Dr. Sheehan-Dean's lecture is titled "Was the Civil War a Just War?" Although we tend to think of the Civil War as a uniquely American conflict, participants in the conflict drew on the international law of war to explain and justify their own policies and criticize those of their enemy. This lecture uses the ideas of just war theory to consider fundamental questions about the nature of the conflict:
- How did each side treat non-combatants?
- How did they treat prisoners of war?
- What role did guerrillas and other irregular forces play?
- What was the relationship between civilian and military authority in each section?
The answers to these questions reveal a great deal about the Civil War and about how it fits into the larger pattern of global warfare and democracy in the modern era.
The Graduate History Forum presentations and panels will take place on Saturday, March 8, in Heritage Hall rooms 420 and 422. The forum provides MA and PhD students with an opportunity to present their scholarship, exchange ideas, make professional contacts, and develop new teaching skills. Conference participants will have the option to attend interactive workshops on innovative teaching techniques (such as Team-Based Learning) or thesis/dissertation writing.(Pictured: Richmond after the Civil War; image courtesy of the Library of Congress.)
UAB history graduate students and undergraduate students are welcome to attend the presentations. A detailed schedule will be posted shortly. Questions should be directed to Ashley Foster and Jennifer Stitt at uabgha@gmail.com.
