HIST 374 The Rise of American Slavery and Its Defeat, 1492-1865
This course traces the dramatic rise and fall of slavery in America and explores connections to the Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa. Students use original sources to illuminate the everyday lives of enslaved people, including family, cultural life, religion, and rebellion. We grapple with important questions: Why did masters go all the way to Africa for slaves? How did Latin American slavery evolve differently and influence other regions? How did African Americans shape their lives under a system of exploitation? Why did abolition movements emerge, what was the role of Christianity, and how was slavery finally defeated? Students use sources such as interviews with liberated slaves, business ledgers, newspapers, letters, and archaeology to piece together a global story that is foundational to American history.