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Lecture

William Tyler
Post-Bellum America: 1866 Onwards

Monday 20.11.2023

Summary

The American Civil War may be over but the country’s divisions remain. Bitterness, destruction, death and most importantly, the abolition of slavery in the South, proved difficult for the federal government to rebuild unity. Some may argue these divisions remain in the U.S. today.

William Tyler

An image of William Tyler

William Tyler has spent his entire professional life in adult education, beginning at Kingsgate College in 1969. He has lectured widely for many public bodies, including the University of Cambridge and the WEA, in addition to speaking to many clubs and societies. In 2009, William was awarded the MBE for services to adult education, and he has previously been a scholar in residence at the London Jewish Cultural Centre.

I’m loathed to make those sorts of comparisons, Michael, I’m loathed to do that because I don’t think it’s in a different place and in a different time, and if unintended consequences will apply. I’m not sure that I can draw anything very quickly that helps resolves, that throws any light on the Middle East. We’re not in a civil war in the Middle East. We’re in a war, but it isn’t a traditional war. It’s a war of a state against a terrorist group who have taken over a state or part of a state. So I think it’s really different, and I don’t think there’s any easy answer to be gained by looking at the American Civil War.