The American Civil War

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by glatt

It amazes me still. It was centuries ago, people!

Well, strictly speaking it was 142 years ago. Still more than a century, I know, but less than two. I took a history class on the Civil War in college, from a professor who taught nothing but Civil War-related topics. I don't remember whether the idea was his or another scholar's, but he told us that statistically, considering all the civil wars in the world that we have records of, it usually takes a country about 200 years to completely recover from a civil war.

2065, here we come!!

[Jeboduuza]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

don't remember whether the idea was his or another scholar's, but he told us that statistically, considering all the civil wars in the world that we have records of, it usually takes a country about 200 years to completely recover from a civil war.

The United States is not a "usual" country, for whatever that's worth. I think we have fully recovered if not become far greater than statistically what we should be.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

Well, strictly speaking it was 142 years ago. Still more than a century, I know, but less than two.

I'll admit I took liberties, but only because I knew I could fall back on the idea that you don't have to have a number greater than 2 to use the plural. It was 1.42 centuries ago.

Edit: Of course, using that logic, the Iraq war has been going on for centuries. (0.04 centuries, to be exact.)