HISTORY 2341-001

(Synonym # 10527)

The Civil War

 Dr. Allan Purcell
 
 

COURSE OBJECTIVE: This course will acquaint the student with the basic facts of the Civil War using a textbook, classroom exposition, outside readings, computer-assisted instruction, and audio-visual techniques. Although the coverage of the material is comprehensive, there will be an emphasis on political, constitutional, military, and economic history.
 

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is a survey of the political, military, constitutional, economic, and social events of the American Civil War.
 

COURSE RATIONALE: This course offers the student the opportunity to examine in depth the American Civil War.  It provides interested students the ability to fulfill the Legislative Requirement in U.S. History with an alternative to the survey courses and provides an elective for History majors and other transfer curriculum students.
 

COURSE METHODOLOGY: This is a lecture course with opportunity for student discussion.
 

COMMON COURSE OBJECTIVES: http://www.austincc.edu/history
 

TEXTBOOK: James M. McPherson. Ordeal By Fire: The Civil War (4th Edition)
 
 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1. The material in Ordeal By Fire: The Civil War is to be read and studied according to the attached schedule.

2. Punctual and regular attendance is required. Any student accumulating three (3) or more UNEXCUSED absences MAY be dropped from this course. This is at the discretion of the instructor.

3. The quality and quantity of the work done by the student determines his/her final grade:

For the grade of "A", the student must complete all four unit exams with an overall average of 90 or above AND write two analytical book reports (at least one of which must be graded "EXCELLENT" and the other at least "ACCEPTABLE") AND pass the course map test.

For the grade of "B", the student must complete all four unit exams with an overall average of 80 or above AND write one analytical book report (which must be graded at least "ACCEPTABLE") AND pass the course map test.

For the grade of "C", the student must complete all four unit exams with an overall average of 70 or above AND pass the course map test.

For the grade of "F", the student who fails to take all four unit exams or who fails to maintain an overall average of 70 on these four unit exams or who fails the course map test or engages in ANY type of scholastic dishonesty will earn the grade of "F".

For the grade of "I", the student must have a medical excuse certified by a physician. There are NO exceptions to this rule. Any student receiving an "Incomplete" must complete the work within the first four weeks of the following semester.
 
 

UNIT EXAMS: Each of the four unit exams may be taken twice. The first time will be in class on the day mentioned in the attached semester schedule. If the student wishes to retest, they may take the exam one more time in the Testing Center. However, there are two restrictions on the retest: first, the HIGHEST GRADE POSSIBLE ON THE RETEST IS 70 and second, THIS RETEST MUST BE TAKEN WITHIN ONE WEEK OF THE TIME THE UNIT EXAM IS GIVEN IN CLASS.The higher of the two grades will be the one recorded for the student for that unit exam. (If a student misses the unit exam in class for good cause- as determined by the instructor- they may then take the unit exam in the Testing Center for the first time with no restrictions on the grade.) CAUTION: STUDENTS TAKING OR RETAKING UNIT EXAMS IN THE TESTING CENTER SHOULD RETAIN THE TESTING CENTER "FEEDBACK" SHEET AND PRESENT IT TO THE INSTRUCTOR AT THE NEXT CLASS MEETING.

The unit exams consist of multiple-choice questions covering the textbook material and classroom exposition as highlighted by the learning objectives issued for each chapter.
 
 

AL'S SPECIAL DISPENSATION:If I have scheduled my unit exam on the day on which you are already taking one or more other exams, you may take my exam a day or two earlier or later in the Testing Center without any penalty PROVIDED THAT YOU TELL ME BEFORE THE EXAM DAY.
 
 

MAP TEST: Because United States history is shaped and influenced by the geography of the continent, it is imperative that the student knows the basic facts of United States geography. Therefore the student will be required to pass a geography map test. This test will require the student to locate on an outline map of the United States twenty of the features named on the attached list. A passing score is 80%. The test will be given in class with Unit Exam #1. This map test must be passed by the mid-semester point.
 
 

COMPUTER-ASSISTED INSTRUCTION:This is entirely voluntary. All of the learning objectives for this course have been programmed on selected computers in the CBI Lab. Further instructions on the use of this material as one means of learning course material will be provided during an in-class demonstration period at the beginning of each semester. I wish to make two important points concerning computer-assisted instruction: first, this is completely voluntary- the student is NOT required to use computer-assisted instruction, however experience has shown those students who do use it tend to score higher on the unit exams and second, computer-assisted instruction supplements but DOES NOT REPLACE CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION. Even if students use computer-assisted instruction, they must still attend class.
 
