On August 4, the National Park Service decided to restore and reinstall the statue of General Albert Pike, a Confederate Army figure, in Washington, D.C.
This move is part of an ongoing discussion about how America engages with its past. Supporters of the former president want to shift focus away from a nuanced history in favor of a more celebratory narrative.
For some, the phrase “Make America Great Again” signals a desire to present American history as inherently positive, downplaying events and issues that could tarnish the image of a wonderful civilization.
It’s similar to how authoritarian regimes often manipulate history to serve their own agendas.
An old Soviet proverb suggests that for Russians, the past is fixed, while the future remains uncertain. This highlights the tendency to reshape history to align with ideological goals, aiming for an ideal future that lacks a clear path.
George Orwell’s “1984,” which draws from both the Spanish Civil War and Stalinism, echoes this sentiment: “Who controls the past controls the future.” In the book, as nations realign in conflict, history is rewritten to position new enemies as lifelong adversaries.
This battle over historical accuracy ramped up with the 1619 Project, published in 2019, led by Nicole Hannah-Jones. Its objective was to provide a deeper understanding of America’s legacy of slavery and systemic racism, which some supporters of the former president viewed as a threat to the idea of American exceptionalism.
The president emphasized the need to counter the 1619 Project in his 1776 Advisory Committee report, advocating civic education that fosters love for the country. He praised the United States as possibly the most just nation in history.
After his resignation in 2021, several states moved to adopt a more celebratory version of US history. This legislation, sometimes called the “Gag Rule,” limited what teachers could discuss regarding slavery, racism, and LGBTQ+ issues.
Upon taking office, the former president pushed for his own interpretation of American history. On March 27, he issued a directive with a striking title: “Restore Truth and Sanity in American History.” This policy aimed to promote federal sites dedicated to celebrating a unifying historical narrative.
He declared a commitment to restoring the Smithsonian as a source of inspiration for American greatness and prohibited funding for exhibitions that could divide Americans based on race.
On August 12, the White House sent a letter to the Smithsonian to ensure compliance with the president’s vision of American exceptionalism.
The intent behind this celebratory approach extended to public monuments and statues, mandating that they focus on American achievements rather than include any negative commentary about the nation’s past.
As part of this initiative, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgham instructed staff to focus on highlighting the beauty and grandeur of the American landscape, rather than any darker historical narratives.
Additionally, the Pentagon reinstated the names of seven military bases originally named after Confederate generals, finding ways to pay tribute to other figures of significance.
The controversy surrounding Confederate symbols has been ongoing since the tragic shooting at a South Carolina church in 2015, spotlighting the debates over their place in American history.
Since then, movements inspired by the murder of George Floyd and other events have brought renewed attention to the conversation around race and historical memory. For instance, the protests in Charlottesville in 2017 underscored how deeply divided opinions are on such issues.
These conflicts emphasize the significance of history. For marginalized groups, reclaiming their narratives is crucial for liberation, especially as oppressors often try to erase or distort these histories.
Most Confederate monuments were erected after 1890, primarily to assert white dominance during the Jim Crow era, rather than to honor the victims of the Civil War.
American history is multifaceted; it acknowledges the contributions of the nation’s founders while also confronting the legacy of slavery. These truths coexist and should be part of the education we provide to future generations.
Tom Mockaitis is a professor of history at DePaul University.
