When: February 8/2011
What: In 1861, the U.S. was having a rather bleak New Year. By Feb. 8, seven states had seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. By April, diplomacy between the seceded states and the Union had failed, and the American Civil War began with the Battle of Fort Sumter. The war would drag on for four years and result in the deaths of approximately 620,000 Union and Confederate soldiers – the largest number of Americans lost in any war. Marking the 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War, 2011 is a time to commemorate one of the country’s most pivotal times.
Background: Although there were a variety of issues that led to the Civil War, slavery and its political, economic and social impacts is widely viewed as the root cause. Abraham Lincoln’s election to President of the United States in 1860 was the last straw for many Southern leaders, who were against Lincoln’s campaign to stop the expansion of slavery beyond the states in which it already existed. On April 12, 1861, Confederate soldiers attacked a U.S. military installation at Fort Sumter. Lincoln asked for volunteer army from each state to help recover Federal property. As a result, four more slave states seceded from the Union. By September, Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had made ending slavery a goal.
Story Pitch: The Civil War has had a great impact on numerous aspects of American life, which makes it an engaging topic for a variety of groups. Historical museums, battle sites and anyone in education can find a range of ways to tie the events of the Civil War to their audiences all year long. Historians representing a prominent historical figure, battlefield, or artifacts should explain the Civil War connection in conjunction with the related date in history. A community or class can stay engaged all year long by following the day-to-day events of the war in real time, especially in conjunction with a trip to a battlefield or reenactment. The Emancipation Proclamation stands as an important result of the war, and is a crucial moment in the progress of American civil rights. Groups that deal with issues of civil rights and equality can see it as a solid starting point for an array of discussions about issues of race, civil rights and modern slavery that they can engage communities with.
Story Hook: The American Civil war is still a prickly issue of pride 150 years after the fact. What’s being done to mend the social wounds still left on society? Keep the following in mind when making your pitch:
- What are some of the more unexpected ways in which the war is still affecting America? Why is it still relevant?
- What commemorations are being held both nationally and locally?
- What were some of the most crucial and overlooked events during the war?
- How did the war affect U.S. states and territories not directly involved?
Tips: Be sure to provide contact information for local Civil War experts such as museum and battlefield curators. People who actively research and commemorate their ancestor’s part in the war would also make good contacts.
Resources:
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
(217) 558-8844
www.alplm.org
Civil War 150th Anniversary at The Washington Post
(202) 334-6000
www.washingtonpost.com/civilwar
Civil War Trust
(202) 367-1861
jcampi(at)civilwar.org
www.civilwar.org
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
(513) 333-7500
screech(at)nurfc.org
www.freedomcenter.org/underground-railroad
–Researched, compiled & written by Nicholas Testa
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