Reinterpreting American’s Forgotten Battles
Last time I wrote about historical interpretation and how active of a process it is—especially for our nation’s history. A nation’s history and how we remember it builds and sustains national identity, which is why nations tend to remember positive accomplishments and whitewash the negative. How Americans remember armed conflict, for example, is a memory we have inexorably tied to our nation’s identity. One only needs to visit the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., where among one of the permanent exhibits is titled “The Price of Freedom: Americans at War.” This exhibit takes visitors through American history by examining the armed conflicts that our nation led or was involved in, and as you walk, you realize that most years between 1776 and the present are covered. If you’re like me, you read every single placard and sign that the museum provides! If you’re like most folks that visit a museum, however, you take in enough and dive deep at the particular time period that interests you. Either way, the historical memory of conflict being critical to our continuing freedom is established.
While armed conflicts, without a doubt, certainly key in keeping our democracy alive we tend to only remember the heroic, victorious version of armed conflict. In Hollywood terms, we like The Patriot more than Apocalypse Now! Partially due to this narrative that we hold dear, it’s hard for Americans to remember a conflict we lost. That, again, is intentional. Since we’ve linked armed conflict to the continuation of the Republic, a losing conflict or even a losing battle can prove uncomfortable for some. This challenge—how to remember and interpret battles America has lost—is the crux of Parker Strategy Group’s project about historical interpretation of the Battle of Bladensburg.
For history nerds like myself, the Battle of Bladensburg was a critical loss by American troops during the War of 1812. A combination of poor communication, hubris, and a lack of proper preparation led to an outnumbered British force to victory. Following this resounding victory, the British followed the road into Washington, D.C. and sent a message to their former colonists by burning the White House. We remember the White House part, because that is typically mentioned in our American history textbooks. We don’t remember how we lost as much. When the Anacostia Heritage Trails Area contracted us to conduct a review of the current historic interpretation of the Battle of Bladensburg, I knew how important this project was—not only for the community of Bladensburg but to our nation’s historic memory. We surveyed hundreds, interviewed key stakeholders from Maryland, hosted community meetings, and integrated those findings with the latest in historical interpretation to produce this final findings report.
We love to conduct research here at PSG, whether it’s about battles from hundreds of years ago or your current market research needs. Check out our past projects and contact us with your research needs!
