This is our catalog of courses. We will occasionally adjust the course listing to reflect the addition of new courses and the retirement of others.
This course tells the story of the Battle of Gettysburg through the eyes of the soldiers and civilians who experienced America’s greatest battle. We will do a virtual tour of the battlefield, exploring the very places where Americans made and experienced history. By virtually stepping into the shoes of their stories, we will gain a greater appreciation of what it means to be an American, and what Gettysburg means to the American Heritage.
Total classes: 8
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade. NOTE: Adjustments can be made to assignments to accommodate 7th to 8th-grade students.
Suggested credit: ½ semester History or American History
Description
This course tells the story of the Battle of Gettysburg through the eyes of the soldiers and civilians who experienced America’s greatest battle. We will do a virtual tour of the battlefield, exploring the very places where Americans made and experienced history. By virtually stepping into the shoes of their stories, we will gain a greater appreciation of what it means to be an American, and what Gettysburg means to the American Heritage.
Outline
Day 1: Introduction and overview of syllabus and assignments; Introductory probe into the scope and utility of History.
Day 2: Backgrounds of the Civil War and the Gettysburg Campaign
Day 3: The Roads Taken to Battle
Day 4: Delaying the Confederates
Day 5: Confusion in Gettysburg
Day 6: Plans go Awry
Day 7: Defense of Cemetery Ridge
Day 8: The meaning of Gettysburg to Americans in the past and present
Materials and Homework
Course materials: No course materials need to be purchased. Dr. Martin will provide students with excerpts from Two Witnesses at Gettysburg: The Personal Accounts of Whitelaw Reid and A.J. Fremantle, by Gary Gallagher (https://amzn.to/2KV0GrW to read reviews).
Homework:
· Students will read approximately ten pages per day from primary sources (provided free by the instructor). NOTE: Middle school students may be exempt from the readings.
· There will be daily review quizzes that are computer-graded for immediate feedback. The quizzes are based on the classroom lectures and discussions. They are optional and worth bonus points
· Students will compose a two- to three-page exercise in historical-critical analysis and review. This is an important skill for students to practice. NOTE: Middle school students may instead write a one- to two-page semi-biographical report.
