History 592G - S-The End of Slavery

Writing Seminar: Up until the Civil War, the United States was a slaveholding republic. Most of the nation's leaders were slaveholders, and in 1857 six of the nine judges on the Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution protected slave property. Four million Americans were slaves, and they were worth over three billion dollars on the open market, seven times the amount of money invested in manufacturing. Thus outlawing slavery, even in the midst of the bloodiest war in American history, was a major undertaking. This course will focus on how Americans, some black, some white, handled that chore.

Open to Seniors and Juniors in History, Middle East and Judaic majors only. "The 54th Massachusetts and the End of Slavery." is the specific topic for this Junior Year Writing Seminar.