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HIS 417 Civil War and Reconstruction, 1860-1877

This course enables each student to become familiar with the major themes of history in the period and how these themes influence current events and impact contemporary problems. Emphasis will be placed on individual lives in order to gain perspective on contemporary times. The course includes discussion of slavery and the causes of the war, war aims, strategy and tactics, guerrilla warfare, medicine, women in the war, and the home front. There will be a great deal of attention to the life of the soldiers, and emphasis will be given to the battle of Gettysburg and the life and careers of Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, George McClellan, and Ulysses S. Grant. Discussion of Reconstruction will emphasize the role of African Americans. There will be three essay exams, and interactive class discussion will include three book reviews, videos, and contemporary documents for critical analysis.

Recommended Civil War and Reconstruction history websites:

Bullet Text and related material on Uncle Tom's Cabin

Bullet Contemporary accounts on Bleeding Kansas

Bullet Documents on abolitionism, including John Brown.

Bullet Information on John Brown, including background on the song

Bullet Sources on the election of 1860

Bullet This site has links to manuscripts for ex-slave interviews in the 1930s in the Federal Writers' Project.

Bullet Text and images from Harper's Weekly on African American history.

Bullet Photographs and other images of African American life in the 19th century.

Bullet Index of sources on the internet on the Civil War

Bullet Smithsonian Institution, includes information on the life of soldiers & weapons.

Bullet Includes Union soldier Robert Sneden's color drawings of life in the Army of the Potomac. He was captured by John Mosby and imprisoned in Andersonville. His sketches of life in Andersonville are dramatic.

Bullet Museum of the Confederacy, photos and information on the Confederate war.

Bullet Library of Congress photos.

Bullet National Archives Guide to Civil War Records

Bullet Civil War site of the University of Virginia, includes maps and 4 Civil War newspapers.

Bullet Freedom and Southern Society Project, University of Maryland. Links to primary documents on the history of emancipation.

Bullet Articles from Harper's Weekly on Andrew Johnson's impeachment and trial.

Bullet Includes Civil War sites on the Internet recommended by the Cincinnati Civil War Round Table.