HI 254

Civil War & Reconstruction

Examines the United States in the era of the Civil War and Reconstruction, on the battlefield and beyond. How did the war transform American society from 1820-1877? It brought immense tragedy and death, even while slaves seized liberty. Topics will include: economic, social, political causes of the war; war dynamics (including turning points, political wrangling, and personnel challenges); the processes of emancipation; the tumultuous Reconstruction Era; and the effort to build a nation without slavery.