The United and Disunited States of America 1776-1865
This interactive lecture outline course explores the political, social, and cultural development of the United States from independence to the end of the civil war.
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The course examines the causes of unity that allowed the United States to gain independence from the British Crown and how material differences that brought the union close to failure. The first half of the course examines how thirteen colonies became one nation, while the second half explores how the nation divided into opposite sides of a civil war.
What will we cover?
• The creation of the current political system and the compromises required for the thirteen colonies to unite. • Early domestic and foreign challenges to the federal government and their outcomes. • How expansion of the nation was both an opportunity to maintain the union but brought significant challenges to the political unity of the nation. • The development of the Democrat and Republican Parties in Antebellum America. • The role of slavery in the divisions between the North and South, the abolitionist movement and the colour line’s significance to the civil war. • The questionable inevitability of the civil war, its social and political impact, and whether it reunited the nation.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Assess the impact of the civil war on modern-day America and its continuing contribution to cultural and political divisions, especially the importance of the constitution and its central role in modern-day politics. • Evaluate the historical foundations of current issues facing the United States, particularly those concerning race and ethnicity and party politics. • Explain certain aspects of American culture and politics such as the place of geographical divisions in modern America, the issue of states’ rights, and the complex legacy of the civil war era.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an introductory-level course and no prior knowledge is necessary. A good standard of English and a willingness to engage respectfully and contructively in any debates/discussions are the only requirements.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The course will be delivered through a mixture of formal tutor input and discussion with student participation encouraged.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
There are no additional costs associated with this course.Bring a pen and paper for any voluntary note taking.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
This is one of a cycle of courses on the history of the USA. Dafydd's next courses on the subject will be:
HAH83 Change and Continuity in America 1865-1920 HAH107 Radicals and Capitalists in America 1890-1945.
Dafydd Townley is a lecturer in American History at the University of Reading where he teaches courses to undergraduates and graduates on the FBI, protest groups in 1960s America, and race and ethnicity in the United States, as well as broad survey modules on US history. His research interests include American national security policy, the US intelligence community, cybersecurity policy, US grand strategy and US domestic counterintelligence operations. His research has been supported by University of Oxford’s Rothermere American Institute, Columbia University, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, the Institute for Historical Research and the Royal Historical Society. His work has been published in History, the Journal of Intelligence History and his monograph, The Year of Intelligence in the United States: Public Opinion, National Security and the 1975 Church Committee will be published by Palgrave Macmillan in June, 2021. His current research focuses on the long-term development of US cybersecurity policy.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/the-united-and-disunited-states-of-america-1776-18651423957The United and Disunited States of America 1776-1865https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/u/n/united-disunited-america-hah11-square.jpg189189GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/The Caribbean & Americas/Courses/Online courses228511771178118017311228511771178This interactive lecture outline course explores the political, social, and cultural development of the United States from independence to the end of the civil war.003031084The United and Disunited States of America 1776-1865189189https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/u/n/united-disunited-america-hah11-square_3.jpgInStockEveningThuOnlineAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-11-05T00:00:00+00:00BeginnersNov 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHAH11189189The United and Disunited States of America 1776-1865189123189Dafydd Townleythe-united-and-disunited-states-of-america-1776-1865/hah11-2627This interactive lecture outline course explores the political, social, and cultural development of the United States from independence to the end of the civil war.0000-Available|2026-11-05 00:00:00The course examines the causes of unity that allowed the United States to gain independence from the British Crown and how material differences that brought the union close to failure. The first half of the course examines how thirteen colonies became one nation, while the second half explores how the nation divided into opposite sides of a civil war.This interactive lecture outline course explores the political, social, and cultural development of the United States from independence to the end of the civil war.• The creation of the current political system and the compromises required for the thirteen colonies to unite.<br>• Early domestic and foreign challenges to the federal government and their outcomes.<br>• How expansion of the nation was both an opportunity to maintain the union but brought significant challenges to <br> the political unity of the nation.<br>• The development of the Democrat and Republican Parties in Antebellum America.<br>• The role of slavery in the divisions between the North and South, the abolitionist movement and the colour line’s significance to the civil war.<br>• The questionable inevitability of the civil war, its social and political impact, and whether it reunited the nation.• Assess the impact of the civil war on modern-day America and its continuing contribution to cultural and political divisions, especially the importance of the constitution and its central role in modern-day politics.<br>• Evaluate the historical foundations of current issues facing the United States, particularly those concerning race and ethnicity and party politics.<br>• Explain certain aspects of American culture and politics such as the place of geographical divisions in modern America, the issue of states’ rights, and the complex legacy of the civil war era.This is an introductory-level course and no prior knowledge is necessary. A good standard of English and a willingness to engage respectfully and contructively in any debates/discussions are the only requirements.The course will be delivered through a mixture of formal tutor input and discussion with student participation encouraged.There are no additional costs associated with this course.Bring a pen and paper for any voluntary note taking.This is one of a cycle of courses on the history of the USA. Dafydd's next courses on the subject will be: <br><br>HAH83 Change and Continuity in America 1865-1920<br>HAH107 Radicals and Capitalists in America 1890-1945.HistoryThe Caribbean & Americasvirtual189189123HAH11NONEThu05/11/26 - 10/12/2619:00 - 21:0019:0021:006 sessions (over 6 weeks)65-10 weeksEveningWeekdayOnlineOnlineDafydd TownleyBeginnersAvailable courses2026-11-05T00:00:00+00:00Nov 2026Culture, history & humanities189189The United and Disunited States of America 1776-1865the-united-and-disunited-states-of-america-1776-1865/hah11-2627This interactive lecture outline course explores the political, social, and cultural development of the United States from independence to the end of the civil war.0000-Available|2026-11-05 00:00:00The course examines the causes of unity that allowed the United States to gain independence from the British Crown and how material differences that brought the union close to failure. The first half of the course examines how thirteen colonies became one nation, while the second half explores how the nation divided into opposite sides of a civil war.This interactive lecture outline course explores the political, social, and cultural development of the United States from independence to the end of the civil war.• The creation of the current political system and the compromises required for the thirteen colonies to unite.<br>• Early domestic and foreign challenges to the federal government and their outcomes.<br>• How expansion of the nation was both an opportunity to maintain the union but brought significant challenges to <br> the political unity of the nation.<br>• The development of the Democrat and Republican Parties in Antebellum America.<br>• The role of slavery in the divisions between the North and South, the abolitionist movement and the colour line’s significance to the civil war.<br>• The questionable inevitability of the civil war, its social and political impact, and whether it reunited the nation.• Assess the impact of the civil war on modern-day America and its continuing contribution to cultural and political divisions, especially the importance of the constitution and its central role in modern-day politics.<br>• Evaluate the historical foundations of current issues facing the United States, particularly those concerning race and ethnicity and party politics.<br>• Explain certain aspects of American culture and politics such as the place of geographical divisions in modern America, the issue of states’ rights, and the complex legacy of the civil war era.This is an introductory-level course and no prior knowledge is necessary. A good standard of English and a willingness to engage respectfully and contructively in any debates/discussions are the only requirements.The course will be delivered through a mixture of formal tutor input and discussion with student participation encouraged.There are no additional costs associated with this course.Bring a pen and paper for any voluntary note taking.This is one of a cycle of courses on the history of the USA. Dafydd's next courses on the subject will be: <br><br>HAH83 Change and Continuity in America 1865-1920<br>HAH107 Radicals and Capitalists in America 1890-1945.HistoryThe Caribbean & Americasconfigurable
11801178The Caribbean & Americashttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/history/american-history1/2/285/1177/1178/11801/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/The Caribbean & Americas
