How the 'Lost Cause' narrative became American history

[@DavidJ222]

In 2017, a descendant of Robert E. Lee stepped down as pastor of a small NC church after his comments supporting racial justice sparked a backlash. The general's distant nephew, the Rev. Robert W. Lee IV, issued a statement saying he resigned from Bethany United Church of Christ in Winston-Salem after the congregation decided to put his tenure to a vote. Some church members were not comfortable with Lee’s remarks during the MTV awards when he introduced the mother of Heather Heyer, who was killed in Charlottesville while protesting against white supremacy. “We have made my ancestor an idol of white supremacy, racism, and hate,” he said on the music network. “As a pastor, it is my moral duty to speak out against racism, America's original sin.” Although Lee issued an apology to church members for causing them pain with his remarks, he said he continues to “strongly support” removal of monuments to his ancestor and other Confederates.. To me, this is proof that some Christians only talk the talk. But there are some who actually walk the walk like this pastor. Kudos to you Reverend Lee.

[@NickO.-uz1re]

Wow. So stunning and brave lmao

[@deancena]

Robert W. Lee is a fake Christian and a disgrace to his family. He's just a liberal with white-guilt.

[@NickO.-uz1re]

@shaun king learn sarcasm dumbass

[@tn25mfan]

He got his 15 minutes of social justice warrior fame! Whoopdeedoo!

[@DavidJ222]

25mtnfan So basically his fame lasted a little longer than Lee and his confederate army. 😲LMAO!!!! 😄😆

[@scottyg5403]

" Loyal to their masters?" WTF! That was the problem! There shouldn't be any masters!

[@TheUsername217]

It's why they got their asses beat in the war.

[@itsquitntimeisrael6519]

aboctok HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH!!! Deuteronomy 32:28 - void of UNDERSTANDING.

[@lbshitkkers]

Clifford Pearson jr. not as much of a slave as the ones your trash bag racist ancestors owned

[@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558]

There shouldn't be any masters (except for Yankees ruling over Southerners and allied deporables.)

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

@@TheUsername217 .... Ha ha ha ha ...Oh they Did?? Go look who's Tactics And Strategies it is they teach at West Point Dummy... It sure Ain't Grant's or Shermans!

[@MrCaptainCrazy]

I was taught lost cause ideological when I was in middle school during the late 1980's in North Carolina within a classroom of equal parts Black and White students. To this day, I wonder how this was allowed to happen

[@BobQuinnCom]

I was taught it in NY state in the 1980's also. Sad.

[@nathanhollywoodbrookshire1417]

I was taught this in NC in the 1990s.

[@w41duvernay]

@@BobQuinnCom Probably because some of the southerner descendants had migrated to other places out of the South, so they brought that lie with them.

[@williamacosta9630]

It still happens in private religious schools in the Deep South

[@nathanhollywoodbrookshire1417]

Liam Acosta It still happens all over the country today.

[@nathanwheeler9129]

As the descendant of Confederates I have no problem admitting they were wrong and traitors. Funny that a lot of the people waving that stupid treasonous flag around are from states outside the South, Michigan, Ohio, etc. It’s like a race to see who can look more absurd . I love the South. There’s so much to love. And most of the best of the South is directly from the contributions of African-Americans: food, music, culture. Why focus on the stuff that’s shameful when there is so much other stuff that is so very good and unique?

[@marktwajn3551]

The truth was complicated. Moses Dallas worked as a ship pilot for the Confederacy's Navy and he was highly prized and paid financially well by them. Old 1864 Newspaper article I have in my video channel at YT shows Moses Dallas as a Confederate Navy ship pilot. I come from Yankees of Massachusetts from the 1860s and their Yankee side means nothing to me. Just The truth of what some blacks did in the Confederate Armed Forces matters most.

[@bricevanderwoodsan2433]

Slaves and the descendants of American slavery contributions are found in EVERY industry. They deserve reparations.

[@marktwajn3551]

@@bricevanderwoodsan2433 The truth about black people in the USA before 1866 is very complicated. Some of them were willingly with the Confederacy. Like Moses Dallas -- See my videos. Hell everybody had problems-- not just them and some of them were prosperous too.

[@donnie29720]

@@bricevanderwoodsan2433 Everyone who believes that should pay them with their money then ! That's reverse discrimination ! If You can find anyone today that was a slave, then I can see paying them !

[@donnie29720]

@@marktwajn3551 The 1st Legal slave holder in the South was a Black Man who had White slaves !

[@marlow769]

You all DO remember that Lincoln was also a politician, right? Often when Lincoln would say/write something that is not politically correct to today’s standards, he was attempting to not cause an explosion of opposition and/or a political cataclysm. There is not a subject that is packed more full with political dynamite than this one and that’s today...can you imagine then.

[@splaar]

Exactly. Slavery was (arguably still is) the most divisive political issue in American history and in a country tearing itself apart over slavery, Lincoln's main goal was to keep the country together and be a uniter. Ofc he had to show a certain level of sympathy for the slave owners that would be unacceptable today. How else was he supposed to do his job?

[@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558]

@@splaar Lincoln didn't say the things he said to appeal to the Northerners that elected him; he said the same kind of things that Northerners at the time commonly said because he was one of them, only also a corrupt tool of the robber baron class (as politicians typically are.)

[@mollkatless]

@@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558 Not really. Most importantly, he is responsible for the defeat of the evil that was the confederacy, and freed the slaves, and that is what he will be judged for, no matter how dumb your posts are about to get!

[@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558]

@@mollkatless So you don't think Lincoln believed the things he said and that Republicans generally believed? You just prefer fairy tales to historical reality?

[@mollkatless]

@@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558 The original post has your answer. Lincoln was a politician. Had you done any scholarly research on this, at all, you would know the population in the north was not ready in 1860 to fight a civil war to free slaves. Do I think Lincoln carried some of the racist beliefs of the time, yes. Do I think Lincoln found slavery evil and abhorrent, yes, I do. One question, just to see how deep you are in portable toilet that is the lost cause narrative. What was the ultimate cause of the US Civil War?