 

ANALYTICAL BOOK REVIEWS:

Rationale: This analytical book review will critically examine an important scholarly book covering some aspect of the Civil War.

The purpose of this review is twofold: first, to acquaint the student with a classic volume of historical scholarship and second, to allow the student to think critically about an important facet of Civil War history and then to organize your thoughts in clear, cogent prose. You should not view this simply as a hurdle which you must overcome in order to earn a grade of "A" or "B" in this course, but rather approach it as an opportunity to expand your creativity in thinking and writing, two very important aspects of any individual's necessary life skills. Therefore, be advised that I consider this a VERY important aspect of this course and your reviews will be read and graded VERY carefully.

Form: Each book review will be approximately 1000 words long, although this is a general guideline and not an absolute requirement. The main objective of this analytical book review should be to comprehensively cover the three sections of the following book review outline:

Part I: This is a brief outline of the contents of the book. In the space of one or two paragraphs you should be able to convey the parameters of the book's contents. DO NOT simply reproduce the book's table of contents.

Part II: Here is the place for a careful summary of the author's thesis. The thesis is the primary idea the author is trying to prove and convince the reader to accept. You must first identify the thesis and then show how the author either substantiates or fails to substantiate this thesis. This will undoubtedly take you a page or two to do a good job.

Part III: This is the most important part of your book review. Here is where you describe your reaction to the book. Some of the questions you must answer include: Do you agree or disagree with the book's conclusions? Why? Did the book support or contradict what you read in your textbook on the same subject? (You MUST quote some of the relevant passages from both books.) Did you detect any biases on the part of the author? What was the author's background and why did he or she write the book? How in your opinion could the book have been improved? You must be specific and keep in mind there are NO perfect books. Did you enjoy reading the book? Why or why not? Would you recommend it to others?

Grading: The book reviews will be graded "EXCELLENT", "ACCEPTED", or "NOT ACCEPTED". The second book review, required only of those seeking the grade of "A", must be graded "EXCELLENT". The first book review, required of those seeking the grades of "A" and "B", must be at least "ACCEPTED". Any "NOT ACCEPTED" book reviews will be returned to the student to be rewritten.

Due Dates: The first analytical book review is due at mid-semester. The second analytical book review is due one week before the end of the semester.

Books: The following books may be read for the analytical book review. If you wish to substitute another book for one of these, YOU MUST RECEIVE THE INSTRUCTOR'S PRIOR APPROVAL.
 
 

George W. Adams. Doctors in Blue: The Medical History of the Union Army

Michael C. C. Adams. Our Masters the Rebels

Stephen Ambrose. Halleck: Lincoln's Chief of Staff

John B. Barrett. Sherman's March Through the Carolinas

Stuart L. Bernath. Squall Across the Atlantic: American Civil War Prize Cases and Diplomacy

Robert V. Bruce. Lincoln and the Tools of War

Samuel Carter. The Final Fortress: The Campaign for Vicksburg

Samuel Carter. The Siege of Atlanta

Albert Castel. The Guerrilla War

Bruce Catton. A Stillness at Appomattox

Bruce Catton. Glory Road

Bruce Catton. Grant Moves South

Bruce Catton. Grant Takes Command

Bruce Catton. Mr. Lincoln's Army

Freeman Cleaves. Rock of Chickamauga: The Life of General George H. Thomas

Hamilton Cochran. Blockade Runners of the Confederacy

Edward Coddington. The Gettysburg Campaign

Freeman Cleaves. Meade of Gettysburg

Thomas Connally. Army of the Heartland: The Army of Tennessee,1861- 62

Thomas Connally. Autumn of Glory; The Army of Tennessee, 1862-65

Thomas Connally. The Marble Man: Robert E. Lee and His Image in American Society

Thomas Connally & Archer Jones. The Politics of Command

Thomas Connally & Archer Jones. Confederate Strategy from Shiloh to Vicksburg

Dudley Cornish. The Sable Arm: Negro Troops in the Union Army

E. Merton Coulter. The Confederate States of America

David P. Crook. The North, The South, and the Powers 1861-1865

Horace H. Cunningham. Doctors in Gray

Leonard P. Curry. Blueprint For Modern America

William C. Davis. Battle of Bull Run

William C. Davis. Duel Between the First Ironclads

William C. Davis. The Battle of New Market

Clifford Dowdey. Lee's Last Campaign

Clifford Dowdey. The Seven Days

Fairfax Downey. Storming the Gateway: Chattanooga, 1863

Joseph T. Durkin. Stephen R. Mallory: Confederate Navy Chief

Clement Eaton. A History of the Southern Confederacy

Clement Eaton. Jefferson Davis

Paul Escott. After Secession: Jefferson Davis and the Failure of Confederate Nationalism

