Course Description: Virginia was at the heart of the American Civil War. Home to the Confederate government, the greatest population of whites and slaves, and the Confederacy’s largest manufacturing establishments, the state was host to scores of battles between the largest Union and Confederate armies. This course will immerse students in Virginia’s Civil War experience, from secession through the war and into the Reconstruction years. As much as possible, we will experience the war through the words of the people who lived it, discussing a wide range of primary sources each week. We will also consider how Virginia’s Civil War fits into the larger themes in U.S. history, such as race, national identity and memory.