History the War of 1812

While Americans cling to the Civil War, they’ve forgotten most of the rest of their history. There
is no comparable obsession with the Mexican War, the War of 1812, or even the American
Revolution. Create an essay where you discuss some of the reasons for this, as stated by the
author’s stories.
Horwitz meets many women who are as devoted as men to memory of the War: Sue Curtis,
June Wells, Melly Meadows, Mauriel Joslyn. How does their approach to the War differ from
that of men in the book?
Many Southern whites revere the rebel battle flag as a symbol of the valor and sacrifice of their
ancestors. To many African-Americans, the same flag is a hated symbol of segregation and
white supremacy. Create an essay that discusses this topic with examples from stories in the
book: Is there any middle ground? Which of the states in the South have navigated this
minefield most successfully?
Horwitz writes about the killing of Michael Westerman while flying a Confederate flag from his
truck, in Todd County, Kentucky. What are the social and emotional reasons why Westerman’s
killing becomes such a flashpoint for Southern anger, both black and white?
The subtitle to Horwitz’s book is “Dispatches from the unfinished civil war.” In what ways isthe war unfinished, according to the stories noted in the book?