Spring Semester
February 10, 2010
The Confederacy: A Social and Political History of the Confederate States of America.
Millersville University HIST 308–Special Topics–Spring 2010
Required Texts:
Fowler, John D. ed. The Confederate Experience Reader
Levine, Bruce. Confederate Emancipation: Southern Plans to Free and Arm Slaves During the Civil War
Roland, Charles P. Reflection on Lee: A Historian’s Assessment
Thomas, Emory M. The Confederate Nation: 1861-1865
Course Objectives: To examine the Confederate States of American as an independent nation that existed on the North American continent from 1861-1865. While the military experience is essential in understanding the Confederate nation, the class will focus on the social, cultural, political, diplomatic, and economic history of the Confederacy in relation to military events. Accordingly, this course should empower the student to challenge simplistic projections of Confederate Americans as “evil” Rebels and to understand the Confederate experience as a fundamental part of American history.
Course Précis: The course will begin with the roots of the Confederacy as a part of the American colonial and early national experience and examine political, economic, and social aspects of sectionalism that gave the South a distinct identity. We will spend considerable time on secession, establishing a new nation, and creating a government. The class will look at the lives of Confederate Americans in terms of gender, ethnicity, race, and class as well as through the eyes of soldiers and politicians. Finally, we will explore elements of Confederate defeat and the post-war period as well as the Confederacy in historical and cultural memory. Please be aware that our concern is learning and understanding the facts & truths & myths of history. Thus, we will take an objective approach to all topics and politically correct notions will not carry the day in this class. Moreover, the instructor’s objective is for students to take with them an experience that will transcend the classroom and that this course will help the student understand what it means to be an American.
Winter 2009-2010
December 12, 2009
Review–Mutiny at Fort Jackson: The Untold Story of the Fall of New Orleans by Michael D. Pierson (UNC Press, 2008).
Write–Alfred Mouton: Louisiana Confederate.
Research–articles on slavery published in Confederate Veteran.
Read–Louisiana Tigers in the Gettysburg Campaign by Scott L. Mingus Sr. (LSU Press, 2009).
Visit–Gettysburg battlefield (tracking the 3rd Arkansas).
Gettysburg Staff Ride–October 24th 2009
October 11, 2009
Millersville University Gettysburg Staff Ride–HIST 355 Civil War & Reconstruction
Morning Phase-Heth engages Buford & Reynolds on McPherson’s Ridge
Meeting–West End Guide Station at 9:00 AM
Afternoon Phase–Robertson’s Brigade attacks Ward at Devil’s Den
Meeting–Wheatfield Road at Sedgwick Ave (northeast of Little Round Top) time TBD
NOTE: Students from Montco or Penn State Abington who have participated in one of my previous staff rides are welcome to join the Millersville class. Please use the contact link on the website to let me know if you are coming.
Staff ride will be held rain-or-shine so please dress accordingly.
“I Could Tell You a Thousand Stories” Teaching Gettysburg–From the Classroom to the Battlefield–October 23, 2009
October 11, 2009
On Friday, October 23 I will chair a roundtable discussion hosted by the Pennsylvania Historical Association as part of their annual conference. We will discuss a variety of methodologies used to teach students the history of Gettysburg. Panelists include Richard Bartol Jr. of Red Land High School, Scott Hartwig of the Gettysburg National Military Park, Timothy Orr of Penn State University, Barbara Sanders of the Gettysburg National Military Park, David Weaver of the Gettysburg National Military Park, Jeffrey Wert–Independent Scholar & Author. Panel convenes at 11:00 AM in the University Center at Widener University.
While the public is invited, the PA Historical Association charges a conference registration fee and urges all attendees to become members of the association.
Lecture and discussion of the presidential election campaigns of 1860 and 1864. Presented as part of the Quest for Knowledge Series at the Shannondell Center–Ashcroft Theater. 1:30 PM October 13, 2009.
