Syllabus
ColumbiaX: HIST1.1x, The Civil War and Reconstruction - 1850-1861: A House Divided
Course 1 of a 3-course series on edX
Professor Eric Foner, Columbia University
Ten sections
Table of Contents
Introduction
Course themes
Course schedule & components
Course requirements & grading
Suggested readings
Discussion etiquette
FAQs
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the first course in this three-course series on the American Civil War and Reconstruction period. In this course, we will focus on the coming of the Civil War, 1850-1861.
You should allocate between 6 and 8 hours per section to get the most out of the course. This includes time for watching the video lectures, participating in discussion forums, taking the quizzes, and doing the recommended readings.
The second course in the series will focus on the Civil War itself.
COURSE THEMES
Nearly a century and a half after its conclusion, the Civil War remains the central event in our history. And no period has been as persistently fascinating to Americans. The reasons for the war's continued relevance lies not only in its great accomplishments -- the preservation of the Union and the destruction of slavery -- but in the fact that it raised so many questions that remain central to our understanding of ourselves as a nation. What should be the balance of power between local authority and the national government? Who is entitled to American citizenship? What are the concrete meanings of freedom and equality in the United States? These questions, central to the meaning of the Civil War, remain subjects of controversy today. In that sense, the Civil War is not yet over.
In the physical destruction it brought to the South, the economic changes it produced throughout the nation, the new technologies it diffused, and the new ideas it spawned, the Civil War permanently affected the future course of national development. The war produced a loss of life unprecedented in the American experience. The 700,000 or so combatants who perished in the conflict nearly outnumber those who died in all other American wars combined. For those who lived through it, the Civil War would always remain the defining moment in their lives.
Central to the war's meaning was the abolition of slavery. Slavery lay at the root of the crisis that produced the Civil War. Although it did not begin as such, the war became a struggle for emancipation. Union victory eradicated slavery from American life, bringing the entire nation, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, a "new birth of freedom." Yet the war left it to future generations to confront the numerous legacies of slavery and to embark on the still unfinished quest for racial justice. This was the essential problem of Reconstruction, the era that followed the Civil War and that remains one of the most controversial and misunderstood periods in American history. How would the South be reintegrated into the Union? Who would rule the nation? And, especially, what would be the place of emancipated slaves in American life? These were the questions on which the politics of Reconstruction persistently turned.
This series of three courses will examine the events leading up to the Civil War, the war itself, and the era of Reconstruction to gain insight into this central turning point in the American experience. The focus lies less on the battlefield than in the nation's politics, culture, and race relations, and how the Civil War and the destruction of slavery affected these. A new nation emerged from the Civil War, laying the foundations for the world we live in today.
COURSE SCHEDULE & COMPONENTS
This online course is divided into 10 sections.
- Setting the Stage
- American Slavery
- Historians and the Coming of the Civil War
- Territorial Expansion and Sectional Conflict
- Immigration and Nativism
- Rise of the Republican Party
- The Buchanan Administration
- The Emergence of Lincoln
- The Gathering Storm
- The Secession Crisis
The course is broken into sections. The sections are comprised of four "learning sequences"; we have broken the material up in this fashion to make it more manageable. Here is what each learning sequence contains:
Getting Started Sequence: Here is where you'll start the section. The sequence contains a short introductory video, detailing what will be covered during the section.
Learning Sequence A: The first half of material for the section will reside here. In this sequence you will find lecture videos, conversations with the professor, and primary source explorations, and other learner activities.
Learning Sequence B: The second half of material for the section will reside here. In this sequence you will find lecture videos, conversations with the professor, primary source explorations, a section image gallery, and other learner activities.
Wrapping Up Sequence: Here is where you will find the section quiz, a closing poll, and other optional learner activities.
Each section will include most of these items:
- A short introductory paragraph and video detailing what will be covered during the section.
- A video lecture, about 60 minutes in length. The lecture is segmented into short clips, for your convenience; you may take a break at anytime, and edX will return you to where you left off.
- A "Check-Your-Understanding" question after each of the lecture video clips that relates to content covered in the preceding clip.
- A quiz per section, containing 10 multiple choice questions. All quiz questions relate to material covered in the lectures. Required for certificate.
- Primary source documents for examination, two will allow learners to add their examination.
- An image gallery for each section with details about images used in the lectures.
- Discussion prompts called Learners Respond.
- Conversations with Timothy Shenk, the course TA, with Professor Eric Foner related to the course themes.
- A poll to gauge how your views compare to those of your peers.
Additional course components:
- At the end of the course, you will encounter a final exam containing 30 multiple-choice questions. All of the exam material is covered in the video lectures. The final exam is required for a certificate.
- There are be suggested readings (details below). These will deepen your understanding of the material, but are not necessary to passing the quizzes or final exam; all quiz and exam questions pertain to material covered in the lectures.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS & GRADING
If you are taking the course for a Verified certificate, you must receive a course grade of 70% or above to receive a certificate of completion. Your grade will comprise:
- 70% Quizzes. The ten quiz scores will be worth 70% of your final grade.
- 30% Final exam. The final exam will be worth 30% of your course grade.
If you complete the quizzes and final exam and receive a course grade of 70 or higher, your certificate will be available for download through your edX account several days after the course ends. For more information, please see the edX FAQ page.
Other elements of the course (discussions, readings, etc.) are optional. But the more you participate, the more you will get from the course!
