Why Do We Go to War? Myth vs. Fact - check out this excerpt from the course The Skeptic's Guide to American History from The Great Courses Plus. In this excerpt, Professor Stoler analyzes common myths and misunderstandings about why wars have been fought, how the results have been judged, and then offers informative rationale for the outcomes. Learn more about the course and start your FREE trial of The Great Courses Plus here: www.TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/lp/t2/generic?utm_source=Video&utm_medium=Youtube&utm_campaign=145747 About the course: For most Americans, the history of the United States is built on a set of long-accepted beliefs about events, each of which resonates in the nation's collective memory. But what if those beliefs—however familiar—don't really tell the whole story? Our knowledge of history—or what we believe to be history—is the lens through which we view and interpret the world. And when that lens is distorted with misleading information, it has powerful effects on how we perceive the present and how we make decisions in the future, from choosing whom to vote for to interpreting the latest developments in today's news and opinion pieces. To take a skeptical approach to American history is not to dabble in imaginative conspiracy theories or doubt the essence of the American experiment; rather, it's to reframe your understanding of this great nation's past and actually strengthen your appreciation for what makes American history such a fascinating chapter in the larger story of Western civilization. Sorting through misconceptions, myths, and half-truths about America's past is also a chance to revisit some of the country's greatest episodes, figures, and themes from a fresh perspective and an opportunity to hone the way you think about and interpret the past, the present, and even the future. In The Skeptic's Guide to American History, you can do just that. This bold 24-lecture course examines many commonly held myths and half-truths about American history and prompts you to think about what really happened in the nation's past—as opposed to what many believe happened. Delivered by award-winning scholar and Professor Mark A. Stoler of The University of Vermont, these lectures demonstrate how reconsidering some of the most popular notions of U.S. history can yield new (and sometimes startlingly different) interpretations of political, social, economic, and military events. But more than just debunking commonly accepted accounts, you'll be able to replace these misconceptions with insightful truths. Learn more about this course and start your FREE trial of The Great Courses Plus here: www.TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/lp/t2/generic?utm_source=Video&utm_medium=Youtube&utm_campaign=145747 Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel – we are adding new videos all the time! www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=TheGreatCourses And check out more of our videos on history here: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjlnbdCliaJH5gPqfxfQNBQHKC1H83XNt

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