17 Aug How do we think about the past during a period when Americans cannot agree upon what it means to be an American?
In evaluating Seidule’s book, you will need to ask if he succeeds in the task he proposes – that is did he successfully argue his point as stated in his thesis statement (found in the introduction). What about it was convincing or not convincing? What other evidence should he have considered?
You should also consider the context of the book. This will take two forms. One being the historiography. To do this, you will want to compare Seidule’s approach specifically to Guelzo’s essay on writing a biography of Lee (linked below) and making use of the other essays (also linked below).
The second context, also addressed in the provided essays, is the context of considering the legacy of Robert E. Lee in the 21st century. How do we think about the past during a period when Americans cannot agree upon what it means to be an American?
In short, your paper will consist of (1) an evaluation of Seidule’s book, (2) placing his book in the context of other historical works on Lee and the Civil War, and (3) thoughts on Lee’s place in history in the year 2021.
