Tag: American Civil War

  • Why “What If?” Discussions Boost History Learning

    What if questions help teachers chalkenge student understanding. Here are some whys i use it in my classroom.

  • Doonesbury Feb 18

    This comic from Doonesbury hits hard today and was not published in all local newspapers that syndicate across the US on Sunday. I am republishing it here because  we should be more afraid of people forgetting history than teachers actually teaching history.

  • The Utah War: A Forgotten Conflict with Lasting Consequences

    On This Day in 1857: The Mountain Meadows Massacre took place and is still one of the most violent acts of terrorism committed by Americans against Americans. Members of a local military surrounded and killed 121 people traveling from Arkansas to California. Their actions were a result of poor leadership and war hysteria gripping the…

  • CW at 160: Drafts and Pensions

    From the Battlefield to Home: The Civil War Pension Act and Its Legacy On July 14, 1863, the United States Congress passed a landmark piece of legislation: The Enrollment Act. This act not only instituted a draft for the Union Army but also included a significant provision – a pension program for veterans wounded in…

  • ReBlog CW150: Memorial Day

    This is one of several articles in my brief history series about the US Civil War and its 150 anniversary. Originally published Memorial Day 2018. Updated May 2023. In 1970, Memorial Day became a federal holiday on the last Monday in May and now most people are not even sure what the holiday is about…

  • CW 150: Battle of Fort Sumter

    On this day the battle of Ft. Sumter took place. This would become the first battle of the war. Even though the battle resulted in only one casualty. This minor loss would encourage southern resolve for the next few months as the secession process would continue and the war would happen. The modern irony of this sesquicentennial is that…