NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Back to results
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Direct linkDirect link
ERIC Number: EJ1287429
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Aug
Pages: 20
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0018-2745
EISSN: N/A
"We Are Not Enemies": An Analysis of Textbook Depictions of Fort Sumter and the Beginning of the Civil War
Pearcy, Mark
History Teacher, v52 n4 p595-614 Aug 2019
This article focuses on ten U.S. history textbooks, all in common use across the nation. This study adopts a historical narrative analysis, which aims to determine the manner in which textbook narratives may promote "de facto national mandates." This method allows for the comparison of textbook narratives to historical works, looking for alternative interpretations, omissions, distortions, and the presence of historical "myth." It is important with this approach to incorporate relevant and substantial historiography in order to mitigate the inherent subjectivity of this methodology. With that in mind, the author relies on including James McPherson's "Battle Cry of Freedom" (1988), Christopher Olsen's "The American Civil War: A Hands-On History" (2006), and David Williams' "A People's History of the Civil War" (2005). Primarily, the focus of this analysis is on how wars start: What do textbooks say about the beginning of the Civil War? Why did the attack at Fort Sumter happen? And was it sufficient provocation to begin the bloodiest war in U.S. history?
Society for History Education. California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840-1601. Tel: 562-985-2573; Fax: 562-985-5431; Web site: http://www.societyforhistoryeducation.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Information Analyses
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A