Maybe I just didn't know anything about history, but I have a totally new view on the Civil War since reading Battle Cry of Freedom. On pg. 310 it states, "Both sides believed they were fighting to preserve the heritage of republican liberty." On pg. 311, "For reasons of their own most northerners initially agreed that the war had nothing to do with slavery."
The war was about rights. The rights of the state or the rights of the individual. This is definitley something I want to talk with my class about. Before it just seemed like the "good guys" vs. the "bad guys". I always knew it wasn't that easy, but I didn't understand the other side until now.
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I agree with your Brittney. I guess I grew up with the idea that one side was right and the other was wrong. I never stopped to think of things from the point of view of each different side. I'm sure neither side entered into the fight thinking that they were in the wrong or that their cause wasn't just.
ReplyDeleteIt seems the climate in America today is not far off from the climate surrounding the lead up to the Civil War. "Both sides believed they were fighting to preserve the heritage of liberty." The war was about rights. We find ourselves in the midst of similar arguments today. Is the constitution being stretched with the new law in AZ? Is the constitution being stretched with the forced health care? What about cap and trade? Is it okay to force a law on everyone to protect the few? Is it okay to limit some liberties the protect the masses? Granted, I'm only 35, but I've never seen a political climate like the one we face today. I could easily see two sides splitting and one choosing to succeed from the union. I've been tempted to do it myself! I get so frustrated and angry about choices I see being made -- choices I believe are wrong for this country. Choices I feel I have no power to change. If I had been faced with the option of succession like those in the south, would I have taken it?
ReplyDeleteAs a Secondary Teacher I feel like it is a constant misconception among students that believe that the Civil War was fought over slavery and that it was the "good guys" vs. the "bad guys". I don't think it is too abstract or too early to help children in elementary understand some of the real issues. However, that is easy for me to say...I don't teach the little guys. But I appreciate what Brittany said because I imagine that this opens up some new perspectives in teaching about the Civil War for the younger grades.
ReplyDeleteI feel exactly the same way, Brittney! I fear I've contributed to my students' misconceptions behind the reasons we fought the war. Yes, slavery was involved, but it wasn't the only factor. It's what I focus on the most, though, and that's something I'll be re-evaluating before I teach Civil War next year with my 5th graders.
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