6 thoughts on “History Question of the Day”

1. The Civil War – because it's still going on. No military action, but economic, cultural and social conflict continues to this day.

   There are still plenty of secessionists active, as well, hoping for a repeat, calling for a "Convention of States" to restrict the power of the Federal Government. So far, only 4 states  – Alabama, Georgia, Alaska, and Florida have actually passed resolutions calling for a convention of states in their legislatures .

   34 other states have introduced such legislation in the last five years,* but not passed it.

   The fragmenting and chaos on the right – between the social issues conservatives who want to ban gay marriage or enact personhood, and the corporatists, who want to end the IRS, the EPA, and the Dept of Education, is all that has saved us from a new secession movement and a new civil war.

   *The text of the Convention of States resolution is:

   Fiscal restraints on the federal government, limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limiting the terms of office of federal officials, including members of Congress

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2. Aside from the founding moments of our country (the Revolutionary War and the Consitutional Convention that resulted in our current government), the Civil War has to remain the most lasting event in this country's history.

   It defines our politics to this day.

   * The Dixiecrats, now Southern Republicans, the rise of Southern Republican power as former "never a Republican because, Lincoln" voters have switched to voting Republican due to civil rights stances by Democrats.

   * State's Rights advocates still inevitably get tangled up in Civil War policies and rationales.

   * We still – 150 years later – have people advocating that slavery wasn't all that bad, and that perhaps black people were better off under it. It still drives so much of our racism – the undying grudge match, as it were.

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3. Slavery.  Its effects are still destroying our society and, without it, the Civil War might never have been fought.

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   1. Agree. The effects of slavery are still very much with us and pervade every aspect of culture and society, including the politics of the present day south and, by extension of the grip the south has on the Republican party, national politics. It's the original sin, the original elephant in the room, the original contradiction of our founding, the original poison well. Without it there would have been no such thing as Reagan Democrats voting against their own interest en masse.

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   2. I had put that under "Constitutional Convention" and kind of ignored it as part of the founding of our country – which overall has to be the most important event in the country regardless.

      But yes – it's the basis of the Civil War (nevermind what apologists will insist), and it underpins everything else that I mentioned about the Civil War. If you can include something that predates the founding of the country, or something that took up considerable debate during the Convention, then slavery sits over the cause of so much of this country's history.

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4. I got really good answers at work here:

   The revolutionary war – without it no United States

   The constitution – the radical idea that a people could select their leaders

   The rise of large corporations and consumerism during the mid 20th century

   The Manhattan project, the United States has not been involved in a major war since WW2 thanks to MAD

   The addition of the 3-point line in the NBA (ok, not everyone here had a winner).

    

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