HIST 247-01, History of the American South, Fall 2009

Abstract

This course examines the social, political, and cultural history of the South as a distinct region of the United States. The central dilemma in the South's historical development has been the issue of race, and this course focuses on the evolving relationship between black and white southerners from the seventeenth century to the late twentieth century. The course includes discussions of the origins of a slave society, the culture of the Old South, the Civil War and Reconstruction era, political and cultural change in the New South, the Civil Rights Movement, and social developments in the recent South. Class meetings will consist of a mixture of lecture and discussion based on the assigned readings. Therefore, to maximize the quality and depth of discussion for each class meeting (and to maximize your grade), you will need to complete the reading beforehand. You should leave this class with a broad understanding of the historical forces that have shaped the American South, an improved ability to evaluate contemporary southern society, and enhanced analytical and writing skills.