Across the 50 states?

[SpiritofPickett]

I was wondering, how does the Civil War matter across the modern US?

Clearly, those people living in the Old Confederacy, feel keenly the link with their heritage. The posters from the Northern states also have that link, their states all sent regiments to fight.

But what about people living in those states that only joined the Union long after the war. The 'Wild West' states and Alaska? Hawaii?

Is it more just 'book history' and not a major 'issue' or is it seen as a key factor in their history as well?

[unionblue]

SpiritofPicket,

I'm afraid most of us on this board, whether we favor the North or the South, will tell you that the history of the Civil War is not taught or appreciated in this country. It is mostly unknown or confused with the Revolutionary War of 1776.

I do not know of other States approach to teaching history in their high schools, but there is a push in Ohio to only teach US history from the 1900s on, ignoring or simply highlighting certain events from our founding during the revolutionary war period.

Even if this approach is not taken, the Civil War certainly is not stressed enoung in our school system here. It is largely glossed over in a chapter at best in our high school history books, at worst, in a paragraph or two.

Sometimes I wonder if it is simply due to the lack of time in the daily school schedule and to the fact that most of our schools are forced to teach the SAT's so our kids can pass those tests and are not 'taught' such basic subjects as American history.

But all is not lost. There does seem to be a certain amount of Civil War history taught in colleges and at web sites such as these.

But overall, the Civil War is a part of our 'distant' past and not considered by the average citizen nor celebrated or remembered to any degree, as it is at this board. I will concede that its memory does seem to be better maintained in the Southern regions of the US by more of our citizens than in the North and West. But here too it is my impression that this period is slowly slipping away as something that happened long ago.

You will find dedicated amatuer historians, such as reenactors who dive whole-hog into the period and those SCV, SUV members who keep the memory alive.

But again, to most of us Americans, the Civil War is the occassional episode on the History Channel or an old movie on TV.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

[larry_cockerham]

Unionblue, as I've feared on a few other occasions, you are quite correct with respect to your perception of our nation's attitude and effort towards perserving much if any knowledge of the civil war. My own Son, a fine man of 24 years, most likely couldn't distinguish between the Forrest and the trees. My Grandson is the next 'target'.

[amhistoryguy]

Why and how well the subject is taught across the country is a very good question. Yet it is, IMO, a question that we should be asking ourselves every now and then too. Why and how do we study this period of history?

Those who study the war, regardless of having had an ancestor who fought, or who live in an area where action took place, study for a wide variety of reasons, IMO. Those of us with ancestors who fought can't ignore the personal connection to history. Some study only a single aspect of the war. Others can't get enough of anything CW. Most of us study from books, but I fear that the younger generations may be getting the majority of their study from the internet. Not all bad, but it seems to provide the opportunity for "bad" history on a much grander scale too.

It's unfortunate, but in schools often teachers never get past the military and political aspects of the war. They are hamstung by time constraints on most levels I'm sure, but it is unfortunate. The CW demonstrates quite a few qualities that we need to, IMO, as a country, resusitate. Do we still believe that one man can make a difference, and that we all have a duty to be that one man?

Often said, but very true, we need to know where we've been as a country, to understand where we are going. We need to examine our brotherhood, faith, and courage. What better place than in the history of our country, regardless of the state you live in.

The CW era can be tied to other areas of study too. The war inspired much literature and art. Look at the effect of the war on journalisim. It made fortunes and it took fortunes. As a showcase of American heros, all Americans should take notice. Not to mention the fact we should never forget the great sacrifice made on our behalf, so that today we live the way we do.

Often, IMO, folks cross the line from history, to current political agenda, and think they are involved in the study of history. These folks do not necessarily have to have lived anywhere near the action, nor do they have to have had an ancestor who fought. Lack of knowledge of history puts us in position to be easily manipulated. Everyone needs to have access to the facts in order to form their own judgements.

I've rambled a bit, sorry, but there are so many reasons this period and these people should be studied. These reasons cross all state lines and even country borders.

"A nation revels itself not only by the men it produces but by the men it honors, the men it remembers..." - JFK

Regards, Dave Gorski

[unionblue]

Dave,

Just keep on posting, friend, you make sense and you're doing a great job at providing information and words that make us stop and think.

Thank you,
Unionblue

[unionblue]

Larry,

I feel the same way about my daughter, she is a fine woman and great with her kids, and I could not be prouder of her, but if she could tell me where Ft. Sumter is, I'd be surprised & delighted.

I'm on the same program you are when it comes to preserving our history. I'm introducing my 9 year old grandson to reenacting.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

[gary]

We (late '60s) were taught a little about the Civil War in grade school. I find that most interest out here is because someone has relatives who served on one side or another. For me, it's a matter of something unpopular with academic historians: military history. I love the stuff and have read anything from Herodotus to accounts by modern soldiers in the sandbox.

Sadly, most adolescents don't know or care. It's more important who's on the top ten in the hip-hop culture. They probably couldn't place a state in the Union or maybe even this nation on a globe.

[ole]

Counter-question, Spirit. How much do English teenagers know about similar "important" historical events in the UK's past? Say the Crimean and Boer wars? Or, for that matter, even WWI and II?

I'll suspect it is a shade more than US kids get, but there is the same problem: the subjects keep growing and multiplying, and take too much time to cover adequately.

As Unionblue has alluded, if it weren't for the SCV, SUV, and passionate fruitcakes like ourselves, there would be no reason for historians to hope to make a living studying the affairs.

Ole

[whitworth]

Most general American history classes are survey courses, at best. One could add any required college course on American history. One only should consider that wars were only part of the history; not the whole history.
It's also good to remember that anyone in their sixties, are so removed from school, that over four decades of history occurred since they attended school.
How could history be anything more than a survey course for the average student or citizen?

[gary]

Inasmuch as a college may offer a course, the emphasis won't be on the fighting (unless it's a military ROTC type course) as it will be on the cause of the war and the affect on society and the aftermath. Military topics aren't hot topics for campuses.