Civil War & Civil Rights
In a time of national emergency, the rules governing everyday life often get suspended to meet a more pressing need. What rights of citizens remain protected in these circumstances, and what liberties are vulnerable to erosion? Where are the boundaries of reasonable sacrifice? While these questions are applicable to every era, we will focus on the years of the American Civil War (the 1860s) to explore them most fully. We will use the thoughts of 19th-century Americans and Confederates and the arguments of historians as our guide towards deep thinking and discussion about rights, liberties, individual responsibility, and community cohesion. 3 hrs. sem.