HIST 6393

The Underground Railroad and the Coming of the Civil War

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2014-2015.

In 1850 American politicians banded together cross-regionally, passed a Fugitive Slave Law and breathed a sigh of relief, thinking they had once again dodged the slavery issue that threatened disunion. This "Bloodhound Bill" was designed to make "slave" catchers of all Northern whites. Instead it set in motion waves of protests, transformed previously silent whites into underground conductors, further emboldened veteran underground workers and forced thousands of self emancipated Northern blacks to emigrate. The Underground Railroad contributed to convincing Southerners that the Government would not or could not protect slavery. This course examines underground activism beginning in 1850 and offers an interpretation of how the Underground Railroad led to emancipation. The ebbs and flows of underground activity; transnational networks; Civil War military and geo-political issues; and what W.E.B. DuBois called the "General Strike" all contributed to making the Thirteenth Amendment a foregone conclusion.

Comments Co-meets with HIST 4393. There may be several field trips.

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