Sep 21st 2009 The Civil War
Because my work at the Archives of Michigan consists of Civil War material, I decided to watch Ken Burn’s THE CIVIL WAR. I had never watched the documentary and as it is the industry standard for documentaries, I thought I should. Also, I have very basic knowledge of the battles fought during the war, so I was hoping to learn some context for the first hand accounts I read every day.
I have to say, it’s easy to see why this film has become the industry standard. The primary sourcing really brings the struggles of the war to life. Also, Burns includes accounts from common soldiers, women, and minorities that give a fuller history of the war than others that focus only on generals.
I consider myself very fortunate to have a job where I am able to learn new things on a daily basis. I have learned so much about the Civil War–from battles and strategy to common food eaten by soldiers. Each letter or diary I read gives me a different perspective on the battles and story of the war. I now see why this conflict has always had a pull on the American imagination. It ripped families apart and killed so many in four drawn out years. It marked the end of an era in American History and the beginning of a new one.
I’ve also enrolled in a class on the Civil War through the MSU Alumni Association. It starts in a few weeks and I’m really looking forward to it!
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