[@SPDYellow]

Nearly every state that seceded, published a declaration as to why they were doing it and ALL of them cited Slavery as a primary cause. Saying the Civil War was about slavery isn't politically correct history, it's correct correct history. Another interesting thing is that nearly every state in the Confederacy had little microstates, parts that pledged their loyalty to the Union and refused to join in the secession, the most notable of these being the Free State of Jones. The Confederacy was basically an aristocracy where the rich planter class had all the power, while your average Joe Blow Southerner had little to none, so it's not like this government was hugely popular even among the people it ruled over. When the Confederacy passed the Twenty Slave* Law, which allowed someone to be exempted from the draft if they owned twenty slaves, the war only became even more unpopular with many poor Southern Whites (correctly) being all, "I'm being sent off to die for some rich asshole's slaves." Mass desertions ensued. A line I heard regarding the Union in the Civil War went something like, "For every one soldier lost, the Union would gain three, which were usually either an escaped slave, an immigrant, or a southern white tired of all the BS." The South was bitterly divided from the getgo and the divisions only grew over the course of the war. *They actually used a much harsher word than "slave" in this law, but I really saw no need to bring it up in a casual KZbin comment.

[@3rdNCBobby]

in 1860 @ the height of the Cotton 'Industrial Revolution', the Wealth of England, the Industrial North, and the over 2,300 Textile Manufacturing Plants of New England were Tied Directly to Slave Labor. Wall Street Bank Rolled the Cotton Industry, and the Planting Loans for the Large Plantations of the South - through Secured Mortgages on the Slaves. Timber and Land were not allowed as Collateral, as the Value of Slaves in the 1850's to 1860 commanded the highest Dollar on Wall Street. The Abolitionist in New York, the Bankers, Ship Builders, in 1850's - through the Civil War were Invested Heavily in the Slave Trade from the Shores of Africa to Brazil and Cuba, were slaves were essential for Coffee and Sugar Cane harvests. The Great Accumulation of Wealth in North America came at the Heart of Slavery and the Cotton Connection (Gene Dattel, his Book - Economics of Cotton and the Role of Slavery).

[@3rdNCBobby]

Absolutely Right - That the protection of Property (Slavery System - Legal both North & South) & Without Southern Legislators, on March 2nd, 1861 - before leaving office. Pres. Buchanan signed the Corwin Amendment, which had been approved by 68% of Northern Legislators (7 Seceded States Legislators gone from Congress). That Amendment made Slavery Permanent forever. . A few days after Lincoln was sworn into office, March 4th, 1861 - the POTUS sent letters to all the Governors, get the Corwin Amendment approved in your State Legislative body's. Maryland approved by more than 66%, Ohio approved by more than 66%, and in November of 1861 - during the bloodiest days of the Civil War (What Were they Fighting for? ? ? ?) Illinois Legislative body approved the Corwin Amendment - "A Constitutional Amendment - Making Slavery Permanent Forever". Of Note: Through the War - Runaway or Freed Slaves were prohibited from Migrating North. They were kept in Cantonments, Shanty Towns, or POW like compounds, where thousands would die from Malnutrition, Disease, and Exposure. The Book "Sick from Freedom" chronicles the death of almost a million blacks while under the Control and Care of Union Troops. Professor James Downs, from the U. of Conn. Lincoln in the middle of the war, gave Pardons to 4 Slavers who ran the Africa to Cuba route dealing in Slaves. Lincoln trying to deal with his Negro problem, contacted the British Ambassador (papers of the Ambassador recently published) showing that Lincoln was trying to Send to South America Runaway Slaves in Compounds throughout the South and even Free Slaves within the North. Please know that for 50 years after the War was Over, Blacks were Prohibited - Limited - and Restricted from Migrating North in any appreciable Numbers. Of a Statistical anonomoly - the population of blacks in the North actually decreased in the 1870, 1880, 1890, 1900, and 1910 Census. And, in 1915 - 'The Black Diaspora' began during World War One, and Current with the Great Black Migration North, was the Rise of the Explosive Growth of the Northern KKK, which according to Wikipedia amounted to 4 or 6 Million Members - All Flying the AMERICAN FLAG. ENOUGH BLAME to Go Around, but the Confederate Soldier wasn't the Problem of the Blacks. LINCOLN'S FIGHT - Was to Restore the Loss of Revenue, and the Loss of King Cotton, the Commodity that was Fueling the World's Industrial Revolution. The WAR - The Fight was to Coerce and Subjugate COTTON Back Into the Union Treasury.

[@SPDYellow]

Bobby Edwards Andersonville and the Fort Pillow Massacre (committed by the man who would found the KKK) points to the Confederate South not being the freedom-loving protectors of Blacks that you seem to suggest they are. 🙄

[@hearmeout9138]

SPDYellow There was also a Free State of Winston (county) in Alabama and the Free State of Nickajack in mainly Tennessee. My ancestors lived in Winston county and most of them served in the First Alabama Cavalry of the US Volunteers. They were personally selected by General William T. Sherman to serve as his command guard unit in the Atlanta Campaign, the March to the Sea, and the Carolinas Campaign. Don't you know that they were really popular with Alabama state officials after they returned home? 😂😂😂

[@hearmeout9138]

Stephanie Logan If I was going to a pool party where you would be, I’d wear my awesome Blades and my tight Speedo... and my Chippendale bow-tie just for you. My face: 😎 Everyone else’s faces: 🥴😒😟😫😬😧😷🤢🤮

[@RaGeAlucard]

it baffles me that they lost the war, yet they are still naming military bases after those losers, or even worse, put their statues up.

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

... Hmmm Losers?? The U.S Lost 2 wars Too Stupid. So are THEY Losers???

[@fredymendez855]

@@cliffordpearsonjr.9748 you’re an imbecile lol 😂 the United States still exists lol 😆

[@MariaCJ]

Well, if you think about the struggle of keeping the US a White Supremacist nation, they won.

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

@@MariaCJ ...Thats the most Asinine thing you could have said. Only in your mind is the U.S a 'white supremist' Nation...Hell YOU Have More rights than Anybody. Get REAL!

[@paulrevere4505]

Hey Bonehead, they all were War veterans.

[@FreedomsNurse]

So, Edward Snowden is looking at life imprisonment but Jefferson Davis got off scot-free?

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

ALL Confederate Got Off you Dunce...because They DID NOTHING Wrong!! Defending your Property I or country from an Illegal invasion is NOT Against the Law. The Yankees KNEW...if it went to Court---THEY Would LOSE!!

