HIS 269 -- The Civil War and Reconstruction

                                                    Course Document

 

Instructor:  David H. McGee

Office:  2105 Amherst Hall          E-Mail Address: mcgeed@cvcc.vccs.edu  Or dhmcgee@adelphia.net

Office Phone:  434-832-7782       Website for Course at:  http://courses.cvcc.vccs.edu/history_mcgee/courses/historyhome.html

Office Hours:     Monday 8:30-9, 10-11, 12:00-1:30, 6:30-7:00        Tuesday 12:30-1:30

                        Wednesday  8:30-9, 10:00-11:00, 12:00-1:30        Thursday 12:30-1:00

                        Friday 8:30-9, 10-11

Other times by appointment (Or any other times you can find me in the office).

 

Purpose:  HIS 269 provides an in-depth study of the Civil War and Reconstruction period in American history.  The Civil War transformed American society in a number of ways.  This course covers the events and beliefs leading to secession and war, civilian and military activities during the war, the major turning points of the war, and the impact of the war on both northern and southern societies. 

Because the Civil War and Reconstruction affected all segments of the population, emphasis will be placed on viewing the war in its totality and understanding its impact on modern American society. 

 

Readings:

  Required Texts -- James McPherson, Ordeal by Fire, Combined

                        William Blair,  Virginia’s Private Civil War

                        Other materials as assigned by the professor

 

Grading:            2 tests                          40%

                        Final Exam                    30%

                        Class Discussion           10%

                        Book Report                  10%

                        Map Quizzes                 10%

 

Grading Scale:   A          90-100

                        B          80-89

                        C          70-79

                        D          60-69

                        F          Below 60

 

Class Participation:  Students are expected to participate in class discussion on a regular basis.  You may expect to be called upon to answer questions relevant to the lecture or discussion.  To fully participate in class discussion, you must complete the reading assignments in a timely manner.  Your informed discussions will count as 10% of your grade.

 

Attendance, etc:  Students are expected to attend class on a regular basis.  Although attendance does not count as part of your grading, the number of absences you have can work for or against you if you need that extra point or so to go to a higher grade at the end of the term.

 

Exams and Quizzes:  Students are expected to take the exams and turn in the map quizzes and book report when scheduled.  If you must miss the day of the exam, you must let me know before time for class, otherwise, you will not be allowed to make-up the exam.  When you miss an exam, it is your responsibility to schedule a time for the makeup.  Failure to do so promptly will result in a grade of zero for the test.  You must turn in book reports when scheduled--I will not grant extensions.

 

Book Report:  Each student will read one book other than those assigned for the course.  The books will come from a list which  will be provided to you.  The reports are to be 3-4 pages (typed) in length.

 

Class Trips:  We will conduct several class trips during the course of the semester to nearby Civil War battlefields.  These trips are voluntary and do not count toward your class grade.  However, they should be informative and fun.  Further details will be announced.

Course Outline and Reading Schedule

 

1.  I Fall to Pieces -- The Sectional Crisis and Secession

-          Brief overview of antebellum North and South

-           Slavery and the sectional conflict

-          The Election of 1860

-          Secession

-          Formation of the wartime governments

-          The war begins

-          The two sides--a comparison

 

            -- Readings --

            McPherson, Chapters 4-9 and pp. 201-209

            Blair, Introduction and Chapter 1

No Class on January 20th, Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

 

2.  A Quick One -- Preparing for a Ninety Day War, Spring and Summer of 1861

-          Civilians prepare for war

-          Initial campaigns

-          Northern Virginia--Summer and Fall of 1861

 

            -- Readings --

            McPherson, Chapters 10-13 (up to p. 237)

 

3.  The End of the Innocence -- Realities of a Long and Bloody War, Early Campaigns of 1862

-          Politicians learn to run a war

-          "Springtime of Northern Hope"

-          War in Virginia -- Spring and Summer, 1862

-          The folks at home -- Is there a war going on?

 

            -- Readings --

            McPherson, Chapters 13 (from p. 237) - 15

-- Book Report Topics to be chosen --

 

4.  Talkin' Bout a Revolution -- The Fall Campaigns of 1862 and the Emancipation Proclamation

-          Confederates on the offensive

-          Emancipation in fact and in proclamation

 

            -- Readings --

            McPherson, Chapters 16 & 17

Test 1

 

5.  The Big Muddy -- The Winter and Spring of 1862-1863/Life of a Soldier

-          Political developments North and South

-          Winter of Discontent

-          The life of a Soldier

 

            -- Readings --

            McPherson, Chapter 18

6.  Turn the Page -- The Home Front, 1862-1863

-          Women at war

-          The men who remained behind

-          African-Americans--as slaves and as freedpersons

 

            -- Readings --

            McPherson, Chapters 20-22

            Blair, Chapters 2 & 3

           

7.  Summer, Bloody, Summer -- From Gettysburg through Mine Run

-          Gettysburg

-          Western campaigns

-          Second turning point of the war

 

            -- Readings --

            McPherson, Chapter 19

 

8.  Taking Care of Business -- The Bloody Stalemate in the East, 1864

-          Grant takes command

-          Virginia campaigns of 1864

-          Prisoners and patients

-          Political developments

 

            -- Readings --

            McPherson, Chapter 23

 

Test 2

 

9.  Statesboro Blues -- Sherman in Georgia, Disaffection in the South

-          Marching through Georgia

-          Minor campaigns in fall of 1864

-          Growing discontent and the elections of 1864

-          Third turning point

-          Hood's campaign in Tennessee

-          Reconstructing the Union under Lincoln

 

            -- Readings --

            McPherson, Chapter 24

            Blair, Chapters 4 & 5

 

Book Report Due – March 31st

 

10.  It's the End of the World -- The Final Days of the War and Its Aftermath

-          A revolution in American society

-          Total War? -- Sherman marches to the sea and through the Carolinas

-          Appomattox, Bennett's Station, and the assassination of Lincoln

-          Returning home?

-          The revolution in southern society

 

            -- Readings --

            McPherson, Chapter 25

            Blair, Chapter 6

11.  Land of Hope and Dreams – Presidential Reconstruction and Emancipation

-          Presidential Reconstruction under Johnson

-          Defining freedom -- Southern resistance to Reconstruction

-          Defining freedom – African Americans

 

-- Readings –

McPherson, Chapters 26 & 27

WPA Slave Narratives

 

12.   Run Around – Congressional Reconstruction

-          Johnson and Congress

-          The Reconstruction Acts

-          “Carpetbaggers and Scalawags”--States and Reconstruction

-          Election of Grant

 

-- Readings –

McPherson, Chapters 28-30

 

13.  Blowin’ in the Wind – The end of Reconstruction and its aftermath

-          The end of Reconstruction

-          The creation of a “New South”

-          The meaning of the Civil War in American culture

 

-- Readings –

McPherson, Chapters 31-33

 

 

 

                                                              Guidelines for Book Reports

 

1.         Due  at the beginning of class -- no late papers accepted.

 

2.         Papers should be 3-4 pages in length.

 

3.         Papers must be typed, double-spaced with one inch margins at top, bottom and sides.  Use either a 10 or 12 point type (i.e., no extra small or extra large type fonts).

 

4.         Beware of plagiarism--cite all direct quotes and any passages where you paraphrase another author's work.         Err on the side of caution, if you have a doubt, cite the source.  Consult either the instructor and/or the student code of conduct manual if you have any questions.