HIS2150: Civil War & Reconstruction

05/01/2023 to 04/30/2024 • Modified 06/08/2023

Course Description

This semester-long course introduces the student to the important themes, people, and ideas arising from the period of the American Civil War. Students will study military campaigns as well as the wartime experiences of women, African Americans, and individuals who contributed to the war effort in ways other than the military. While the focus of the course is from 1850 to 1877, students will also learn about the context of the war and its impact on subsequent American history, all through the lens of a biblical worldview.

Prerequisite

None

Schedule

Module 1: Why the War Came

Week 1: Setting the Stage
Week 2: The History of Slavery and Compromise
Week 3:The 1850s, the Emergence of Lincoln, and Secession

Module 2: 1862 – Confederate High Tide

Week 4: Raising the Armies and the Rise of Grant
Week 5: The Rise of Lee
Week 6: Antietam, Emancipation, & Fredericksburg
Week 7: Non-Combat Experiences
Week 8: Non-Combat Experiences (Continued)

Module 3: 1863 – The Confederacy Unravels

Week 9: Chancellorsville & Gettysburg
Week 10: Vicksburg
Week 11: Campaigns in Tennessee & Georgia

Module 4: 1864 – The Twilight of the Rebellion

Week 12: The Atlanta Campaign
Week 13: Petersburg & the Valley Campaign
Week 14: The March to the Sea & the Fall of the Army of Tennessee

Module 5: Reconstruction and the Future

Week 15: The March through the Carolinas & Appomattox
Week 16: Early Reconstruction
Week 17: Later Reconstruction & Why It All Matters
Week 18: The War in Context & Memory