[@gregbert1037]

@@cliffordpearsonjr.9748 they were all traitors and racists.

[@MariE-bz2eq]

@@cliffordpearsonjr.9748 "Defending your property" means defending slavery. Gotcha

[@ceasefire2825]

@@cliffordpearsonjr.9748 im not even american and even i know yall great grandpapis were traitors. its alright you arent them so stop praising those racist fuckers.

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

@@ceasefire2825 You're not literate either are you? Why don't you come Make us Stop Greaser??

[@timpearson3932]

We need more celebrations of Union soldiers!

[@sterlingferguson1704]

True. General Meade is hardly mentioned, in many history books and he was the one that defeated Lee at Gettysburg.

[@dansanger5340]

Especially Southern Union soldiers from states that seceded. Over 100k white Southern Unionists served in the Union army.

[@joshuadesautels]

Especially the USCT. And any statues of McClellan can go.

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

@@dansanger5340 ...Yeah.. THOSE were the TRAITORS! Too 'Chickenshit' to Fight The Yankees because they knew the South would be Outnumbered and OutSupplied.

[@snakey934Snakeybakey]

I agree, but let the Southerners celebrate their own soldiers as well.

[@nedwulff6196]

*If your ancestors were traitors to this country, you don't need to suffer the consequences of that. It wasn't your own doing. Yet, if you try to whitewash it and make it sound like something glorious, then you're in the wrong and you can't get away with that. You will be called out if you insist on it. You won't be treated with respect.*

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

NOBODY's whitewashing Anything Stupid...but YOU!

[@nedwulff6196]

@@cliffordpearsonjr.9748 said, "NOBODY's whitewashing Anything Stupid...but YOU!" *Thank you for confirming my viewpoint.*

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

@@nedwulff6196 Well a 'view point' is NOT the truth dumbass!

[@nedwulff6196]

@@cliffordpearsonjr.9748said, " Well a 'view point' is NOT the truth dumbass!" *Methinks thou hath protest too much. Your rage proves you're what I was describing in my original post. Thank you!*

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

@@nedwulff6196 I Don't protest Numb nuts. Just tell the Truth. TRY IT Sometime!!

[@FoFo_FoReal]

Imagine If Europe looked at the nazis and said "let em off easy"

[@rangergxi]

They kinda did. Only the concentration camp leaders and national leaders got the axe. Heck, the situation in Japan was worse.

[@SplotPublishing]

They kind of did. The didn't hit them with reparations, as they had in previous wars, including WWI. Only the very top people were tried in the Hague. Only a tiny handful got the death penalty. They were given back their country by western allies, and eventually got it back from the Russian allies. Many Nazis were incorporated into US and other world scientific bodies, including through Operation Paperclip. There was a stated and practical push to reintegrate germans, and Nazis, back into the body politic and the economy and let them help rebuild. These were seen as forward thinking measures, and to some extent they were., galling as they also were to many.

[@rangergxi]

@@SplotPublishing The Germans did pay reparations for ww2. The Soviets used enslaved German workers and soldiers to rebuild the USSR. Poland was given large chunks of Germany as reparations and the US/France/UK, etc just took money payments.

[@boringstomp2233]

@Marjorie Tillman NY Draft Riots in 1863, Illinois 1819 Constitution which practically made it illegal to be black in Illinois until after the Civil War, California's laws prohibiting any non-white from testifying for or against a white man. But yeah those "Evil Racist Confederates"were so uniquely racist.

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

@@boringstomp2233 ha ha ha ha ...GOOD ONE' And 100% TRUE!

[@sionnachmacbradaigh1010]

It is absolutely unbelievable that it has taken so long for this mythology to begin to crumble.

[@terryr7622]

People believe what they want to believe. I guess it provides some sort of dignity when they do

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

'mythology'?? The Constitution' is Mythology?? THAT is what the 'LOST CAUSE' WAS...and IS you Dumbass!!!

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

@Fortunado999 and WHO said that Dumbass?? 'Cause I Sure didn't.

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

@Fortunado999 ..in 1860...I would have STUPID!

[@fa1con730]

@@cliffordpearsonjr.9748 I would have TRIED to have a conversation with you, but your grammar is so bad that I won't bother arguing with someone who defends traitors.

[@joshgates5764]

Every American citizen needs to watch this twice so we never forget.

[@YouAREyoubeYou]

Also watch the docu-movie GRANT executive produced by leonardo DiCarprio. Its fantastic

[@superstock426]

Is this where you get your history lessons?..KZbin?..

[@palestalemale8831]

@@superstock426 stop crying little girl. You lost. No participation trophies.

[@arpendragon9076]

@@superstock426 there are historians in youtube you know?

[@superstock426]

@@arpendragon9076 I found out long ago in my college days (in my freshman year of college matter of fact ) not to take one person's point of view on anything..A lot of people are very biased on what they teach..I was lucky to have a professor in history that guided you to the original sources..Written by the people whom lived in that particular time and place in which we study..The mistake I see a lot of historians make in writing or teaching history is that they reference books written by authors in fairly recent times..And in doing that they are going off of that particular authors take on things and usually it's fairly biased..I always recommend in listening to what your teacher or professor teaches you but always (and I can't stress this enough) always do your own research from original source material..Original source material is out there but sometimes it's tucked away in some state archives or national archives but it's there if you look for it..You then get material written by the very ones who lived it..One thing some historians do I repeat again is teach from their own bias..Opinion I take into consideration but I'm leery of bias..I try to teach this to the young people today..Do your own research, your own investigating and do so by digging deep in the historical records such as the library of congress ..national archives..state archives etc and I guarantee you it'll take you on a journey thats very interesting and fascinating by hearing it from those who lived it...Just always remember..Dont ever take one person's word for it..Do your own research and gather your own conclusions..Im currently in the process of putting together a book in reference of where to find original source material to make it a bit easier on the young people of today to find it..I wish I'd of had a book when I started..lol..But I have spent countless hours finding this info such as congressional records..presidential records and so forth..So I'm putting together all my notes into book form to share..

[@nathanngumi8467]

Wow, very interesting. The Daughters of the Confederacy, not mentioned, was also a key Southern lost cause propaganda organization which focused on children's books.

