Syllabus

History 349

Coming of the Civil War: U. S. 1830-1860

Fall 1999

Professor Richard Latner 
215E Hebert Hall (862)-8606
e-mail: latner@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
History 349 Web Site:  http://www.tulane.edu/~latner/Union.In.Peril/ComingofCivilWar.html

Course Description

History 349 surveys the years 1830-1861. It covers the collapse of the Jacksonian party system and the origins of the Civil War. It ends with the beginning of the Civil War. The course focuses on four major themes: economic modernization, social reform, political change, and sectionalism.

Course Requirements

There will be a mid-term and a final examination. In addition, there will be a two short papers, one in each half of the course. These written assignments, along with class work, will be the basis of your grade.

All reading in McPherson's Ordeal By Fire should be completed by Tuesday's class as preparation for the week's work.

Attendance in required. Freshmen signed up for this course must consult with me to discuss its suitability.

Reading

The supplementary books will be discussed in class; quizzes on these books, when given, will generally be announced ahead of time.

James M. McPherson, Ordeal By Fire: The Coming of the Civil War (vol. 1). Textbook.

James Stewart, Holy Warriors

Peter Kolchin, American Slavery: 1619-1877

Sam Haynes, James K. Polk

Kenneth Stampp, The Imperiled Union

Steven Channing, Crisis of Fear

Available On Strict Library Reserve at Howard-Tilton

Kenneth Greenberg, Masters and Statesmen

Class Schedule

Week of Sept. 2

Introduction

Week of Sept. 7

A Nation Transforming

McPherson, Ordeal, Chapters 1-3.

Week of Sept. 14

Social Change and Abolitionism

Reading: Stewart, Holy Warriors, Chapters 1-4.

Week of Sept. 21

Politics: Whigs and Democrats

Review McPherson, Ordeal, pp. 22-25.
Greenberg, Masters and Statesmen, Preface, chs. 1, 3.

Week of Sept. 28

South and Sectionalism

Reading: Kolchin, American Slavery, chs. 4, 6.
Review McPherson, Ordeal, chs. 2-3.

Week of Oct. 5

Slavery

Kolchin, American Slavery, chs. 5.

Week of Oct. 12

Tyler and Texas

McPherson, Ordeal, pp. 57-67.
Stewart, Holy Warriors, ch. 5.

Week of Oct. 19

Mid-Term Exam

Week of Oct. 26

Expansion and Polk

Haynes, James K. Polk.

Week of Nov. 2

Territorial Crisis

McPherson, Ordeal, chs. 4-5.
Stampp, Imperiled Union, ch. 1.

Week of Nov. 9

Political Transformation

McPherson, Ordeal, ch. 6.
Stampp, Imperiled Union, ch. 4.

Week of Nov. 16

The Buchanan Presidency

McPherson, Ordeal, chs. 7-9.
Stampp, Imperiled Union, ch. 7.

Week of Nov. 23

Lincoln-Douglas

Thanksgiving

Week of Nov. 30

Lincoln and Secession

Stampp, Imperiled Union, chs. 5-6.

Week of Dec. 7

Secession and Civil War

Channing, Crisis of Fear

Final Exam

Friday December 17

9:00 a.m.

Week of Sept. 2	Introduction
Week of Sept. 7	A Nation Transforming	McPherson, Ordeal, Chapters 1-3.
Week of Sept. 14	Social Change and Abolitionism	Reading: Stewart, Holy Warriors, Chapters 1-4.
Week of Sept. 21	Politics: Whigs and Democrats	Review McPherson, Ordeal, pp. 22-25. Greenberg, Masters and Statesmen, Preface, chs. 1, 3.
Week of Sept. 28	South and Sectionalism	Reading: Kolchin, American Slavery, chs. 4, 6. Review McPherson, Ordeal, chs. 2-3.
Week of Oct. 5	Slavery	Kolchin, American Slavery, chs. 5.
Week of Oct. 12	Tyler and Texas	McPherson, Ordeal, pp. 57-67. Stewart, Holy Warriors, ch. 5.
Week of Oct. 19	Mid-Term Exam
Week of Oct. 26	Expansion and Polk	Haynes, James K. Polk.
Week of Nov. 2	Territorial Crisis	McPherson, Ordeal, chs. 4-5. Stampp, Imperiled Union, ch. 1.
Week of Nov. 9	Political Transformation	McPherson, Ordeal, ch. 6. Stampp, Imperiled Union, ch. 4.
Week of Nov. 16	The Buchanan Presidency	McPherson, Ordeal, chs. 7-9. Stampp, Imperiled Union, ch. 7.
Week of Nov. 23	Lincoln-Douglas	Thanksgiving
Week of Nov. 30	Lincoln and Secession	Stampp, Imperiled Union, chs. 5-6.
Week of Dec. 7	Secession and Civil War	Channing, Crisis of Fear
Final Exam	Friday December 17	9:00 a.m.