Undergraduate Course: 'The Peculiar Institution': Slaves and Slavery in the American South, 1790-1865 (HIST10096)
Course Outline
| School |
School of History, Classics and Archaeology |
College |
College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits |
20 |
| Home subject area |
History |
Other subject area |
None |
| Course website |
None |
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| Course description |
This course will examine the history of African-American slavery from the end of the eighteenth century through to its constitutional abolition in 1865. Throughout the focus will be on the experience of the slaves and their adaptation and reaction to the 'peculiar institution'. Topics will include the demography and morphology of the slave population; variations in slavery across time and space; the emergence and impact of the internal slave trade; legislation governing slavery and slave behaviour; the master-slave relationship; the development of the slave community; slave family life, religious beliefs and practices, working patterns and living conditions and the ways in which slaves were able to resist-individually and collectively- their masters. The course will also look at the economics of slavery, examining its profitability and its impact upon the Southern economy. Finally, there will also be an investigation of the slaves' participation in and contribution to the war effort which culminated in their emancipation. Throughout the coverage of all these topics, we will be aiming to highlight some of the fierce historiographical debates that slavery has aroused and, in the process, discuss the various methodologies and types of evidence that historians have used. Equally important will be an analysis of the slaves' own recollections of bondage. |
Entry Requirements
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites |
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| Prohibited Combinations |
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Other requirements |
A pass or passes in 40 credits of first level historical courses or equivalent and a pass or passes in 40 credits of second level historical courses or equivalent.
Before enrolling students on this course, Directors are asked to contact the History Honours Admission Secretary to ensure that a place is available (Tel: 503783).
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| Additional Costs |
None |
Course Delivery Information
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
i) Subject knowledge a) To increase understanding of the origins, development and eventual abolition of the institution of slavery in America.
ii) Discipline Skills a) To improve awareness of the nature and use of historical evidence b) To demonstrate the nature of history as argument by focusing on the debates between historians on key issues.
iii) Writing Skills To increase skills in the research, writing and presentation of papers.
iv) Non-Written Skills To increase organisational, critical and communication skills |
Assessment Information
| One essay of about 3000 words (one third of overall assessment); one two-hour examination paper (two-thirds of overall assessment). |
| Please see Visiting Student Prospectus website for Visiting Student Assessment information |
Special Arrangements
| Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Dr Alan Day
Tel: (0131 6)50 3771
Email: Alan.F.Day@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Miss Ruth Nicol
Tel: (0131 6)50 3780
Email: ruth.nicol@ed.ac.uk |
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copyright 2010 The University of Edinburgh -
1 September 2010 6:07 am
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