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

History is not propaganda you dim wit. The UDC was established to keep alive the History of the South and the Confederate soldier. None of that is propaganda moron. Propaganda is what Comminists and Marxists do. Go back and finish school numb nuts.

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

@R N No One Has to 'Push' it. It is Well Known History to a Real Southerner .

[@j.lebowski3917]

@@cliffordpearsonjr.9748 the UDC was a major player in the lost cause narrative. It's easily documented. Look at the measuring rod pamphlet they put out to influence southern history books.

[@Dennis-nc3vw]

@@cliffordpearsonjr.9748 "Behind the secession of the South from the Union, after Lincoln was elected President in the fall of 1860 as candidate of the new Republican party, was a long series of policy clashes between South and North. The clash was not over slavery as a moral institution-most northerners did not care enough about slavery to make sacrifices for it, certainly not the sacrifice of war. It was not a clash of peoples (most northern whites were not economically favored, not politically powerful; most southern whites were poor farmers, not decisionmakers) but of elites. The northern elite wanted economic expansion-free land, free labor, a free market, a high protective tariff for manufacturers, a bank of the United States." -Howard Zinn Don't accuse someone else of parroting Marxists and Communists you hypocrite.

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

@@Dennis-nc3vw Are you talking about ME? I sure Wouldn't have if you Didn't do it. Who the F is Howard Zinn?

[@VAULT-TEC_INC.]

The UDC was just a bunch of Karens.

[@75aces97]

Maybe they should have been called the UKC?

[@rachelgarber1423]

And Kevins

[@lillyie]

stolen comment

[@msspi764]

One of the things I like about the exhibits in the American Civil War Museum is how they integrated the African American story into every part of the exhibit and the story. Completely inextricable, the interpretation falls apart without it. Too often that story is relegated to a separate part or section, like Black History Month. Not in this museum. That's well done.

[@5kehhn]

Yes, the 'Lost Cause' is a lost cause.

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

NOT as LONG As WE'RE ALIVE Dumbass!! So...you'd best NOT get a 'Big Head' over being a P.O.S. so easy!!

[@5kehhn]

@@cliffordpearsonjr.9748 Flibble Flabble!

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

Kinda like Your 'manhood'???

[@5kehhn]

@@cliffordpearsonjr.9748 yeah dude yeah.

[@mrzimothy]

My parents are both from the north. In my 1st grade class growing up in the south, somehow we began discussing which side we would fight on in the Civil War. I was the only one who said that I would fight on the side of the north to "Free the slaves." Literally everyone else said they would fight for the Confederacy because they would fight for their family/for their state. 1st grade, supposedly a Christian school. 1st grade. Unrelated to this, but we couldn't afford this private school the following year; my mom homeschooled me that year and then we promptly moved north of the Mason-Dixon.

[@dianenorman3209]

What year was this?

[@mrzimothy]

@@dianenorman3209 , early 2000's.

[@mrzimothy]

@Marjorie Tillman , I will say that the theology of the school it was probably on the weirder side of fundamentalism as far as I can tell, though I'm actually from an Anabaptist heritage and not necessarily well-versed on what is weird and isn't in evangelicalism since the Anabaptist movements were separate from the Reformation. My parents most assuredly didn't send me there because they believed the theology; they sent me there because I was ready to learn how to read on day 1 and the public schools wanted to teach me about the color yellow on day 1.

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

@Marjorie Tillman ..NOBODY IS in heaven yet MORON...READ the Bible. NOBODY Goes to heaven until the Resurrection!! And YES...Robert E LEE,and Jefferson Davis,And Bedford Forrest...will ALL BE there!! Hitler was NOT A Christian Stupid. These Confederate Leaders WERE!! You just Reaveled What an Ignoramus you are! Congratulations!!

[@Dennis-nc3vw]

It reminds me of the leftists who said insurgents in Iraq (you know, the progenitors of freaking ISIS) were just "fighting people who invaded their country."

[@tootsie9320]

Interesting that it was the women. Who memorialized those racist. Talk about breeding hate.

[@Tonino_and_Friends]

Absolutely. The vox has a video about these “socialites”.

[@TJ-gt1zz]

@@Tonino_and_Friends I watched it earlier it was actually eye opening.

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

Sounds like its YOU who has Hate...Who in the hell Bred You?? A 'greaser'??? Sounds like it!

[@tootsie9320]

Oh Clifford 😆😆 did I hit a nerve? Sounds like your momma, and your momma’s momma, did a number on the family. I don’t blame you, for your ignorance. You obviously can’t think for yourself. I will pray for you dear. Btw I come from the dirt. Bred in a little ranching town called Cotulla Tx. Spanish mother and Black father. You couldn’t make, anything this beautiful if you tried. 😘

[@Tonino_and_Friends]

alexandria garcia the books at his school were the books these “organizations” pushed.

[@Topself24]

Never seen the losing side celebrate so much

[@ricksamericana749]

It's really important to remember that in the Summer of 1864 the war was going so badly for the Union it looked certain Lincoln was going to lose the election that November. One of the most divisive acts was his Emancipation Proclamation. He was encouraged to revoke it. After a hard deliberation, he decided against it. Even though there was a chance it could save his Presidency. Lincoln refused to do so strictly on moral grounds. {Some}“have proposed to me to return to slavery [these] black warriors. I should be damned in time & in eternity for so doing. The world shall know that I will keep my faith to friends & enemies, come what will. . . . Why should they give their lives for us, with full notice of our purpose to betray them?” Lincoln was always against slavery. When he "defended" its practice he did so the grounds he didn't have the power to do end it.

[@FearTheHorse1976]

Wait, the Emancipation Proclamation didn't happen until the war was nearly over? So what was the first few years being fought over?

[@ricksamericana749]

@@FearTheHorse1976 The Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863 before the midpoint of the war. It said, "all persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free". The slaves of Missouri, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland were not freed until the passage of the 13th Amendment in January 1865. "What was the first few years being fought over?". Union.

[@FearTheHorse1976]

@@ricksamericana749 Gotcha

[@anniesizemore3344]

@@FearTheHorse1976 The North did not fight to free slaves. They fought to bring the Southern states back into the union. Lincoln himself said he would free all the slaves if it meant maintaining the union or free half the slaves if that would maintain the union or free no slaves if that was way to maintain the union. He signed the Emancipation proclamation to encourage people to fight and to give a point to the fighting.

