History 288

Prof. Michael Fitzgerald

Fall 2009

"Civil War and Reconstruction Era"

 

Note: The syllabus is online with links to the appropriate short readings for the day specified, at http://www.stolaf.edu/people/fitz/history288.html

Phone: 3162 (or department secretary at 3167).  I'm on campus every day this semester, and you can call me at home if it is important, given all the expectations for the flu this semester.  My home number is 663-6041, cell (507) 321-2036, but use with discretion, especially in the evening.  

THIS SEMESTER WE NEED TO ANTICIPATE THE FLU.  MY SUGGESTION IS THAT IF YOU ARE SICK, STAY HOME AND CALL ME ON MY CELL PHONE, ESPECIALLY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY MORNINGS.  I SHOULD BE ABLE TO TALK AT LENGTH AT THAT TIME.

E-Mail: fitz (I check my e-mail fairly frequently, specially before major assignments. Also, if you want to reach the whole class, just send it to "history-288.”).

Office: Holland 532 (My office is a bit difficult to find, but go through the History xerox room--Holland 507--back to the windows.  My office is in the window corridor facing Rolvaag Library).

Office Hours: Monday 12-1, Tuesday 3-4, Thursday 12:30-1:30, and by appointment. I’ll also be in my office most Thursdays at Community Time; that might be a good time for overbooked students to see me.  Also, I generally can talk to interested students after class. 

 

TEXTBOOKS:

Burton, The Age of Lincoln

Northup, Twelve Years A Slave

Earle, John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry

McPherson, What They Fought For

Tourgee, A Fool's Errand

 

RECOMMENDED READING: I couldn't find a good short overview of the political events leading up to the war, though Burton does a reasonable job. We'll discuss the major events in lecture, but for those of you who could use some background on this, I recommend finding a used copy of any good college level U.S. History textbook with a chapter on this topic and read it for the details. (I have a stack of them to loan students, if needed). In other words, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the basic political events before the Civil War.

Also, for the strongly motivated, try the recommended reading, McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom. The first three hundred or so pages of the McPherson book are excellent on pre-war political and social trends. Also, for those interested in the Civil War battle aspects, the wartime portions of Battle Cry of Freedom, are a great read.

 

Course Rationale: This course offers a broad examination of America society in the Civil War era, roughly from the 1830s to the 1880s. Beyond the major political developments and the Civil War and Reconstruction, we will centrally examine the changes in race relations growing out of emancipation. The impact of industrialization, immigration and urbanization on workers, women, and Native Americans in the west are also major topics.  A great deal was happening in this era, socially and politically, and we’ll try to look at the totality of it. 

 

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An asterisk (*) means online reading (which I'll also e-mail you before the day it is due).  You should contact me if there is any difficulty accessing the readings.

 

Sept. 10

Introduction--Broad Themes

 

Sept. 15

America in the 1840s

Read handout, "The North and South Compared"

 

Sept. 17

Slavery As A System—IN CLASS FILM

Read Burton, pp. 1-49

Read Northup, Chapters I-VI, pp. 3-60

 

Sept. 22

Slavery and American Society

Continue Reading Northup, Chapters VII-X, pp. 61-107 

 

Sept. 24

Slavery As A System—

Finish Reading Northup, Chapters XI-XXI, pp. 108-252

 

Sept. 29

Abolitionism, Feminism, and the Great Reaction

Nat Turner's Confession*

John Calhoun, The “Positive Good” Speech*

William Lloyd Garrison on slavery and on women*

Letters from Angelina Grimke, *Grimke1, *Grimke2, *Grimke3, and a response by *Katherine Beecher

 

Oct. 1

Lecture—American Politics in the Age of Jackson

First Paper Due at Start of Class

 

Oct. 6

The North: Industrialization, Immigration, and Nativism

*(Irish famine) *(Irish famine 2) *(Irish famine 3)

Nativist Response--Elizabeth Cady Stanton*

 

Oct. 8

From the Mexican War to the Kansas Conflict

Burton, Chapters 3 and 4, pp. 50-103

 

Oct. 13

Lincoln and the Birth of the Republican Party

Burton, Chapter 5, pp. 104-133

Abraham Lincoln, *Speech on the Kansas-Nebraska act*,

and private letter to *James Speed*, 1855

and selections from *The Lincoln-Douglas Debates*

 

