HON 2202 - Divided America: 19th Century Racism

Credits: 4
One step towards defeating abhorrent ideas such as racism is to fully understand their historical roots and internal “logic.” Know your enemy. This course will be a deep dive into the racist logic, politics, religious beliefs,
gender norms, literary conventions, and pseudo-science of America on the eve of the American Civil War. It will also offer an opportunity to come to know leading abolitionists and anti-racists of the era-some white, some Black, some famous, others deserving greater recognition today. At the heart of the course will be two “reacting to the past” simulations, in which students assume the roles of real 19th century figures-some heroic, others repugnant-researching, debating, and politicking from a historical point of view. The first simulation, Frederick Douglass, Slavery and the Constitution, 1845 (Norton) has students taking on roles such as Sojourner Truth, James Covey,
Angela Grimke, Robert E. Lee, Henry Clay, Charles Dickens, and Walt Whitman. From such points of view, students will debate the literacy accomplishments of Frederick Douglass and interrogate John C. Calhoun’s pro-slavery, states’ rights reading of the Constitution. In the second simulation, Kentucky, 1861: Loyalty, State, and Nation the screws tighten. Students continue debate, now from the point of view of border state legislators during the opening shots of the Civil War. Armies approach. Is neutrality possible in a battle between Union and slavery? Is political violence ever justified? What guidance does the constitution really offer in a time of turmoil? In this honors course, students will find themselves grappling with tough ideas from uncomfortable points of view. Teamwork, individual initiative, critical thinking, research skills, and the ability to write and debate persuasively will all be tested and sharpened.
McDaniel Plan: Multicultural