[@anniesizemore3344]

England and several European nations were so appalled by the Civil War they discussed intervening and forcing a truce between the Union and The Confederacy, but the Union had a victory. They Europeans decided to let the Americans end the war themselves. Had the Europeans intervened, there probably would have been a series of hostile tiny countries where the Southern states are. I do not believe the Confederacy would have remained united as one nation had it won the war. But it would not have been the impoverished third world nation so many people think. The Southern states have the 3rd largest GPA in the world and they have the 3rd most powerful military without the rest of the USA. The USA would still be the richest and most powerful nation without the Southern states of course. One thing the war did was leave the Southern States out of decisions that would have benefited the region had they been present in the USA government during those years. Such as the building of railroads. New railroads built during the Civil War bypassed the South, which meant they kind of fell behind rest of the country in terms of being more isolated and missing out on the money brought to other places by the railroads. Most of the South was in ruins after the war too. Then they had to endure military occupation for the next 12 or 13 years.

[@charleskesner1302]

USA has to come to grips with its honest past. Manifest Destiny another one we need to address. We have a lot of growing up to do. Thanks for this.

[@williamobrien2253]

The entire national myth needs to be examined. What is taught in American schools is a glorified, fairy tale version. We have to remember that Manifest Destiny (read: white domination over nonwhites) didn't end at the Pacific Coast, it crossed the ocean into Hawaii and the Philippines, as well as Latin America and the Caribbean. It has also never been taught that America's crowning glory...WWII...the last war America won... was done so with the tremendous war effort of the Soviet Union and the part it played in crushing the Nazi war machine as well as their invasion of Manchuria which forced the Japanese surrender. Indeed it was the concerted effort of the Allies, but the US diminishes the Soviets contribution.

[@tachyontee3877]

@@williamobrien2253 PREACH!

[@bleedingkansai9961]

@@williamobrien2253 Well in fairness, the USSR was able to survive the Nazi onslaught because of American aide in supplies and machinery.

[@Dennis-nc3vw]

Growing up we're told that white settlers murdered all the Native Americans in cold-blood just to sate their unique, Caucasoid predisposition to evil. The reality is 90% of American Indians were killed by disease before America was even a country. So yes, we need to come to terms with reality, instead of falsing attributing the great genocide in history to our forefathers. The fact that the Civil War was over slavery should not be a source of shame either, but a source of pride, because the alternative is that the guy in Mount Rushmore was not 'The Great Emancipator' but an imperialist Nazi who slaughtered 600,000 people over tarriffs or some sh*t. That's what Confederate apologists want us to believe.

[@SandfordSmythe]

@@bleedingkansai9961 American aid helped somewhat.

[@Pudentame]

If you think the Confederacy was not about slavery just read the Confederate States declarations of secession.

[@anniesizemore3344]

if you think it was about slavery, then just watch interviews with ex Confederate soldiers that can be found on this site, KZbin. They don't say they fought to maintain slavery. You can also find interviews with ex slaves who describe how horrible slavery was. I would never ever defend something as evil as slavery either. I would never display the flat. But watch the interviews with ex confederate soldiers. They explain what they fought for and they don't say they fought for slavery. They say they fought to defend their homes or for states rights. States rights which means they wanted a central federal government that wasn't as strong and involved in people's lives as the USA government. They wanted less government. Less government involvement is something many people today want. During the Great Depression, WPA workers went across the country interviewing ex slaves and ex soldiers that fought in the Civil War. I think really people should listen to the soldiers who fought on the Southern side in those interviews explain why they fought.

[@jrh7741]

@@anniesizemore3344 simpletons will believe stupid stuff

[@thehumanoddity]

@@anniesizemore3344 It doesn't matter what they thought they were fighting for. The Confederacy was transparent about their reasons for secession: slavery, only and absolutely. Those men were fighting to preserve it, be it with the knowledge they were or the ignorance of it.

[@anniesizemore3344]

@@thehumanoddity They were probably ignorant of the politician's reasons. They probably couldn't even read. I have done a lot of reading since those other comments and the reading I've done had changed my views on some things. Confederacy culture is not the real culture of the South. Its a false culture/persona that has been imposed on the South for whatever reason. The Southern Appalachian mountains were abolitionists and even part of the underground railroad. But somehow confed culture made its way into there. I think this is an example of why people need to be taught their own history Then they won't attached themselves to a false persona. Rest of the county has to take blame for the South for assuming a false persona such as Confed culture because rest of the country put stereotypes on parts of the South like Appalachian mountains. The Appalachian mountains is a completely separate culture than the deep South. I read a very interesting book Appalachian Social Context Past & Present that compares the exploitation of Appalachia to colonialization and talks about stereotypes as a way to dehumanize in order to take resources. But almost all examples of colonization have brought a hierarchy and bigotry of some kind. Slavery was shameful,. I do wonder how much of it was due to colonialization of the South by rest of the country.

[@Stevie8654]

The states' rights people are right and I use it against them. I always ask, "What particular right were they fighting for?" I also ask them why there are no James Longstreet statues. The Longstreet thing makes it painfully obvious what the statues mean.

[@earthgerl]

Its states apportionment not states rights.. its because they only got half counts after the 1860 census so they didnt have enough votes in the house of representatives.. to represent all of their black people.

[@GiordanDiodato]

@@earthgerl no it wasn't.

[@earthgerl]

@@GiordanDiodato thats why the 3/5ths was not repealed until 1868 and the 14th amendment signaled the return of the southern states.

[@carolnorton2551]

Did no one ever ask "What cause?" What right?"... we ALL knew the cause was slavery, the right to own slaves.

[@anniesizemore3344]

The right to less government. They didn't want a government involved in people's lives and as strong as the USA government federal government. A lot of people today want less government. One of the problems faced by Jefferson Davis was a week government because the Southern states didn't want a strong government. They wanted their state governments to have more independence from a federal goverment.

[@carolnorton2551]

@@anniesizemore3344 Correct, they didn't want a government telling them they couldn't own slaves.

[@anniesizemore3344]

@@carolnorton2551 that's not what I meant and its not what they meant either. How could that be the reason when Lincoln never intended to free the slaves? He only decided to free the slaves as a way add a moral point to the war and encourage slaves to revolt or runaway to join the Union army.

