History 397SL - ST- American Slavery
Spring
2021
01
3.00
Sarah Cornell
M W 2:30PM 3:45PM
UMass Amherst
84691
Fully Remote Class
secornell@history.umass.edu
This advanced course explores the role of the institution of racial slavery in the United States. We will examine the economic, political, and social importance of slavery in the development of the United States, paying special attention to recent literature reexamining the relationship between nineteenth-century slavery and capitalism. Although our focus will be on the enslavement of Africans and African Americans, we will also learn about study Native American slaves and enslavers.
Along the way, we will explore varied experiences of slavery, with a focus on the dynamic construction of slave cultures, religions, and families. We will learn about the spectrum of slave resistance and study the impacts of various forms of resistance. We will then examine the forces driving the abolition of slavery during the Civil War. Finally, in order to evaluate the outcome of emancipation, the last weeks of class will examine the legacies of racial slavery and the movement for
slavery reparations. The course closes with an examination of modern slavery in the United States.
Along the way, we will explore varied experiences of slavery, with a focus on the dynamic construction of slave cultures, religions, and families. We will learn about the spectrum of slave resistance and study the impacts of various forms of resistance. We will then examine the forces driving the abolition of slavery during the Civil War. Finally, in order to evaluate the outcome of emancipation, the last weeks of class will examine the legacies of racial slavery and the movement for
slavery reparations. The course closes with an examination of modern slavery in the United States.
The first meeting of the week is asynchronous while the second meeting will be live on Zoom. This advanced course explores the institution of racial slavery in the United States. We will examine the economic, political, and social importance of slavery in the development of the United States, paying special attention to recent literature reexamining the relationship between slavery and capitalism. Although our focus will be on the enslavement of Africans and African Americans, we will also study Native American slaves and enslavers. Along the way, we will explore varied experiences of slavery, with a focus on the dynamic construction of slave cultures, religions, and families. We will learn about the spectrum of slave resistance and study the impacts of various forms of resistance. We will then examine the Civil War as ?the slaves? war,? paying close attention to abolition. Finally, in order to evaluate the outcome of emancipation, the last weeks of class will examine the legacies of racial slavery and the movement for slavery reparations. The course closes with an exploration of slavery, generally discussed as ?human trafficking,? in the United States today.