HTY 599: Special Topics in History: Slavery, Abolition, and Race in American History
Instructor: Professor Mary Freeman
Time: W, 4:00-5:50 and web conf.
Course Number: 64730, 64731
Location: S310
Description: Exploration and analysis of new trends in research and interpretation in history. The contest over slavery in the United States is the central conflict in American history. Systems of bondage and movements for freedom have fundamentally shaped the development of the United States, and their legacies continue to influence American society today. This seminar explores the conflict between slavery and freedom from its origins during the era of European colonization through the dawn of the twentieth century. Students will read broadly in historical literature covering themes including: Native American forms of slavery and captivity; the rise and development of African slavery in North America; the formulation of racist ideology and proslavery arguments; the formation of antislavery movements; the process of emancipation during the Civil War and Reconstruction; and the long-term consequences of these events in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century. By engaging with these topics in class and through writing assignments, we will develop an understanding of how the politics of slavery have shaped American history.
Prerequisites & Notes: Graduate students, senior history majors and others by permission.