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
Specialized Designation: Green Leaf Related Course, Topic Varies
Registration Restrictions:

Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.

Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.

Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.

Schedule Type: Lec/Sem #1, Lec/Sem #2, Lec/Sem #3, Lec/Sem #4, Lec/Sem #5, Lec/Sem #6, Lec/Sem #7, Lec/Sem #8, Lec/Sem #9, Lecture, Sem/Lec #10, Sem/Lec #11, Sem/Lec #12, Sem/Lec #13, Sem/Lec #14, Sem/Lec #15, Sem/Lec #16, Sem/Lec #17, Sem/Lec #18
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.