The American South Since 1865

History 308 Spring 2008 The American South Since 1865 Instructor: Philip N. Racine

Office: Main 107 Phone: Ext. 4531 or 582-4342 (home) Office Hours: M - W 2:00 - 4:00; TR 11:00 - 12:00 or by appointment.

Attendance: Three absences are allowed.

Papers: There will be three papers: a mid-term paper, a paper comparing books, and a final paper at the end of the course.

Final Grade: The mid-term paper will count 30%, the grade on the paper comparing books will count 40%, and the grade on the final paper will count 30%.

Course objectives: (1) To gain an understanding of the cultural, economic, social, and political forces that have shaped the American South from Reconstruction to the present (2) to appreciate the position of the American South in the life of the United States in the modern era (3) to acquire perspective on the possible futures of the South.

Courses Relationship to Department Goals

This course helps the history department reach its goals by covering the following dimensions of history widely perceived as crucial for a well-rounded view of the world:

 political developments;  significant intellectual movements and debates;  and socio-cultural issues of race & ethnicity,  class,  and gender.

Students will also gain some exposure to how history is practiced by

 learning how history is interpreted,  assessing and critiquing arguments made by historians,  evaluating and using primary and secondary sources,

Last, students will discuss issues that provide an important perspective on the contemporary world.

Course content: See daily assignments.

Methods of instruction: A lecture course with some discussion. Texts: Jimmy Carter, An Hour Before Daylight Pete Daniel, Standing at the Crossroads William Hair, Carnival of Fury Robert Norrell, Reaping the Whirlwind William Alexander Percy, Lanterns on the Levee Howard Rabinowitz, The First New South Hub City, Textile Town Richard Wright, Black Boy

February 5 Introduction 7 Reconstruction 12 Rabinowitz to p. 186; Lecture: Redemption 14 The New South Creed 19 Textile Town to p. 149; Discussion 21 From Freedom to Peonage--Disenfranchisement 26 Post War Economy—Agriculture 28 Hair to p. 200; Discussion March 4 Segregation: Race and Class 6 Daniel to p. 108; Discussion 11 Southern Populism 13 Wright to p. 303; Discussion 18 Southern Politics to the Great Depression; Paper Due (Mid-Term) 20 Being African American in the Local South 25 Daniel to p. 232; Lecture: 20th century “Southern Creed” 27 NO CLASS SPRING BREAK April 8 FDR and the Great Depression: Southern Politicians and Southern People 10 Percy to p. 348; Discussion 15 The Generation Before the Civil Rights Movement and World War II; Paper Due on Comparing Books 17 Textile Town to p. 320; Discussion 22 The Modern Struggle for Civil Rights 24 Carter to p. 271; Lecture: The Modern Struggle for Civil Rights 29 The South’s Political Revolution: From “Yellow Dog” Democrat to Republican May 1 Norrell to p. 213; Discussion 6 The “South” and the “Nation” 8 Is Their an Identifiable South?; also Questions

Final Examination, Monday, May 12 at 2:00—Paper due at 5:00