Researching of Civil War Causes Essay

There are several historians, who discuss the reasons leading to the Civil War in the film Civil war’s causes: Historians Largely United on Slavery, but Public. Drew Gilpin Faust is an American historian, who works for Harvard University and explores the Civil War. In the film, she highlights an important insight about the Confederate flag. Although it is associated with Dixie these days, it was not “adopted very widely until late in the war” (Civil War’s Causes, 2011, 6:34). Edna Medford teaches at Howard University, and her activity implies the Civil War and African-American history. One of her phrases was especially unexpected for me: “that it was going to forget what the real cause was because it was too painful to remember that slavery was what divided the nation” (Civil War’s Causes, 2011, 4:37). The last historian Walter Edgar is a professor at the University of South Carolina. He emphasizes a crucial thought that the election of Lincoln appeared to be a “defining factor in South’s Carolina decision to secede” (Civil War’s Causes, 2011, 2:54).

As it has been mentioned above, Edna Medford identifies that the major cause of the Civil War was slavery. The historian also marks this opinion as not widely shared by the public (Civil War’s Causes). She mentions: “Americans, unfortunately, don’t know our own history, first of all” (Civil War’s Causes). Both Drew Gilpin Faust and Walter Edgar agree on this position. I share the same opinion that people do not perceive slavery as the main reason for the war, as they are unwilling to accept their nation’s mistakes and be aware of them. From my perspective, it is difficult to admit serious ancestors’ mistakes, which led to numerous victims. In addition, in the modern world, it is challenging to accept that the consequences of the war regarded the death of numerous people. Drew Gilpin Faust states: “about 2 percent of the American population died” (Civil War’s Causes, 2011, 10:49). Although the results of the war benefited society, I feel disappointed by this impact, as it cannot be replenished.

Reference

Civil war’s causes: Historians largely united on slavery, but public [Film] (2011). MacNeil/Lehrer Productions.