The Civil War plays such a significant role in the United States’ historical memory today because it is the time that our country came closest to breaking apart–to no longer being united. Yet somehow, at the last minute, disaster was averted, and the peace treaty was signed at Appomattox. The American people as a whole are fascinated with the places where people fought and died for the cause of freedom–although the definition of freedom may vary. Those in the former Union generally see it as a fight to end slavery and thus overthrow the nation’s most overt system of oppression, while those residing in former Confederate states tend to view it as a battle for Southern rights that were being infringed upon by Northern mandates.
The historical memory of the Civil War, therefore, is a contested space that is constantly battled over by the North and the South to this day. This makes the examination of commemorative spaces crucial to our understanding of the nation’s psyche. Which places are commemorated, where they are, and how they connect to the Civil War tells us which aspects of the war are viewed as significant today and gives insight to how the war is remembered.
In contrast to the Easter Rising in Ireland, the commemoration of the Civil War in America today places a heavy emphasis on national unity. “Few things are more important in a nation’s history than the experience of suffering and sacrifice,” and the Civil War was vital in providing the country with this common experience (Franklin 97). Because it was a conflict that nearly fractured the country in two, its commemoration has been deliberately crafted to bring the United States back together. But this can lead to some ambiguity in its interpretation. It is remembered as a “national tragedy” (Franklin 105)–but for whom? To bind the country back together, historical sites such as Gettysburg must sidestep the awkward fact of why the war was being fought and more vaguely honor all soldiers from both sides. The impression given is that the fact that these men died is itself honorable; talking about why they died disrupts the desired image of national unity. The Easter Rising, on the other hand, is remembered precisely because of its disunity. The fact that it was a small group of men rising up against an all-powerful colonizing government makes it a major component of Irish pride today. The fact that it was a fight for independence is glorified and openly talked about, the motive laid bare. Despite the differences in the message behind the commemoration of each conflict, both events are worth remembering, as they were seminal events in their nations’ histories and still powerfully impact each nation’s perception of itself today.