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The common narrative of the Civil War for white Americans is one of tragedy, bloodshed, and brother-against brother, which is narrative purposefully created to allow for reconciliation between whites. Black people do not factor into this, because: how could a war to end slavery be tragic? (Sophia)
The Civil War has often been seen as a White mans war, which is interesting because there were thousands of black soldiers and free black northerners affected by the war. Most importantly: the war ended slavery, which makes the Civil War most influential for black Americans. (Sophia)
Many white people in the country still think honorably about their ancestors who fought for the Confederacy as men who wouldn’t sit by as the national government tried to influence their lives. White Americans with northern ancestors think of themselves as blameless for slavery, which ignores the decades of appeasement of slave owners and profits born on the backs of enslaved people. (Sophia)