Interesting points of Week 10!

Bodner used the Civil War Centennial and the American Revolution Bicentennial to argue that celebrations reflected the political and social contexts of the time. To a lesser extent, Bodner pointed out the effects of the organizers and how they approach the celebration on the success of the celebration. In a nation divided over racial and social issues, the Civil War Centennial and the American Revolution Bicentennial were influenced by government officials who urged widespread citizen participation (Bodner 206). By juxtaposing the two celebrations, Bodner effectively depicted the role of the political and social contexts.

The Civil War Centennial was organized to promote national unity during a period of disunity. The planning commission attempted to create unity by reducing the complexities of war. In their attempt, the commission diminished the focus to heroism on both sides (209). The commission’s top-down approach hindered the celebration. The commission offered specific ideas for the ceremonies limiting them to somber ceremonies and civil education (214).Despite an attempt by the commission to simplify the history and to control the events, the celebration fractured into a regionalized presentation of the Civil War. The South offered an uncritical presentation of their part in the war while supporting regional unity (220). Racial tensions in the south also made it difficult to promote a national unity.

With the similar goal of promoting national unity, the American Revolution Bicentennial proved to be much more successful. The event “marked the end to a period of social unrest and dissent and a renewal of American consensus and patriotism” (227). Rather than directing the celebrations from the top-down, the organizers sought to “encourage citizen involvement as a display of social unity and loyalty” (227). The organizers held public meetings to decentralize plans (230). Unlike the Civil War Centennial where dissent was seen on the reenacting battlefields to the display of southern pride, the American Revolution Bicentennial was attacked by other organizations. The dissent revolved around the commercialism of the event and lack of clarity in what constituted a commemorative ceremony. The latter proved to make the celebrations more successful. The local celebrations were seen as national loyalty at the local level (238).

Glassberg addressed the political role of city celebrations and the interpretation of them by residents. Glassberg emphasized the role of officials in promoting a city unity, but his most interesting argument was the role of newspapers in perpetuating memories of the event. Newspapers were another way of controlling the ideas of the residents. In the example of Portola Week, the newspapers attacked the Union Labor Party and “pointed to the festival as evidence of the city’s ethnic unity” (Glassberg 78). The newspapers furthered the aim of the organizers by controlling and to some extent creating the memories of the event.