Michael R. H. Swanson
Office: CAS 111
Hours: 9:00-10:00 M, T, Th, F
or by appointment
Phone: 401 254 3230
For Tuesday, February 13 The Institution of Slavery
Read, in The South, a History
Chapter 9, "The Institution of Slavery" pp. 192-208
Chapter 10, "The World of the Slaves" pp. 209-229
These two chapters are very important for understanding the evolution of the institution of slavery and the various aspects of black life under that institution. Understand what a "slave code" is and how slave codes are indicative of white uneasiness concerning the slave system. Chapter 10 records a variety of different types of slavery: not all slaves were plantation workers. It also records different ways blacks responded to their condition as they tried to maintain some semblance of normal family life. Further, it explores a number of different methods by which blacks resisted slavery.
For Thursday:, February 15 The Free Social Order
Read: in The South, a History
Chapter 12. The Free Social Order pp. 254-279
We're going to skip chapter 11 for the time being and move on to chapter 12, which will give us a
chance to think further about the various character types associated with Southern Culture. You'll find
planters, yeomen, poor whites, and free blacks mentioned in this chapter. Be aware, too, of the role
of women. We began to talk about some of this in class on the 6th of February.
Additional Materials: Further information on southern types can be found in sections of a hypertext document prepared by students of the American Studies program at the University of Virginia. The document isn't entirely easy to navigate. The sections you want to read, download and bring with you to class are:
The Yoeman (sic) and the Cracker
then
and finally, Augustus Baldwin Longstreet's short story, "The fight" at
We'll spend about 1/3 of this class period discussing The Birth of a Nation. I will
pass out instructions for your reaction paper, which will be due on Thursday the 22nd.
(No class on Tuesday the 20th)