[@carolnorton2551]

@@anniesizemore3344

[@anniesizemore3344]

@@carolnorton2551 Legitimate, well researched history books told me about the Civil War. Oh yeah, and the fact that I actually I come from the region also gives me insight into the Civil War. Those who don't come from a region really shouldn't act like they know its history and its culture because all they know is a stereotype.

[@stevegrooms1142]

The Lost Cause represents an interesting exception to the truism that says "history is written by the winners." History usually is. But defenders of the south have been remarkably motivated and persistent in their need to present a more appealing explanation of the war.

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

NOT appealing...its only the TRUTH! And YES...I guess the TRUTH IS Appealing to us!!

[@pato2200]

It suitrd too many people to forget the animosity and try to unite the country. The south has never been forced to confront the reality of its confederat state or divided society

[@p.bamygdala2139]

Steve, you make a good point. That old expression doesn't stand up in all instances. One might look at it like this: Lincoln died and so could not personally lead the reunification effort. In many ways, the North and South went their separate ways after the war. Each had the wealth and autonomy to create their own infrastructure including schools and textbooks, and so taught their own narratives. The 'lost cause' narrative has served the various psychological needs of that group. Not as catchy, but valuable nonetheless.

[@kevingregory5579]

@@cliffordpearsonjr.9748 keep telling yourself that🤪

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

@@kevingregory5579 ...Don't have to Dumbass...It's History! Try reading a Book sometime!

[@timothyamaraobrien]

Christy Coleman is so eloquent. She should be in the Senate.

[@m_heavy8208]

Im here because the History special Grant. Miss Christie Coleman is amazing!

[@YouAREyoubeYou]

Me too!

[@abbacomtek]

Me too

[@taoiseachjager9643]

"The civil war was about states rights". A states right to what?

[@onomatopoeia162003]

just like on another topic today. I would say states rights to do what to women? aka over turning Roe?

[@dhutton77]

I have read perhaps thirty books about the history of the Civil War and Lincoln. This short film is a very balanced overview of the Lost Cause aspect of that history.

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

They Must have Been 'comic Books'... Theres Not a dam thing about this 'film' that is factual .

[@SaraphDarklaw]

@@cliffordpearsonjr.9748 Cope

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

@@SaraphDarklaw ... With What? A Fuking Lie?? No thanks. You Cope with getting educated.

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

'Lost Cause' aspect?? .. The Constitution is the Lost Cause!!

[@wolfwind1]

The two museum directors are the wise ones. They should be leading a national conversation. Alas, neither are anarchists wanting to destroy the nation itself so will not be given an opportunity. Their work is admirable.

[@bccbaron12]

Wut?

[@w41duvernay]

Atun-Shei vids on You Tube actually go over the Confederacy reasons for fighting being NOT over state Rights (BTW States Rights to DO, WHAT?).

[@khalodetunde8105]

right lol

[@EbonFang_92]

That whole states rights bs is poppycock, also, the slave states wanted the feds to allow bounty hunters to enter free states to capture runaway slaves, therefore violating that states rights. That damn three-fifths clause was too much

[@fuferito]

"Checkmate Lincolnites!"

[@superstock426]

You look to a KZbin video for historical knowledge?..

[@fuferito]

@@superstock426, If they cite primary sources to make a valid point, a KZbin video can be historically credible.

[@p.bamygdala2139]

Lee's surrender to Grant at Appomattox ended the political war, but that was ultimately a proxy for the cultural war, which continues to this day. Another tragedy of Lincoln's assassination is that he would have otherwise had 3 more years in his 2nd term to reunify the nation. He also could have been a role model and social leader for unity in retirement and for the rest of his life.

[@jrh7741]

They don’t even mention daughters of confederacy.. Wow

[@YouAREyoubeYou]

@4:30 Karens were born

[@alexrogers777]

It baffles me that conservatives claim to be the party of Lincoln but still fly the confederate flag, the flag Lincoln fought against 🤦

[@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558]

Neo-cons (and maybe some poorly educated conservatives that have been duped by neo-cons.) Neo-cons and socialists have been spreading the same lies from the beginning to conceal their real purposes. The Massachusetts abolitionist Lysander Spooner spoke of "the war they [Republicans] had undertaken for maintaining and intensifying that political, commercial, and industrial slavery, to which they have subjected the great body of the people, both black and white. And yet these imposters now cry out that they have abolished the chattel slavery of the black man - although that was not the motive of the war - as if they thought they could thereby conceal, atone for, or justify that other slavery which they were fighting to perpetuate, and to render more rigorous and inexorable than it ever was before."

[@OnlyThomasHayes]

Great video by Washington Post. I need everyone to downvote all the KZbin videos saying the Civil War was not because of slavery.

[@davidharris5855]

Funny jeffie davis wasn't posed in his dress he was captured in while trying to escape after the war was lost.

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

And THAT---Never happened Either!!

[@corncrackerkid5092]

He wasn’t wearing a dress though, it was raining when he got caught and was wearing a rain slick and his wife’s shawl over his head, like you would with a towel or jacket when it rains

[@StevenTorrey]

I remember the first time I heard someone call Lincoln a traitor, thanks to the world wide web, and how shocked I was as a New Englander that anyone could think of Lincoln as anything other than "The Great Emancipator"

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

You Do know he only set slaves Free so that he could USE Them as Cannon fodder'Right?? He Never intended on Emancipating ANY slaves at the beginning of the war. He only did it when he became afraid of the South winning the war.

[@StevenTorrey]

@@cliffordpearsonjr.9748 Your grasp of history leaves much to be desired.

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

@@StevenTorrey ....Said the Dumbass 'new Englander' Who are the Ones who brought the Slaves over Here in the First place. Try Reading History instead of what some other Dumbasses Tell you. Lincoln was NEVER Going to set any slaves free...He was a Hypocrite Just as You are!

[@StevenTorrey]

@@cliffordpearsonjr.9748 I'll bet your mama is as charming as you!

[@bccbaron12]

@@cliffordpearsonjr.9748 What history do you recommend that people read?

[@laineyg6]

This is so well done!

