Introduction to the U.S. Civil War
Presented by Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)
Wednesdays, Feb. 4-Feb. 18, 2-3:20 pm
Sarasota Art Museum, Ringling College Museum Campus, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236
$60 (plus $25 OLLI membership required) | 941-309-5111 • olliringlingcollege.org
This course provides an overview of the U.S. Civil War from its core causes and key triggers to critical theater operations and battlefield strategies. The course concludes with an examination of Reconstruction policies and Lost Cause consequences. Special attention will be paid to the constitutional roots of American slavery, the political fight over the expansion of slavery into the territories, and the legislative compromises that slowed the onset of war from the 1820s to 1861. Key leaders such as Lincoln, Davis, Lee, and Grant will serve as central organizing figures for understanding the war. This three-session course will provide essential background information while capturing the war's trajectory and timeline.