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EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES:  The first half of a two-semester course is an in-depth study of the events and factors associated with the coming of the American Civil War. No other period in our history produced more excitement, drama, fascinating figures, and bloodshed.  So important is the Civil War to our traditions that it is widely called "the watershed of American history." From its fire and death emerged the Republic as we know it.

HISTORY 3055 treats the background of civil wars, political developments in the 1820-1861 period, the Old South and slavery, the road to war in the 1850s, preparations and prospects of the Union and the Confederacy, and the military campaigns in East and West during 1861-1862.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES:  This second half of a two-semester course continues an in-depth study of the events and factors associated with the coming of the American Civil War. 

HISTORY 3056 covers military campaigns in 1862-1865, Northern and Southern leaders, socio-military topics such as medicine, prisons, religion and love life, political events following Appomattox, the era of military reconstruction, and the legacy of the Civil War for modern times.

This graduate seminar concentrates primarily on political and social developments leading up to and during the Civil War, particularly the Old South and slavery, with particular emphasis on the causes of secession and the Civil War, and the factors that determined its course and outcome. Attention will be paid to multiple interpretations of issues and events, as well as to factors such as economics, diplomacy, cultural and military developments.