American Civil War Era

Week Ten Schedule:

Rebuilding a Nation.


Monday (5/5)

The Consequences of War.
You may optionally read the article by Susan-Mary Grant, "'The Charter of its Birthright:' The Civil War and American Nationalism," in Grant and Parish, eds., Legacy of Disunion, 188-206, (On one-hour reserve in Furman Library.)


Tuesday (5/6)

The Assassination of Lincoln and the Trial of the Lincoln Conspirators.
Analyze this political cartoon produced in the wake of the assassination on the Library of Congress Harpweek website,


Wednesday (5/7)

The Search for Contemporary Meanings.
Finish reading Tony Horwitz, Confederates in the Attic in preparation for our discussion today in class.

Group 2's comparative book review of the Horwitz and Ayers books are due in class today. See the analytical review essay guidelines for specific requirements.


Thursday (5/8)

Historian's Interpretations and the Year of Self-Reconstruction.
Look at the provisions of the Mississippi Black Code (1865), with special attention to landholding rights, apprenticeship, marriage, and punishments. Read the Nashville Citizen's Petition (Jan. 1865). Read Sherman's Field Order #15 (Jan. 1865). Read the letter of some North Carolina Soldiers to the Freedman's Bureau (Spring 1865). Read the Address of the Colored State Convention to the People of the State of South Carolina. Analyze the Labor Contract with Seven Freedmen. You may optionally read a Northern traveler's account of Three Months Among the Reconstructionists, Atlantic Monthly, (February 1866), 237-45.


Friday (5/9)

Radicalization: The Debates over Civil Rights and State Rights.
Read Burton, Age of Lincoln, chapter eleven. Read the text of the 13th Amendment, the 14th Amendment, and the 15th Amendment. Read the UH Digital History account ofThe Impeachment of Andrew Johnson.


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Note: The instructor reserves the right to change any provisions, due dates, grading percentages, or any other items without prior notice. All assignments on this schedule are covered under the university's policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. See the syllabus statement for further details. This page was last updated on 3/4/2008.