American Wars

History of the American Civil War

            Why should we study American history?  As Americans we are not bound together by a common religion, a common race, or a common ethnic heritage.  Instead, we are bound by a tradition of ruling ourselves.  In the words of Abraham Lincoln, ours is a government, “of the people, by the people, for the people.”  To participate in such a government, it is especially important to know who we are as a people.

            Because self-knowledge builds on past experience, we need to know where we have been in order to understand where we are and to know where we are going.  A knowledge of our history is essential if we are to think critically, set goals, solve problems, and make decisions that will benefit ourselves, our nation, and the world.

            When the stories of history are well told, they are exciting and full of adventure.  They are the stories of explorers, colonists, founders, patriots, immigrants, pioneers, and reformers, all of which are normally ordinary people doing extraordinary things.  Over the years all these diverse experiences have come together to form the continuing story that is American history.  In this course, I want to share these individual experiences with you as well as the national experience of our country in order to help you come to a deeper understanding of what it means to be an American.