Chapter 15 Reflection

    Garrett Hagood
             I have always been interested in history and in turn had known a great deal about the civil war and, the era that preceded it, when we began studying the time period in history class. Most of what i knew at the time had come from my father, or my previous history classes. I knew the most about topics such as Slavery, the rise of segregation, and the general animosity felt between both sides of the country. Slavery, being a big point whenever this era is discussed, much as i had thought that it was. that being said, I learned a lot that I didn't already know, but I had already had the basics of the time down pat. I i had always found an interest in how a country can be torn apart and then put back together again as had the U.S.A. It seems to be impossible to get rid of the feeling of rivaly and hatred. To this day one can still see evidence of a bias that has held since the time of the civil war between states and races.

                 While learning about this chronicle in time a few things manages to pull themselves off the page and lectures and into the view of my fascinated eye. For instance I had previously conceived that the social stigma against the blacks was apparent throughout the entirety of the nation, that much was true at least. But i had always thought that Blacks were left out to dry during the time. i had not believed that the government actually gave help through organizations such as the Freedman's Bureau. I had been fascinated by the juxtaposition of a nation of hatred against a nation that is trying so hard to rebuild and give out help in the form of education and housing. I had also been intrigued by the fact that congress was willing to compromise with the south. I was shocked that our nation would allow another to impose their own will, and in a way, let the south "take the power back" by kicking the federal troupes out of the south.

                To me, history is an incredible import section of the academic world to study. Not only is it interesting, but it provides an window into the future. As the old saying goes "history will repeat its self". The best way to be prepared for the events that will transpire is to be familiar with the mistakes of the past. It is seen in everywhere you look, on the news or in your own life. Everyday a political mistake is being replicated. such as it is today with several countries in the middle east. Like with Nazi Germany, some people just want to leave them alone until they grown to big to stop. Looking back at history, we know that's a bad idea.