[@michaelschwartz8730]

Instead of "Let 'em up easy", Lincoln should have said "Smack 'em in the mouth; it's obviously the only way they'll learn"

[@michaelschwartz8730]

@@TheWhale45 Not even remotely true. Constant kid gloves and acquiescence in the interest of "healing". No real prosecutions, let alone the endless hangings historically seen after a failed rebellion, just exceptions made for traitors. The Daughters of the Confederacy should never have been permitted to keep revising history. And voting rights were restored WAY too quickly

[@michaelschwartz8730]

@@TheWhale45 Forgive me if I don't take the word of a guy who can't make an argument without constantly using words like "shitbag" over actual history books. But you're the victim in all of this. Sure, Jan...

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

Except Lincoln got a 44 cal. Ball in his head but even He knew the south was innocent and you pussies can't stand it because the South Won in court. ja ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

@Willie Brazell ..Except they Weren't traitors Dung Bag. Read some history once in a while. They were bever tried!! ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

@@TheWhale45 ..Yeah..the Union won... now you get to pay a 45% tax rate and give up your rights one by one...keep on fighting other countries wars and getting more of our young men killed for nothing! ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

[@kreyvegas1]

Great documentary. Many thanks for uploading !!

[@MaxPowersHedgehog]

Here in Vermont none of the false "history" purported in this video is taught or known. I always knew that the Civil war was fought because of slavery, that never was downplayed around here.

[@Thomas-cs2rr]

A Northern liberal agreeing with the Northern liberal perspective...how risque!? Vermont is one of the least diverse, most heavily white states in America. It's amazing how a people with such vision remain yet so segregated!

[@MaxPowersHedgehog]

@@Thomas-cs2rr Vermont was the Safe Haven State for slaves and I have visited many behind the wall type "underground railroad" sites. I agree it's least diverse but having grown up here I must still stand by my statement.

[@philipmcniel4908]

@@Thomas-cs2rr I don't think you have to be a liberal to say the Civil War was about slavery. The Southern states said so themselves in their declarations of causes of secession. And out west, while I won't say there was no racism (hey, the original constitution of Oregon tried to keep Black people from moving out here), the measure of a man was more about how he could stand up against the elements and survive, and that provided black people an opportunity to prove themselves in some cases. And so a different branch of conservatism grew--one where a central value was hard work and striving to help your community (whether it be a small frontier settlement or a wagon train) alive, and if a black man was a successful trapper or cowboy, he'd still be seen as a black man (that was the 19th century, after all), but as one who was a hard worker in keeping with the frontersman's values. And so you'll find a lot of red-state conservatives out west who have little patience for the Lost Cause narrative. They're proud of their country (which is the USA, not the CSA), and they believe it should reward hard work and voluntary community ties as opposed to working the system. They're every bit as loyal to the causes of "God, guns, and freedom" that you see conservatives trumpeting throughout the South, but their states were free states from the beginning and they wouldn't have it any other way. You'll still see the occasional Confederate flag, but they're not nearly as popular out here in the West as in the South, and the Western conservatives' love for the South is largely based on their modern agreement about the value of independence and local autonomy in government. I think that most rural Westerners who read about the Civil War (particularly those of a conservative Christian mindset) sympathize with the North, and see Lincoln--not Davis--as an ideological kinsman. Except for Lincoln's (mostly early) racist ideas, which to be fair every white boy was raised to believe back then. tl;dr Not all conservatives would disagree with Christopher Colm's views--just many of the Southern ones.

[@richardroberts9021]

Can't remember when I agreed with the Washington Post before this.

[@jeromemccollom936]

I never understood argument that Lincoln was racist (and by modern standards he was) that somehow means the secession wasn't over slavery. Lincoln might have been racist but by the standards of those day he was much less racist then the average person, especially in contrast to those in Confederate states

[@alexrowell65]

As a South Carolinian who is a descendent of confederate veterans of South Carolina, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia Slavery should have never existed in the US period. The confederacy lost as it should have. And the “lost cause” teachings and rhetoric has done more harm to southerners than it ever has any good.

[@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558]

> Slavery should have never existed in the US period. The confederacy lost as it should have So do you say the same kind of thing about the First American Independence War, i.e. "England should have won"? If not, why not? What's the difference? If you can articulate any difference at all, I bet it's a revisionist myth easily disproved from the historical record.

[@jamescarter8699]

How can you tell a man, a people or a nation they are wrong, if their moral compass is stuck or hindered by the profits of their evil deeds?

[@ursamagickmt672]

I think we will get the answer to that soon enough.

[@jamiefutrell]

Thank you! That was very balanced and well done.

[@thienphucn1]

the South has a lot of other things to be proud of. Why are they so obsessed with that 4 years of history

[@dwightmagnuson4298]

Perhaps they haven't outgrown their Racism?

[@sionnachmacbradaigh1010]

Slavery lasted for hundreds of years, not four, and the south has its roots in the blood of those generations of slaves.

[@thienphucn1]

@@sionnachmacbradaigh1010 I meant the people who defend the confederacy and try to justify it by saying it's their heritage.

[@brianjames7607]

@@thienphucn1 because this is what they were taught and has become what they believe to be true. It's what they know. It's still taught, and still believed now....and not just by many southerners. Trump is not a southerner, but I would not be surprised these are his beliefs too. Most of these statues and monuments should be removed from public places and put into a museum....along with the complete entire true history of events, not just a false one sided version.

[@abbacomtek]

WTF?? Why?? What planet are you living on?

[@fazbell]

A shameful cause and incorrect history. Grew up in the south and had to learn the truth. Owning human beings is immoral, regardless of the circumstances.

[@quinnhendley4031]

fellow southerner here. and as someone who grew up in the south - there was absolutely some de-programming and re-learning involved when it came to the civil war. i grew up just a couple of blocks away from the local UDC chapter. they are still active today - in the county and the state.

[@upstateNYfinest]

A little misleading on lincoln, he was an ardent abolishionist (although not realky for equality). At around the 2 minute mark they kind of ignore that he made it pretty clear that he wanted slavery to end, but the preservation of the union was his first priority. The republican party literally distanced themselves from the whigs because the whigs werent resoltue enough in their opposition to slavery. But they are correct in saying that the civil war was fought to preserve slavery, and has very little to do with states rights ( southern states supported the fugitive slave act and the results of the dred scott decision, so they werent actually for states rights)

[@bobb1870]

Great idea to combine the two museums. The truth about this tragic war, slavery, and racism must be told. The old south must never rise again.