Norman Ferris. Desperate Diplomacy: William H. Seward's Foreign Policy

Douglas S. Freeman. Lee's Lieutenants (any one of the three volumes)

Douglas S. Freeman. R.E. Lee: A Biography (any one of the last three volumes)

J. F. C. Fuller. Grant and Lee

Gary W. Gallagher. Stephen Dodson Ramseur: Lee's Gallant General

Richard Goff. Confederate Supply

H. Allen Gosnell. Guns of the Western Waters: The Story of River Gunboats in the Civil War

Gilbert Govan & James Livingood. A Different Valor: The Story of General Joseph E. Johnston

Wood Gray. The Hidden Civil War: The Story of the Copperheads

James J. Hamilton. The Battle of Fort Donelson

Warren Hassler. Commanders of the Army of the Potomac

Warren Hassler. George B. McClellan

Robert S. Henry. "First With the Most" Forrest

William B. Hesseltine. Civil War Prisons

William B. Hesseltine. Lincoln and the War Governors

Stanley F. Horn. The Decisive Battle of Nashville

Benjamin P. Thomas & Harold Hyman. Stanton: The Life and Times of Lincoln's Secretary of War

Ludwell H. Johnson. Red River Campaign

James P. Jones. Yankee Blitzkrieg: Wilson's Raid Through Alabama and Georgia

Virgil C. Jones. The Civil War at Sea (any one of the three volumes)

Virgil C. Jones. Gray Ghosts and Rebel Raiders

Frank Klement. The Limits of Dissent

William M. Lamers. The Edge of Glory: A Biography of General William S. Rosecarns

Charles R. Lee. The Confederate Constitutions

Lloyd Lewis. Sherman, Fighting Prophet

Ella Lonn. Foreigners in the Union Army and Navy

Marion B. Lucas. Sherman and the Burning of Columbia

James Lee McDonough. Shiloh: In Hell Before Night

James Lee McDonough. Stones River

James M. McPherson. The Negro's Civil War

Grady McWhiney. Braxton Bragg and Confederate Defeat

James M. Merrill. The Rebel Shore: The Story of Union Sea Power in the Civil War

John D. Milligan. Gunboats Down the Mississippi

Albert B. Moore. Conscription and Conflict in the Confederacy

Edward C. Murdock. Patriotism Limited: The Civil War Draft and Bounty System

James V. Murfin. The Gleam of Bayonets: The Battle of Antietam

John Niven. Gideon Welles: Lincoln's Secretary of the Navy

Alan T. Nolan. The Iron Brigade

Frank Owsley. Cotton Diplomacy: Foreign Relations of the Confederate States of America

Frank Owsley. States Rights in the Confederacy

Joseph H. Parks. Joseph E. Brown of Georgia

Rembert Patrick. Jefferson Davis and His Cabinet

Benjamin Quarles. The Negro in the Civil War

Charles W. Ramsdell. Behind the Lines in the Southern Confederacy

Rowena Reed. Combined Operations in the Civil War

James I. Robertson. The Stonewall Brigade

H.C.B. Rogers. The Confederates and Federals at War

Charles P. Roland. The Confederacy

Donald B. Sanger & Thomas R. Hay. James Longstreet

Joel Silbey. A Respectable Minority: The Democratic Party in the Civil War Era

Dean Sprague. Freedom Under Lincoln

Edward J. Stackpole. From Cedar Mountain to Antietam

Edward J. Stackpole. Sheridan in the Shenandoah

Kenneth Stampp. And the War Came

Stephen Starr. The Union Cavalry in the Civil War (any volume)

