Seduced - Book Three - Surrender Series by Melody Anne Read Free Book Online Page A

states joined the Confederacy, making eleven in total.”
    She didn’t want to admit to being impressed, but she couldn’t help herself. He’d either done a Google search or he’d actually done his homework. Either way, he wasn’t just sitting in her class; he was participating. She didn’t want to feel any emotions toward Rafe, but she found her heart rate increasing.
    “Does anyone know how long the Civil War lasted?”
    Ari waited, and finally a girl in the front row quietly said, “Four years.”
    “Very good, yes. The war lasted from 1861 until 1865. With every war, we study it and try to uncover ways we could have prevented the bloodshed, but why is there so much more emphasis on this war?”
    “Because this was where the United States tried to break apart. Had this occurred, we wouldn’t be who we are today,” a student said.
    “Very true, but that’s not all. During this war, though there were threats of foreign intervention, we were on our own. In four years, hundreds of thousands were dead and the South was nearly desolated. The war ended when the Confederacy collapsed, and of course we know that slavery was abolished. But we were left with a people who were told they now needed to put down their guns and all get along. There was a lot of hatred among the soldiers, and many didn’t want just to lay down their weapons. The end of the war didn’t mean it was over for everyone. Too many lives had been lost; too many people had been forever changed.”
    “How does a nation pick up the pieces after something like that?”
    “Very good question. I guess the best answer would be to focus on what was most important. The South needed to rebuild, and the North needed to step in and help. This was also one of the first industrial wars. During its four-year term, railroads and steamships were used heavily. Communication was carried on through the telegraph, and weapons were mass-produced. And of course, many women stepped up and began working outside of the home since the men were at war. The same thing happened during World War I — those of you who continue in the history sequence will discuss that next semester. The point is that the destruction contained the seeds of the nation’s rebuilding, because instead of brother fighting brother, the country’s people now had to come back together to restore their lives.”
    “So they were able to just put it all behind them?”
    “No, I wish it had been that simple. But — no. Some took their own lives after the war because they couldn’t live with what they had done, and people seeking revenge sometimes committed murder. That the South surrendered doesn’t mean all its people did. It would take years before our nation healed. To this day, some people still have hard feelings and are essentially still fighting the Civil War, though it’s been almost a hundred and fifty years since the last battle. Plus, we now had a nation of free men, but a lot of prejudice left against everyone on both sides. Former slaves had trouble getting work, and they no longer had homes; and in the North, the side that had fought for their freedom, many people weren’t happy when they wanted to live there. All of this would take decades to work through. It is still being worked through. These are all good reasons to study this monumental time in our history.”
    Ari continued teaching and before she knew it, the class ended, and the students piled from the class. Ari knew Rafe would still be there, but she went about gathering her belongings. She had a long night ahead of her, and she was unsure whether she was more excited or nervous about the upcoming conversation.
    “You did a great job today, Ari. I’m impressed.”
    When she looked up, she saw Rafe was sitting on the edge of her desk. Why did he have to look so devastatingly handsome in his tight jeans and polo shirt? If she hadn’t been attracted to him, this would have all been so much easier on her.
    “Thank you.