This syllabus was submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs by the course instructorThis course focuses on the political, constitutional, social, and cultural developments surrounding the central event in United States history, the Civil War. Topics will include the development of antebellum society in the North and South, the rise of sectional politics and the crisis of secession, the impact of the war on the lives of white and black Americans, and post-war attempts to reconstruct the social, political, and constitutional order. This course is a seminar. This means that it is vital that students attend class, read the assignments, think about the material, and participate in discussions. A research paper is also required. After completing this course, students should have a broad understanding of the history of the Civil War and Reconstruction Era, as well as improved written, oral, and critical thinking skills.