SUGGESTED READINGS
The following list of works is assigned in the course as it is taught at Columbia University. Although readings are not required for the online version of this course, they will deepen your understanding of material.
Ashworth, J. (2012). The Republic in Crisis, 1848–1861. Cambridge University Press. Amazon Link
Davis, D. B. (2006). Inhuman Bondage: The Rise and Fall of Slavery in the New World. Oxford University Press. Amazon Link
Foner, E. (2011). The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery. W. W. Norton & Company. W.W. Norton Link | Buy from Amazon
Gienapp, W. E. (2001). The Civil War And Reconstruction: A Documentary Collection. W. W. Norton & Company. W.W. Norton
McCurry, S. (2012). Confederate Reckoning: Power and Politics in the Civil War South. Harvard University Press.
Buy from Harvard University Press | Buy from Amazon
Sinha, M. (2000). The Counterrevolution of Slavery: Politics and Ideology in Antebellum South Carolina. Univ of North Carolina Press. Amazon
Here is a schedule for the readings:
| Sections | Recommended readings |
|---|---|
| 1-3 | Davis, Inhuman Bondage, Chapters 4-7, 9-10, 13 Gienapp, The Civil War and Reconstruction, Pages 5-7, 14-16, 18-21 |
| 4-5 | Ashworth, The Republic in Crisis, Chapters 1-4 Gienapp, The Civil War and Reconstruction, Pages 33-38 |
| 6-7 | Ashworth, The Republic in Crisis, Chapters 5-7 Gienapp, The Civil War and Reconstruction, Pages 9-11, 43-46 |
| 7-9 | Foner, The Fiery Trial, Chapters 2-5 Gienapp, The Civil War and Reconstruction, Pages 47-55 |
| 9-10 | Mannish Sinha, The Counterrevolution of Slavery, Chapters 7-8, Epilogue Gienapp, The Civil War and Reconstruction, Pages 71-72, 76-77, 81-82 |
DISCUSSION ETIQUETTE
One of the most powerful and dynamic components of this edX course will be your contributions! It’s your course, so openly discuss the material. Help each other!
Here are some things to consider to help make the discussion forums as engaging and productive as possible:
- Tone - Tone is a very important part of online communication. Before posting, read your message out loud. Ask yourself if you would say this to a fellow student in your class in a face-to-face discussion.
- Peer support - Make an effort to understand and support your peers. People have different perspectives - but everyone is here to learn! And the more we learn from each other, the better!
- Disagree vs. attack - Disagreeing with peers in debate and discussion is fine and welcome, but make sure to avoid challenges that may be interpreted as personal.
- Check previous postings - Take a minute to read previous posts to ensure that the conversation you want to have is not happening elsewhere in he board.
- Delete the extraneous - When replying to another's post, be specific about the sentence, phrase, or comment that you are addressing. This will help to keep the thread focused, and it will make it easier for all of us to understand how the conversation is progressing.
- Be open to challenges and confrontations
- Encourage others to share their ideas
Here are four approaches to consider when engaging in the discussions:
Agree/Disagree - It is perfectly fine to agree or disagree with others in the discussions, but explain the "level" of your agreement or disagreement. Avoid posting short responses such as "Yes! I agree!", or "No! That is wrong!" Explain WHY you agree or disagree.
Critique - Thoughtful and constructive criticism of each other's posts will help to keep the discussions positive, academic, and interesting.
Expand - If you find a post interesting or thought provoking, use your reply to expand upon it.
Exemplify - Bring in examples to support your ideas and comments.
FAQs
How many hours should I plan to allocate?
You should allocate between 6 and 8 hours per section to get the most out of the course. Time should be allocated to watching the video lectures, participating in discussion forums, taking the quizzes - and doing the recommended readings!
How and when will I receive my certificate?
If you are enrolled in the course for a certificate and received a score of 70% or higher, the Verified Certificate will be available for download through your edX account after you have completed the course. For more information, please see the edX FAQ page.
Are the videos available for download?
Yes. Videos are now available for download both online and on your mobile device.
How is the course structured?
The course is broken into ten sections. The sections are comprised of four "learning sequences"; we have broken the material up in this fashion to make it more manageable. Here is what each learning sequence contains:
Getting Started Sequence: Here is where you'll start the section. The sequence contains a short introductory video, detailing what will be covered during the section, and sometimes an introductory poll question.
Learning Sequence A: The first half of material for the section will reside here. In this sequence you will find lecture videos, discussion prompts, and other learning activities.
Learning Sequence B: The second half of material for the section will reside here. In this sequence you will find lecture videos, discussion prompts, and other learning activities.
Wrapping Up Sequence: Here is where you will find a section quiz (for credit) and typically a closing poll for reflection.
What differentiates a Question and Quiz?
Question - We have added a question after each video lecture. Questions are meant to highlight an important aspect of the video, and to prompt discussion. No credit is attached to Questions.
Quiz - There is a quiz at the end of every section. Credit is attached to quizzes. There are 10 quizzes in total, counting towards 70% of your final grade.
Can I share material in the course with others?
Yes. THE CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION course series is Copyright © 2014, Eric Foner and the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York. Professor Foner’s course lecture videos in the series are licensed with the Creative Commons license BY-NC-SA 4.0, which means that edX students – anyone anywhere, in fact – may copy, share, adapt, even remix the videos and the videos’ key media components, including transcripts, without having to ask for prior permission, as long as such sharing is done for noncommercial purposes and the original author, work, and copyright notice above are cited. For more information, visit: