Reflection

I believe the Civil War is relevant today because of one major reason, race. While its
economics and military effects are notable, no other effect has lingered longer than that of racial
tensions. More than any other nation in the world, the United States continually finds itself
amidst the heat of racial controversy. From the founding of this nation to now, race has played an
undoubtedly crucial role in shaping who we are today. The issues of racism and slavery, which
helped cause the Civil War, can still be seen today. Slavery is one of the few issues that have
spanned the centuries, crossing social, economic, and even political lines. This is one of the few
things that have transitioned between classes for me, being a major economic and social event.
We as a nation often overlook these issues till they are already boiling over and near
uncontrollable. Other reasons such as political right, and economic disparity also play key roles,
none is as lingering as race. As a nation we often tend to look at race in a confused and scared
way, believing that documents and battles settled whatever racial issues may have arisen nearly
150 years ago. However in analysis of how the U.S. conducted its warfare and reconstruction of
the south, it shouldnt be a surprise to anyone why the south is in the condition it currently finds
itself. The poverty and racial tensions that are currently seen in the south are simply after effects
of failed policies and bitter racism. If one needs to understand racism in the south, it is easiest to
go all the way back and view how it started. How it became the lifeblood of the south, and why it
was so utterly fatal for the south to lose it. In almost every aspect of history there are events that
leave lingering scars, however none show as visibly as the effects left by the Civil War.