Historical Trivia for a Star #2

[RoyGBiv]

The following is a historical trivia quiz. The first DUer without a star to answer correctly will have a donation to DU made in their user name, earning them a star. Members already having stars may play if they choose, provided they send me a private message upon confirmation of a correct answer giving me the name of a non-starred DUer they would like to have a star.

What am I?

I was formed during the Civil War. Then, as now, the United States government was not adept at caring for soldiers, particularly those who were wounded, but it was also inept at even providing the basic essentials to keep an army healthy. I was formed, largely by people with a conservative bent to their politics, to address this problem. Some of my leaders and organizers thought my existence would be the launching point for bringing forth harsh order and discipline to the American public, but others were more truly concerned about the well being of those who lived and died defending the nation. Skeptics referred to me as "the fifth wheel on the coach," but they were largely proven wrong, and today I am seen primarily as a benevolent entity that was the precursor to modern standards of health for everyone.

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. My answer in invisible text

Highlight the next line:
Surgeon General

[RoyGBiv]

4. Nope ...

But on the right track.

This was an organization, not an person or position, and it was not officially a part of the US government. Some in the government actually opposed its existence.

[Nevernose]

2. Or it could be a famous female Unitarian/Universalist and her org.

But unlike Rabrr, Idon't know how to change the color of fonts to make them invisible.

[Floogeldy]

3. George Washington?

;)

[rockymountaindem]

5. The Red Cross

Founded by Clara Barton

[RoyGBiv]

6. Closer ...

This organization formed the basis of the American Red Cross.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. Veterans Administration?

That's my guess...

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. Oh phoo...I know that's wrong now...

But I'll keep my mouth shut because I already made my guess...unless I'm allowed another.

[RoyGBiv]

9. You're allowed all you want.

I mean, it's not like a thousand people are jumping at it. :-)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. Sanitary Commission...

I remember hearing it on the Ken Burns mini series, of all things.

[RoyGBiv]

11. One of the good things about that series ...

It exposed people to elements of our history that are incredibly obscure.

Not that anyone cares all that much, but I didn't particularly like the way Burns portrayed the Commission. Some of its founders were stern, hardcore conservatives who essentially hated Lincoln, at least in the beginning. One Burns quoted extensively in a positive context wrote extensively of the need for discipline among the American people. The historian George Frederickson, who wrote a wonderful book on the intellectual history of the American Civil War was one of the first to point to the ideological aspects of the Commission and what they represented. They were not a "Doctors Without Borders" type of organization, but they did a lot of good work despite themselves, largely due to the people in the field who actually did the work.

Anyway ... two stars for you. :-)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

12. You would really love this organization my mom is involved with...

CAMP (Council on America's Military Past)

We drove up to Gettysburg last weekend; and I thought about you as we went along Confederate Lane and passed the Longstreet memorial.
It was pretty crowded. A lot of "living history" types strolling around the park. I haven't seen it that crowded in a long time, except on re-enactment days...

[RoyGBiv]

13. I'm flattered ...

...that you'd think of me. Actually, that kinda makes me tear up a little. As you know, I worked very hard to help get that put there.

I visited it back in March and took my friend, who while having lived in Virginia for going on ten years now, had never once visited a Civil War battlefield. He was completely ignorant of pretty much everything involving the field and its history, which to me was a good thing because it gave me an excuse to go on and on and on. He didn't even recognize the Longstreet Monument, which is actually what I wanted because he's a fairly good art critic. After showing him most of the famous monuments on the field, he declared that he liked that one the best. That meant a lot because so many people, so many "buffs" hate it because it is so "non-traditional."

Anyway...

Be sure to let me know of your choices.

[SofaKingLiberal]

14. .