Civil War America

The American Civil War. The War Between the States. War of Rebellion. War of Secession. War for Southern Independence. Second American Revolution. War for the Union. The War of Northern Aggression. Mr. Lincoln’s War. Mr. Davis’ War. While called many things, the war that took place from 1861 to 1865 left its mark on the United States. In no small way it shaped a union of states into a nation. For instance, before the war, a formal declaration would begin, “The United States are determined in their course.” After the war it would read, “The United States is determined in its course.” One small word, but huge in its implications. Before the war, men identified with their state: a Virginian or Vermonter, a Pennsylvanian or South Carolinian, a Texan or Minnesotan. After the war, people began to see themselves as Americans much more so. While it is easy to point towards a cause, a singular action or event, history is much more complex than that. While this course is catalogued as the U.S. Civil War, I call it Civil War America. To look merely at the war misses much. We will begin around 1830 and look at the events that lead up to the actual fighting. Then we will look at Reconstruction, with all its promises and failures. That period, 1830-1880, will be our focus. Edward Ayers is a preeminent historian whose focus has been on the Civil War. Read his essay “What Caused the Civil War?” and then write a response in the discussion board at Blackboard.