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.

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).

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.

While the public is invited, the PA Historical Association charges a conference registration fee and urges all attendees to become members of the association.