Oct. 15

Terror and Politics

Earle, John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry, pp. 1-103

 

Oct. 20

John Brown and the Politicians

Earle, John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry, pp. 104-143

 

Oct. 22

Free blacks, North and South, and the Crisis of the 1850s

JOHN BROWN/PRIMARY SOURCE ASSIGNMENT DUE

Oct. 27

FALL BREAK

 

Oct. 29

War and Emancipation Burton, Chapters 6 and 7, pp. 134-192

Nov. 3

War and Human Motivation

McPherson, all

 

Nov. 5

Midterm Exam

Nov. 10

Native Americans in the Civil War Era

The Cherokee Removal: *John Ridge, letter, 1826

(Readings on the Minnesota Dakota war 1862 *Dakotawar.htm, and the Sioux conflict *Siouxcomplaints.htm)

 

Nov. 12

War and Emancipation

Burton, Chapters 6 and 7, pp. 134-192

 

Nov. 17

Civil War and Society

Burton, Chapters 8 and 9, pp. 192-233

 

Nov. 19

Emancipation and Presidential Reconstruction

Burton, Chapters 10 and 11, pp. 233-299

 

Nov. 24

A Yankee in the Reconstruction South

Tourgee, Chapters I-XIX, pp 5-127

 

Nov. 26—THANKSGIVING BREAK

Dec. 1

Klan Terror in the Reconstruction South

Tourgee, Chapters XX-XXVII, pages 128-192

 

Dec. 3

Klan Terror in the Reconstruction South

Tourgee, Chapters XXVIII-XXXVII, pages 193-301

  

Dec. 8

The Restoration of White Supremacy

Tourgee, Chapters XXXVII-XLVII, pages 301-404

 

Dec. 10

Redemption: Equality Overthrown

Burton, Chapter 12, pp. 300-322

—THIRD PAPER DUE

 

Dec. 15

Industrial America Takes Shape

Burton, Chapter 13, 323-350

From Artisan shop to Factory*

Labor Radicalism--The Execution of Albert Parsons

Platform of the Knights of Labor--1886

 

Dec. 21

 

FINAL EXAM—Monday, December 21st, at 2-4 PM

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POLICY MATTERS

IF YOU HAVE A CERTIFIED DISABILITY, INFORM ME SOON, AND BRING SOME SORT OF PAPERWORK ALONG (telling me what kind of accommodation the administration considers appropriate).

If you have some sort of major medical issue come up over the semester, and you want me to take it seriously in evaluating your work, better get some paperwork supporting it too.  WE NEED TO ANTICIPATE THE FLU THIS FALL, SO I’LL WORK WITH YOU AS THE ISSUE COMES UP.

If something in your personal life comes up that affects your work, let me know.  But again, if it is big, some sort of notice from the dean of students to all your professors would be appropriate.

Please familiarize yourself with the plagiarism guidelines on the St. Olaf Website, and with the honor code.  I would prefer to have no difficulties along this line this year. 

http://www.stolaf.edu/stulife/thebook/academic/integrity.html

CLASS ASSIGNMENTS

The written assignments for the course will consist of three papers of five or so pages in length, a mid-term and final, plus a class participation grade.   Attendance is part of this, and I take roll at random intervals when it seems appropriate.  More than three absences in a semester is normally a problem.

While it is possible for an utterly shy student to get a good grade in this class, intelligent participation in class discussion is generally expected and will very much help your grade. Besides, it makes the class more pleasant.  

You will be expected to do the readings when due, especially on days when a class discussion is scheduled.  If you are one of those shy people who can't speak up in class, or are intimidated when called upon--as I tend to do--you'll have to take it upon yourself to demonstrate command of the material periodically, by e-mail or meeting with me to discuss it.

 

GRADES: The course work will be roughly graded as follows:

Three Major Assignments 15% each

Midterm 15%

Final 20%

Short Film Assignment 5%

Class Participation and Attendance 15%

One last thing: I pride myself on not grading people down for disagreeing with me. Go ahead and speak your mind, I won't be offended. Controversy means students are paying attention, so it is welcomed. Also, feel free to ask questions via e-mail, or even to communicate with the class that way through "history-288"

 

Disclaimer