The united States faces reconstruction:
1865–1877 vs. 2003-2011
Not even 100 years after America's founding fathers formed the tightly unified nation, the "united" states split ... spiraling into a four-year war that resulted in more American casualties than any other in history. For the first and only time in the U.S., Americans were killing their own people and ruining their own land. Though the Civil War was brutal and some say even avoidable, it left the U.S. with a better understanding of the significance of having a balanced central government and more importantly, with the challenge of reconstructing a nation from the ground up.
In more recent history, the United States has made a reputation for getting itself heavily involved in foreign affairs. From its involvement in both World Wars to its contributions in Korea and Vietnam, the U.S. has taken an offensive stance in conflicts abroad: deploying military fleets internationally to take control of the situation and keep it locked overseas before it can reach domestic territory. The Iraq War was no exception. President George W. Bush claimed that U.S. entered Operation Iraqi Freedom "to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, to end Saddam Hussein's support for terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people." While many Americans argue over their government's reasoning (or lack thereof) for stepping in, all U.S. citizens were forced to face a similar period of Reconstruction to that of 1865-1877 following the Civil War. This time, however, they were working to rebuild and bring reform on foreign soil.
On both their own homeland and 7,000 miles away, the United States has utilized Reconstruction eras to stabilize order between citizens within violent regions, reconstruct governmental formations and policies, create new economic plans, and sustain the support of American citizens through it all.
Whether the U.S. was successful with its operations in all instances is left to interpretation.
Whether the U.S. was successful with its operations in all instances is left to interpretation.
Created by Tucker DeGregory, Tarek Ziad, Rachel Horning and Kara Nicholl (B 6-7)