----- Original Message ----- From: Deane <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2002 10:17 PM Subject: Re: Re: eventual phasing out of slavery AND RE-UNIFICATION > Dear Bill, > I was talking about Civil War history from within the context of pedagogy > and classroom instruction. > Yes, there is a plethora of literature available to those who wish to do > independent study or pursue a particular avenue of scholarship concerning > aspects of that War or simply choose to "read up" for one's own personal > pleasure. > It is highly likely, I'm sorry to say, that 100% of American high school > students are not being TAUGHT, in school, anything of substance about that > period of our history. > And, I will say, that what little is taught is probably grossly > over-simplified and can be summed up with the notion that "Southerners were > evil people who kept slaves and went to war to fight to keep their slaves." > Deane Mills > (one "n"; pronounced like Dean) > > > > > The Civil War happened and it happened for a myriad of reasons. > > > But no one wants to take the risk of thoroughly examining all those > reasons > > > and filtering through them to see what was worthwhile and worth > salvaging > > > from BOTH sides of the conflict. > > > > The Civil War and Reconstruction eras are not really my primary areas of > > interest. I am really interested in and somewhat better equipped to deal > with > > > > the 17th Century. Having said that, I cannot imagine an era of history in > the > > > > U.S. - or Virginia - that has been more written about than the Civil War > > period. Just go into any bookstore and compare the Civil War books to, > say, > > the Revolutionary War or the Great Depression. Maybe World War II has a > > greater output, but it doesn't seem so to me. > > > > You want both sides? I should think that the literature in the field is > > filled with as many memoirs on one side as the other and as many popular > > histories advocating each side as the other. > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html