HIST 4044: History of the American South to 1865

This course will introduce students to the history of the American South from its colonial beginnings to the conclusion of the American Civil War.

The region’s history was characterized by the persistence of the institution of slavery and systemic forms of racial subordination, wide social stratification, and defeat in the Civil War. It informs the more general history of America in that it counters the national myths of innocence, invincibility,  and affluence. Thus the class will examine the South’s people,  black, white, and red,  its social and cultural institutions,  prevailing political ideology,  and ultimately its meaning in the early American continuum.

This course will be designed to fulfill the 4000-level requirements of the History Department meaning that it will guide students through an original research project that will utilize both primary and secondary sources and entail significant writing.