Edward Steere. The Wilderness Campaign

William N. Still. Confederate Shipbuilding

William N. Still. Iron Afloat: The Story of the Confederate Armorclads

Wiley Sword. Bloody Shiloh

Robert G. Tanner. Stonewall in the Valley

Emory Thomas. The Confederate Nation, 1861-1865

Richard Todd. Confederate Finance

Hans Trefousse The Radical Republicans

Glen Tucker. High Tide at Gettysburg

Frank Vandiver. Jubal's Raid

Frank Vandiver. Mighty Stonewall

Frank Vandiver. Ploughshares Into Swords: Josiah Gorgas and Confederate Ordnance

Frank Vandiver. Rebel Brass: The Confederate Command System

Frank Vandiver. Their Tattered Flags

Peter F. Walker. Vicksburg: A People At War

John B. Walters. Merchant of Terror: General Sherman and Total War

Thomas Weber. The Northern Railroads in the Civil War

Russell Weigley. Quartermaster General of the Union Army

Bell I. Wiley. Confederate Women

Bell I. Wiley. The Life of Billy Yank

Bell I. Wiley. The Life of Johnny Reb

Bell I. Wiley. The Plain People of the Confederacy

T. Harry Williams. Beauregard: Napoleon in Gray

T. Harry Williams. Lincoln and His Generals

T. Harry Williams. Lincoln and the Radicals

T. Harry Williams. McClellan, Sherman, and Grant

Wilfred B. Yearns. The Confederate Congress
 
 

Class Schedule History 2341

 

Date

Class Activity 

Textbook Chapter

 

 

 

Aug 30

Introduction

 

Sep 1

1850's & 1860

 

Sep 6

Election of 1860 & Ft. Sumter

 

Sep 8

Border States

Chapter 10

Sep 13

Raising the Forces & the Navies

Chapter 11

Sep 15

Manpower North & South

 

Sep 20

Economics of War & 1st Bull Run

Chapter 12

Sep 22

McClellan & the Army

Chapter 13

Sep 27

Foreign Relations With Europe

 

Sep 29

UNIT EXAM #1 & MAP TEST

 

Oct 4

The Western Theater

Chapter 14

Oct 6

Peninsula

Chapter 15

Oct 11

2nd Bull Run & Slavery

Chapter 16

Oct 13

Antietam

Chapter 17

Oct 18

Northern Politics & Emancipation

 

Oct 20

UNIT EXAM #2

 

Oct 25

Fredericksburg & Stones River

Chapter 18

Oct 27

Chancellorsville

 

Nov 1

Gettysburg I

Chapter 19

Nov 3

Gettysburg II

 

Nov 8

Vicksburg & Chattanooga

Chapter 20

Nov 150

Domestic Politics North & South

Chapter 21

Nov 25

Economics North & South

 

Nov 17

UNIT EXAM #3

 

Nov 22

Freedmen & Wartime Reconstruction

Chapter 22

Nov 24

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

 

Nov 29

Grant Moves East

Chapter 23

Dec 1 Petersburg & Atlanta  

Dec 6

March to the Sea

Chapter 24

Dec 8

Franklin & Nashville

Chapter 25

Dec 13

To Appomattox

 

Dec 15

UNIT EXAM #4

 


 
 






OFFICE HOURS:

M W 6:30AM - 11:30AM in ATT 214

  T H 6:30AM - 9:00AM in ATT 214

TELEPHONE: 223-3398
 
 

E-MAIL:apurcell@austincc.edu
 
 

DUE DATE:

1st Book Review: Oct. 20, 2016 at the beginning of class

2nd Book Review: Dec. 8, 2016 at the beginning of class

LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW: November 28, 2016

WITHDRAWAL POLICY:  Punctual and regular attendance is required.  Any student accumulating three (3) or more UNEXCUSED absences MAY be dropped from this course.  This is at the discretion of the instructor.

COURSE COMPLETION DEADLINE: December 15, 2016 at the end of class
 
 

ADA: “Each ACC Campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities.  Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office for Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes.  Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester." (ACC Student Handbook)
 

SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY: “Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work.  Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their own thought, research, or self-expression.  Academic work is defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects,
either individual or group; classroom presentations, and homework."  (ACC Student Handbook)
Anyone committing any of these acts in this course will receive the grade of "F" for the course.
 
 

PRIVACY: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects confidentiality of educational records. Grades cannot be given over the phone, through a fellow student, or by e-mail in this course.
 

TESTING CENTER POLICY: http://www.austincc.edu/testctr
 

ACADEMIC FREEDOM: The free exchange of information is vital to the pursuit of learning.
 
 

BUILDING REGULATIONS: RGC regulations prohibit smoking, drinking or eating in the classrooms. These regulations will be strictly enforced in this course.
 
 

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