Thursday, April 14, 2011

150th Anniversary of the American Civil War

This month marks the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War -- one of the most pivotal and hard-fought wars of our American history. The Civil War defined us as a nation and began to secure rights for the disenfranchised Blacks. My interest in the Civil War and all of American history has been sparked by teaching Arielle early American History this year and last.


When I was in school, I had absolutely no interest in history. History seemed merely like a set of disparate dates and facts and a means to an end -- passing the test. Now I am able to see how everything links together and how learning about the foundations of our country informs my understanding of our country as it stands today. It's also a blessing to be able to share my newfound interest with my children as we learn together -- one of the joys of homeschooling!


If you are interested in learning more about the Civil War, I recommend watching Ken Burns' Civil War series (it has aired on PBS and can be viewed on Netflix) and the movies Gods & Generals and Gettysburg. The book Lincoln:A Photobiography also gives a great deal of information about the war as well as actual photos. We've read Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt -- great historical fiction that spans the entire Civil War. The war is seen through the eyes of a young boy who becomes a man during those turbulent four years. In Christ, Talya