How can history help us live in the present? The Ethical Dimension How can history help us live in the present?

Ethical Dimension Ethical dimension of historical thinking helps to imbue the study of history with meaning The problem: impossible to read about past wrongs without making ethical judgments about both the perpetrators and their opponents We must walk a very fine line…here is an example of an ethical dilemma involving the issue of slavery in the USA:

Ethical Dimension “historians still debate exactly how many Africans were forcibly transported across the Atlantic during the next four centuries (until the 19th century). A comprehensive database compiled in the late 1990’s puts the figure at just over 11 million. Of those, fewer than 9.6 million survived the so called middle passage across the Atlantic, due to the inhuman conditions in which they were transported, and the violent suppression of any on-board resistance. Many people who were enslaved in the African interior also died on the long journey to the coast” - Africa and the Transatlantic Slave Trade- Dr. Hakim Adi 2001

Ethical Dimension “Slavery, as it operated in the pervasively Christian society which was the old South, was not an adversarial relationship founded upon racial animosity. In fact, it bred on the whole, not contempt, but, over time, mutual respect. This produced a mutual esteem of the sort that always results when men give themselves to a common cause. The credit for this startling reality must go to the Christian faith…The unity and companionship that existed between the races in the South prior to the war was the fruit of a common faith” - Call of Duty: The Sterling Nobility of Robert E. Lee- J. Steven Wilkins 1997

The Atomic Bomb- Yalta February 1945- War In Europe is almost over- Allies have surrounded Germany The Major Powers (Great Britain- Churchill, USA- FDR and USSR- Stalin) met to discuss some important decisions for post-war Europe Major Decisions: Germany was to be demilitarized Nazi Party disbanded and members arrested* and possibly held liable Germany was to be occupied in 4 zones (France, Britain, USA and USSR) Poland would be restored as a country USSR would declare war on Japan Create a new International Organization (United Nations)

The Atomic Bomb- Potsdam April 1945- FDR dies and is replaced by Harry S. Truman (openly hated Communism) July 1945- Churchill loses an election as is replaced by Richard Attlee May 7 VE Day- War in Japan continues July 1945 the major powers again meet, this time at Potsdam Major Decisions Germany would still be divided, including Berlin Nazi Leaders would be tried in an international court UN was established Truman demanded that Stalin leave the countries his forces had liberated Stalin was not told about the development of the A-Bomb (but he knew through his spies) The seed had been planted of anger, hatred and mistrust between the USA and USSR

The A-Bomb- WHY?

Perspective “Evil” and “Good” We already make ethical judgments on people, events and developments in history, but we may not be fit to do so Does perspective change our opinion- does being victorious effect the lens in which we judge? The past is a foreign country- we must try and study without making ethical judgements- we must of course learn form the Holocaust and the A-bomb but we cant let our moral cloud our views of a subject- judging the past fairly is the ultimate goal Can there be indicators of guilt then?