This is the fourth and final installment in my series looking at the YouGov survey just released on Americans attitudes towards the Civil War and Reconstruction. The first is on how we study the Civil War and the second is on who caused the war and the justifiability of each side. The third article looks at how Americans today rate figures from the Civil War Era.
Back during the Civil War Centennial the Reconstruction Era was little studied and for those who even thought about it it was mostly considered a failure either because it was perceived as filled with corruption, or because it delayed the white ruling class from taking back the reigns of government from newly enfranchised Blacks after the Civil War. In 2023, 49% said that Reconstruction was “Very Successful” or “Somewhat Successful” and only 33% said it “Not very successful” or “Not successful at all.” Southerners’ responses pretty much matched those of the population at large.
As mentioned in a previous report, one Reconstruction president, Ulysses S. Grant was ranked the third most favorably viewed by respondents, while the other, Andrew Johnson was more or less unknown to a third of respondents.
Part of today’s view that Reconstruction was at least a partial success comes from the view that the South was very different from the rest of the country before the war. 60% of whites and 52% of Blacks see very large differences between the South and the North.
When respondents were asked whether students should be taught more about the Civil War, the answer was a resounding “Yes.” In an age when schools are teaching more and more STEM tracks, Americans want their children to study the Civil War, and perhaps its causes, and results. 88% of the respondents said that we should learn more about the Civil War, with 90% of women supporting it. Support for teaching the Civil War Era is highest in the Northeast where 72% are “strongly support” teaching it. Even in the South, 66% strongly support teaching it. Only 1% of americans say that they strongly oppose teaching it.
Americans also want students to study slavery as part of history courses, with 81% saying American children should study slavery. Only 12% said they oppose teaching about slavery.
Many Americans still see the impact of slavery on America today.
This survey was conducted in June of 2023. It surveyed 1,000 United States Citizens over 18 years of age.
