HIS 314US Civil War: Hist & Memory

Grinnell College · 4 credits · UGRD

Catalog

Students in this seminar will complete major research projects about the U.S. Civil War and/or its presence in public memory. The Civil War was a major watershed event, and students will study a number of important recent trends and debates in its historiography before defining their own topics of research. We will consider new approaches to analyzing the military, economic, social, gender, and racial dimensions of the war as well as topics such as popular culture, geography, immigration, and transnational history. In addition to studying the war itself, students will also consider how Civil War commemorations continued to shape U.S. history and culture during Reconstruction and beyond. Prerequisites: HIS-100 and one 200-level US History course. PURCELL.

Recent sections

Fall 2026 · 1 section

Aug 27 – Dec 18

Section	Days & time	Location	Instructor
01Class #98305-HIS-314-01	Tuesday, Thursday 8:00 AM - 9:50 AM Humanities and Social Studies S2333 (Seminar)	Humanities and Social Studies S2333	Sarah Purcell
01 notes: Writing intensive. Faculty will give substantial oral and/or written feedback to students on writing assignments and provide students with opportunities to apply that feedback to future assignments or revisions. At least 50% of the final grade is based on graded writing assignments.