Publication Date
Spring 2025
Subject Area
Section 5: American South
Abstract
This article explores the rise, development, and decline of Civil War reenacting as a uniquely American subculture. Originating in postwar commemorations and evolving into a widespread hobby during the Civil War Centennial, reenacting has served as a lens through which Americans engage with history, heritage, and identity. Drawing on historiography, cultural memory studies, and contemporary critiques, the paper examines how shifting demographics, changing cultural attitudes, and public controversies particularly around Confederate symbolism have shaped the trajectory of the hobby. While participation is declining, reenacting continues to reflect broader societal dynamics regarding how the past is remembered, performed, and contested.
