Reinterpreting Turning Point

Civil War Legacy: A New War for Memory

Introductory and Major Theme Panels
Sarah Rogers, 30 November 2022

Introductory Panel
Civil War Legacy:
A New War for Memory

Before the Civil War, the United States WERE many.

After the Civil War, the United States was ONE nation. We became referred to as “The United States is…”

This came with a cost, one that was greater for some.

The war shaped the United States politically, socially, economically, and geographically. It sparked changes to the constitution,
created one political unit, initiated enslaved freedom as well as persistent discriminatory regulations, and began the making of a
world power. Today’s issues are shaped by leaders’ understanding of the Civil War.

Its legacy lives on and continues to shape our everyday lives.

The Civil War was followed by a period of Reconstruction (1865-1877) in which the nation focused on healing and
transformation. The turn of the century brought a Memorialization of the war (1890s-1920s), accompanied by iconography that
nurtured the “Lost Cause” narrative and white supremacy. Today, we learn about the Civil War as a turning point in American
history. We can use the war to better understand the modern nation, people, and events and make better, more informed, decisions
in the political sphere.

Major Theme Panels

Reconstruction
1865-1877
The United States faced many new challenges following the Civil War. The 12 years of Reconstruction focused on restoring the
Union and transforming the South. Main points of action included identifying and honoring casualties of the war, reorganizing
land of the Confederacy and expanding into land occupied by Native Americans, and passing legislation both for and against
former slaves. Most focus was given to healing what was now the United States. Reconstruction was a time of political,
economic, and legislative debate on freedmen, a devastated South, and destroyed cities and economies.

Memorialization, Commemoration, and the Convict Lease System

1890s-1920s
A newfound remembrance of the Civil War and the passing of Confederate veterans inspired the construction of memorials
honoring those that fought in the war. The “Lost Cause” narrative was nurtured to commemorate and honor the Confederacy, in a
misinformed positive light during the war, evolving into a tool for white supremacy. Other efforts were made to maintain
pre-Civil War Confederate ideologies and practices, especially racial segregation. Regulations including Black Codes and the
Convict Lease System developed around freed slave amendments and decrees. This was a period of continuous efforts for and
against the United States and African Americans.

Modern Legacy and the Continued Struggle for Human Rights

The Civil War truly was a Turning Point. It created a federal government that united the states as a nation and confirmed the
United States as a single political entity. It reshaped the natural landscape and led to further expansion and displacement of
Native peoples. It also brought about more questions and debates on how the government should run and how social and racial
divides should be addressed. The Civil War’s legacy persists today, influencing political, economic, and social decisions.
Monuments commemorating the war persist, glorifying leaders of the Confederacy. They continue to represent misinformation
about the war, white supremacy, and African American suppression. From Civil Rights to the Blacks Lives Matter movements,
racial inequality has persisted since the Civil War and continues its long fight.