Undergraduate Course: The Rise of American Slavery, 1619-1790 (HIST10095)
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 |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course will investigate the introduction and development of slavery from the first appearance of Africans in the early seventeenth century through the era of the American Revolution. The course will examine the debate over the origins of racism, the chronology of slavery's codification in law and the changing nature of bondage. Topics to be covered include the rate, source and distribution of slave supplies; the morphology and demography of the slave population; variations in slavery across time and space; slaves' material life and treatment; the organisation and patterns of labour; the changing definition of the master-slave relationship; social transactions between black and white; the beginnings of an African American culture, slave families and religion as well as the ways the slaves were able to resist-individually and collectively-the bonds of perpetual servitude. The course will also look at the era of the American Revolution and assess whether the late eighteenth century witnessed a major turning point in the history of slavery and of the American South. Throughout the coverage of all these topics, there will be an examination of the contentious historiographical debates that slavery has aroused and discussion of the various methodologies and types of evidence that historians have used. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
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). |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should usually have at least 3 History courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this) for entry to this course. We will only consider University/College level courses. |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
i) Subject knowledge-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).
Visiting Student Variant Assessment
One essay of about 3000 words (one third of overall assessment); one take home examination essay (two-thirds of overall assessment). |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Alan Day
Tel: (0131 6)50 3771
Email: Alan.F.Day@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Marie-Therese Rafferty
Tel: (0131 6)50 3780
Email: M.T.Rafferty@ed.ac.uk |
|
|
University Homepage