The American Civil War

  1. The American Civil War not only prevented the secession of the South, it also contributed to the development of the national government. For this essay, students will identify and discuss five institutions/policies/actions that were essential factors in the construction of the central state. In essence, what five Civil War and Reconstruction era institutions/policies/actions led to the creation of the modern American nation state? Students must make obvious how these five institutions/policies/actions contributed to state empowerment. This is an argumentative essay. Students need to show why the five institutions/policies/actions they select are most important. Simply describing developments will not earn full credit.
  2. Yankee leviathan : the origins of central state authority in America, 1859-1877 is the only SOURCE we can use. Essays that use outside sources will be penalized. For in-text citations, simply write (Bensel, page #). Bensel is the only source you should cite.