It can feel like America is tearing at the seams. From politics to everyday conversations, the country seems more divided than ever with little hope of finding common ground. But a closer look at history tells a different story.
Division, it turns out, has always been part of America’s DNA. Fights in Congress once turned violent, and fierce disagreements have long shaped the nation’s course. John Fitzmorris, professor of history at the University of New Orleans, says that’s the lesson we can’t forget.
"Right on the Senate floor, in 1856, Charles Sumner was assaulted by Preston Brooks."
What history also shows, though, is that unity often followed, usually after extraordinary moments that reminded citizens they were in it together.
"Wars, natural disasters, even the shared pride of putting a man on the moon , all of these brought Americans back into step with each other after periods of deep division."
What makes today’s climate unique, he points out, is that both sides of the aisle accuse the other of outright darkness or evil and social media amplifies the anger.
"One will look back on social media as something that had so much promise but caused so many problems."
While history suggests it may take another extraordinary event to bring people together, Fitzmorris says the everyday choice is ours: to listen, to think, and to pause before reacting.
Because sometimes unity doesn’t start with something historic it starts with something human.