Course Description
The African background of African Americans, the institution of slavery, the development of the African American community institutions, and African American participation in and impact on the Civil War and Reconstruction.
Athena Title
Early African American Exper
Prerequisite
Any HIST course or ENGL 1101 or ENGL 1101E or ENGL 1101S or ENGL 1102 or ENGL 1102E or ENGL 1102S or POLS 1101 or POLS 1101E or POLS 1101H or POLS 1101S
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
- By the end of this course, students will be able to arrive at conclusions about the early African American experience by gathering and weighing evidence, logical argument, and listening to counter argument.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to write stylistically appropriate papers and essays. Students will be able to analyze ideas and evidence, organize their thoughts, and revise and edit their finished essays.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to identify how the history of the early African American experience has shaped social and cultural identities, encouraging them to understand diverse worldviews and experiences.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to apply appropriate methodological approaches to their analysis of primary sources and to organize their evidence to show historical continuities and discontinuities.
Topical Outline
- Utilizing lectures, assigned readings, and class discussions, students will examine the early African American experience, focusing on the following themes: the complexity and variety of traditional West African societies
- The distinctions between the social, political, and economic importance of the institution of slavery to slaveowners and the importance of the slave community to slaves
- The crucial role antebellum free black people played in the formation of African American community institutions
- Black participation in and impact on the Civil War and Reconstruction
- The course uses both primary documents and secondary sources representing the historical voices of African Americans.
- In addition to written papers and examinations, the instructor may assign oral presentations and/or group projects as course requirements.
Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
Communication
The ability to effectively develop, express, and exchange ideas in written, oral, interpersonal, or visual form.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
