Unit 7 Introduction
Introduction
Our final unit looks at the Civil War and its aftermath, the period of Reconstruction. Both topics are vast. Countless books have been written about the Civil War; books about major battles, such as Gettysburg, could fill a hefty bookshelf.
The textbook reading will focus on the war itself, the politics associated with developments in the war, and the aftermath.
As if the Civil War was not chaotic enough, barely a week after the major Confederate army surrendered came the assassination of Abraham Lincoln (on Good Friday, no less), in what was quickly revealed as a conspiracy of Confederate sympathizers, targeting not only Lincoln, but other high-level officials as well.
Against that backdrop, the nation confronted the difficult questions about what to do next. How do you bring the nation together again after such a deadly, destructive war? How do people live together after so many years of suspicion, anger, and hatred? As Lincoln said, "With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds..."
According to the Union, Confederates were in rebellion and had all committed the crime of treason, which is punished by death. What to do about them? Finally, there’s the newly emancipated slaves. They were finally free, but what would freedom mean if they starved? Or never enjoyed the full rights of citizenship?
Keep all these questions in mind as you engage with this Unit's materials.
A documentary for the unit looks at Abraham Lincoln, but it does not recount his life directly. Called Living with Lincoln, it tells the story of a family who, since the 19th century, has amassed the world's largest collection of Lincoln pictures (along with a very large collection of books, documents, and pictures of other Civil War figures). As the title hints, the collection, and the man it documents, defined the family, in both positive and negative ways.
This Unit takes us back to our traditional format of reading, documentaries, a discussion, and a quiz.
***Thanksgiving***
Be advised: Thanksgiving splits this unit. There are no due dates or work expectations during the week of Thanksgiving (Week 14: November 22-28). Even though Unit 7 is three weeks on the calendar, it has the workload and timeline of a standard two week unit. The Early Bird Bonus deadline is 11:59pm, November 21. All deliverables for Unit 7 are due by 11:59pm, December 3, the Final Day of the course.
If you have questions regarding due dates or Thanksgiving, please message me.
***There is No Final Exam***
No, this course does not have a Final Exam. Once we hit December 3rd, this course is concluded. You may use the UCF Final Exam period as you wish. I recommend prepping for other exams outside this course. I will be using it to complete my grading and feedback for all outstanding assignments within our course.
Course Materials
In order to post a strong discussion and earn a high quiz score, please read the following textbook chapters. Once you've completed the readings, watch this week's documentary.
Read:
- OpenStax textbook chapters:
Watch:
- Two ways to access the documentary Living with Lincoln. For access, see:
OR
Assessments
After you've completed the readings and watched the documentary, post a discussion and take the Unit 7 quiz.
Post:
Choose ONE of the following discussion prompts to respond to. The discussion is worth 7 points. Your discussion must be posted by 11:59 on 12/3.
Extra Credit: You have two opportunities to receive extra credit on your discussion post.
- If you post your discussion by 11:59 on 11/21, you will receive a half-point (.5) point bonus.
- If you offer a substantial response to a fellow classmate's post by 11:59 on 12/3, you will receive a half-point (.5) point bonus.
Discussion Post Options:
Quiz:
The Unit 7 Quiz is 20 questions and worth 20 points. Complete the Unit 7 Quiz by 11:59 pm on 12/3. Click here to access the Unit 7 Quiz.