Course Contents

The Historical Data

The historical content of the course relies heavily on the historical data used.
We used:

Macro-historical Questions
- How typical was Indiana in relation to other states in 1860?
- How did its population compare to other states nationally and regionally (North, South, West, Midwest)
- How do these variables compare?
  age, sex ratio, number of African Americans and European immigrants, urban and rural population, real and personal wealth of inhabitants, school attendance and adult literacy
Micro-historical Questions
- In what ways were the characteristics of a pioneer society reflected in the state's population in 1860?
- How much did Indiana's population grow between 1850 and 1860?
- Which counties and/or regions within the state had the largest number of inhabitants in 1860?
- Which counties and/or regions were the wealthiest in 1860 in terms of their inhabitants' real and/or personal wealth?
- What influence did one's race, sex, and/or ethnicity have on one's ability to find employment or attend school in the state?
- What was the most prevalent form of family organization --- nuclear, stem or extended?

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The mathematical content of the course is essentially independent of the historical data used.
Tools needed: