HS2O53-The American Civil War

Module Provider: History
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Miss Liz Barnes
Email: e.barnes@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

In 1861, long-standing divisions over the place of slavery in American life erupted into war. The ensuing conflict between the national government and Southern rebels, to date the United States’ bloodiest war, resulted in significant constitutional changes that expanded the nation’s commitment to liberty and equality. In this module, we will examine the outbreak of hostilities, the course of the war, and the route to peace, examining the ways the conflict reshaped American life. We will also explore the memory of the conflict, considering ongoing debates about Confederate memorialisation across the United States.

Aims:

Part 2 Options can be either chronological or thematic. Chronological Options will usually take the form of a survey of a particular geographical area or nation over a defined period of one or two centuries. These Options aim to acquaint students with the causes andÌýconsequences of continuity and change over the long term in the political, social, economic and cultural systems under study. Thematic Options take key concepts, ideas, or debates in history and study them in a number of different contexts, either geographically or across historical periods. The aim again is to acquaint students with the causes of continuity and change, but this time by a more comparative approach.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that the student will be able to:Ìý

• identify and explain the main issues and events studied


• appraise critically the primary sources and historiographical interpretations of the subject


• think comparatively about aspects of African, American, British, European, Middle Eastern and South Asian history over a substantial period


• assess the nature of social, economic, politica l and cultural change and the particular methodologies associated with tracing it


• organise material and articulate arguments effectively in different kinds of written exercises and orally


• locate and assemble bibliographic and other information by independent research, using IT as appropriate

Additional outcomes:

The module aims to encourage the development of oral communication skills and the student’s effectiveness in group situations and team-working. Students will also develop their IT skills by use of relevant web resources and databases, where appropriate.

Outline content:

This module will consider the significance of the Civil War in addressing sectional divisions in the United States. Examining military files, Congressional records, the testimonies of formerly enslaved people and depictions of the conflict in popular culture, students will explore narratives of the war from a variety of perspectives. Students will study a number of issues, such as enslaved people’s involvement, the role of guerrilla combat, women’s experiences, and the politics of the war, gaining an understanding of the conflict beyond simplistic narratives of North vs. South. Informed by these understandings of the historical context, students will engage in ongoing debates about slavery, the Civil War, and memorialisation, thinking about the role of history beyond the academy.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Seminars, requiring preparatory reading and investigation, may include informal and interactive presentations by the module teacher; structured group discussion; short seminar papers by students; occasional tutorials; team-based simulation exercises and debates; examination of primary and secondary sources, as appropriate. Staff will be available for consultation as necessary.