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Blundering Generation

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Blundering Generation
Running Head: BLUNDERING GENERATION 1

The “Blundering Generation” in the Civil War
Camila Alvarez
AP U.S. History Period 2

BLUNDERING GENERATION
Abstract
This paper explores the term coined by James G. Randall on 1940 “Blundering Generation”, which encompasses the “real” reasons that lead to the Civil War and blames the political leaders of the Era, the mistakes they made, their inability to compromise, and the way the Civil War was actually, and probably still is, romanticized (The Blundering Generation Revisited). Throughout the essay, I will analyze some of the events that justify Randall’s term, showing some key moments when politicians from the 19th century could have compromised and perhaps prevented the loss of so many lives, but this paper will also explain my own point of view towards the Blundering Generation’s role in the causation of the Civil War, agreeing with Randall’s and also his colleague, Avery Craven’s, point of the leaders not being able to truly fight for a settlement between both sides, but perhaps not with idea of it being an “avoidable conflict” nor it being so emotionalized nor placing the blame on political leaders specifically, and addressing the big differences between the North and the South as much more than just secondary causes.

BLUNDERING GENERATION 3
The “Blundering Generation” in the Civil War After President James K. Polk’s lowering of tariffs and denial of funds for internal improvements, many Northerners were very enraged. Polk’s desire to expand South and his presidential choices made many Northerners believed he was trying to extend the life-style of the Southerners’ life, and they believed he had his own agenda to follow, despising their idea that the Cabinet was “dominated by southern minds and southern principles” (U.S History). Here it’s shown how, by the 1840’s, the North was already building their hate towards the South. An important figure in all this matter was David Wilmot,
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