This course introduces students to American history from the founding of European settlements in North America to the fighting of the Civil War. Lectures and discussions emphasize the migration of people from Europe and Africa; the variety of settlements; racial interaction; the formation and development of new political, economic, social and religious institutions, and their role in the transformation of everyday life. Certain events, like the American Revolution and Civil War, are examined in detail. This course also familiarizes the student with the interpretation of a wide range of evidence available for historical analysis—diaries, letters, accounts, newspapers, autobiographies, biographies, essays, monographs, fictional narratives, paintings, and films. Course lectures sketch the big picture, while discussion sections explore issues addressed by the lectures and raised in the readings.