Secession: Reasons and Responses.
Read the South Carolina Secession Declaration, especially
paragraphs 14 and 15 on compact theory, paragraphs 16 through 21 on the
federal fugitive slave laws and their nullification by Northern states, and
paragraphs 24 through 29 on the insults against the South produced by
Northern antislavery politics and religion.
Read the Texas Declaration of Causes for
Secession.
Read the Mississippi Declaration of Causes.
In working through these texts you may find it helpful to
score at least one using this
content analysis worksheet [.DOC]
Examine the Table of Secession Dates, Party Competitiveness, and
Slaveholding Percentages.
After examining these documents, assess the accuracy and completeness of
Tennessee Rep. Emerson Etheridge's summary of the main complaints given by the disunionists.
Forming the Confederate Government.
Using the New York Times Historical Full Image database, search on
the keywords Montgomery and convention.
Limit your search to the period between 1 February and 25 February 1861. Read
the article "The Two Conventions" (2/4/1861). Read and be prepared to discuss
in class at least two other articles.
Sumter as a Duel for the Upper
South.
Track the day-by-day progress of secession and compromise efforts from 3
December, 1860 to 3 March 1861, using Tulane University's Crisis at Ft. Sumter website. (Use the curved arrow
buttons at the bottom to advance through the site.
The Divided South and the Divided
North.
The map quiz will be given today.
You may want to get started reading the first part of Edward Ayers' book In the Presence of Mine Enemies, esp. pp. xvii-142. You may optionally post observations about this section to the Course Electronic Workspace.Easter Break.
No Class Meeting Today.
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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 3/16/2008.