The Importance of the Civil War The Civil War in 50 Objects, by Henry Holzer and the New-York Historical Society, is a collection of fifty primary sources, varying in type and format. Each of these objects is accompanied by a description of the source, as well as a story which establishes the source in the proper context in history. Through the sources Holzer shows the importance of the Civil War, especially for the people who lived through it. The Civil War transformed the United States in many ways, bringing lasting change to our nation, and establishing the war as important to everyone in the country, even up to today. From the time the Civil War started, it has always been central to America. The war split families, relationships, and
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Holzer shows this in the first half of his book when he displays the Emancipation Proclamation (160). President Abraham Lincoln said about the proclamation “If my name ever goes into history it will be for this act, and my whole soul is in it.” (161). Of course, we know this document was not the end of slavery throughout all the land, but only because Lincoln did not have the power as president to make such a law. Frederick Douglass reviewed the act, and was not quite as pleased as Lincoln was by the proclamation. However, “Douglass came to regard it as ‘a great and glorious step in the right direction.’” (162) This proclamation was not the end of slavery for America, but as Douglass said, this was a step in the right direction. It made the war even more important, and pushed the United States to the document that finally did end slavery, the thirteenth amendment. The Civil War was a very important event in the history of the United States of America. It pushed the country to some very large changes, namely the end of slavery and a more modern understanding of war. The war was not only important to the people fighting it and their families, but also to the slaves it freed, and the subsequent generations of America. Hopefully anyone who learns about the Civil War through Holzer’s book, The Civil War in 50 Objects, can find reasons why this war is important to them today in one way or
Holzer shows this in the first half of his book when he displays the Emancipation Proclamation (160). President Abraham Lincoln said about the proclamation “If my name ever goes into history it will be for this act, and my whole soul is in it.” (161). Of course, we know this document was not the end of slavery throughout all the land, but only because Lincoln did not have the power as president to make such a law. Frederick Douglass reviewed the act, and was not quite as pleased as Lincoln was by the proclamation. However, “Douglass came to regard it as ‘a great and glorious step in the right direction.’” (162) This proclamation was not the end of slavery for America, but as Douglass said, this was a step in the right direction. It made the war even more important, and pushed the United States to the document that finally did end slavery, the thirteenth amendment. The Civil War was a very important event in the history of the United States of America. It pushed the country to some very large changes, namely the end of slavery and a more modern understanding of war. The war was not only important to the people fighting it and their families, but also to the slaves it freed, and the subsequent generations of America. Hopefully anyone who learns about the Civil War through Holzer’s book, The Civil War in 50 Objects, can find reasons why this war is important to them today in one way or