[@DutchUnion]

your comment is immoral

[@bobb1870]

@@DutchUnion Your the one who is immoral. The southern States seceded from Union and listing the maintaining slavery as the main reason. They put it writing and raised armies to backup those damn words! I get that white nationalism teaches their child otherwise. Oh, let's not forget many of the confederate officers and soldiers formed, organized the KKK and pushed for Jim Crow Laws. Some hero's.

[@LTCJFM001]

Perhaps, the name should be updated to “The Losers Cause”🤗🤗🤗

[@MoltenStorm-bw3xx]

@Jan Brady yeah the only difference is that other countries don’t celebrate their loses

[@TheKnowledgeMan101]

@Jan Brady Then by your logic, we should celebrate every single losing side of every country, ISIS lost ths battle in the Middle East, should we now start making statues and monuments to people who terrorised others as well as glorify them as heroes? Should we now make statues and monuments to tyrants like Hitler who caused WW2, if you really want to remember history, you can just go to a museum and place your books and statues there. You don't need to glorify them as heroes for fighting for the wrong side.

[@jjnc6761]

@Jan Brady those people seceded they were not Americans anymore.

[@jjnc6761]

@Jan Brady the English civil war was fought to preserve the parliament, not to secede from the union.

[@jjnc6761]

@Jan Brady they fought a war to not be Americans anymore, those people are not Americans.

[@jadedjene8786]

The Southerners, after their defeat, reminds me of a woman that could not get over a breakup. Knowing he said it is over, she still telling everyone their together. 😩 😩 Gee, get over it already!!!

[@b.7401]

In my opinion, both sides lost that war with all the casualties recorded. The war was embarrassing for our country. Truth be told, the union truly outnumbered the south from the beginning and if it were even close for being count for count, the union would have lost. I'm glad the union achieved victory because the country is just better off that way. But usually when someone loses a war like that, there are repercussions. However, the Union still needed the South. The war should have never happened. If you believe for a second that the war was about anything else other than money and power, then I encourage you to watch videos that are biased in both directions and then form your own opinion. After I did, I came to the conclusion that since the south had contributed 80% to the unions treasury and union charging high tariffs on exports on the south, the war was about money and power. Lincoln did feel that slavery was wrong, but freeing the slaves was not the objective. It was only a slight moral bandaid, but also a way to keep the south from prospering as fast as they were. The union needed the south. If that's not enough, Lincoln had cultivated a proposal to the south that they could own slaves into the 20th century before the war. Something channels like this one are not going to tell you. But the south had too much pride to negotiate. The Union's greed and the South's pride caused that war. Hence the term "Southern Pride". After countless grueling hours of research, this is my unbiased general conclusion.

[@b.7401]

@Stacey DonaldHey Stacey, thanks for your reply. Well, I do agree with you to a point. Lincoln did think slavery was morally wrong but what you are talking about, I believe took place after the war and before the emancipation proclamation. Lincoln was trying to figure out what to do with the slaves after the war and even considered sending them back to Liberia and then reimbursing the south for the loss. And before the war, when Lincoln got elected as president, he stated that he had no intentions of abolishing slavery in existing slave states. If that's not convincing enough, Lincoln's approval of the proposed 13th amendment between when the south seceded and the war began, proves these things. I know it's hard to decipher what really went down so long ago, but after watching videos biased towards both sides, that's the best conclusion I came up with. I'm sure we will never really know all the true details as some of the videos I have watched almost completely contradict each other. Lol It's pretty crazy.

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

I'm gonna say WE DID get over it numb nuts...after all wt won WWII and WWI for you!!

[@jordangruchala1473]

The best explanation I've seen of how our views on the confederacy have become so disorienting! So glad I watch it.

[@jarvisjackson1950]

Good God I did not expect to see such a beautiful reporter 😍🤩...now I'll restart the video and actually listen this time.

[@juanibarra218]

Its happening with the holocaust as well it completely undermines our work towards social progress across the world. But there will always be racists much like there will always be poverty...its the education that really shows how we evolve over time.

[@joekonopka2363]

Ignorance+ bigorry= lost cause

[@MorganJ818]

What kinda racists are disliking this video?

[@MonkeyDefenceForce]

N words are more racist.

[@superstock426]

@MD Black-Afrikana Living Precisely

[@jonathanstensberg]

If your husbands, sons, and fathers had gone off to fight invading armies and never returned, you'd probably want them fondly remembered, too. If those same armies came in, uprooted your livelihoods, and forceably altered your way of life, you'd probably view the cause for which your loved ones gave their lives pretty highly, as well. That's just human nature.

[@thecitykid415sfc6]

Im sure Hitlers fam is honoring him the same way jack !

[@YouAREyoubeYou]

It was actually Ulysses Grant that was opposed to slavary not Lincoln. This is why you never hear about him or know that he lead the Union to win the CW.

[@1979benmitchell]

Truth.. Although he married into a Slaveholding family and did, in fact, own a slave that he set free (even though could have really used the money). Grant's parents were ardent abolitionists and Grant followed in their footsteps.

[@brettknoss486]

Lincoln was opposed to slavery. The Republican Party started as the Free Soil Party, that supported squatters rights and opposed the expansion of slavery. Lincoln campaigned on allowing slavery where it existed, but signed the Emancipation Proclrmation, both to influence Britain, and address the practical reality, that slaves were leaving plantations in large numbers. This does not mean that he opposed abolition in private.

[@1979benmitchell]

@J RP Don't forget that his man Grant was also in the other ear saying Slavery is wrong. Having both these Great men telling him the same thing had to carry a lot of weight with Lincoln.

[@YouAREyoubeYou]

@@brettknoss486 The point of my comment was for clarity. Lets be clear Lincoln wasn't a diehard abolitionist-- not even close. He signed the EP; however, I highly doubt that it was his idea.

[@j.lebowski3917]

@@YouAREyoubeYou then whose idea was it?

[@fieryweasel]

"Birth of a Nation" is a must-watch. It really provides a nice peek into what people were honestly thinking then, and how it evolved in the short term.

[@travishylton6976]

Birth of a Nation is fake history

[@hearmeout9138]

I seriously doubt half of the US believes the "lost cause" myth. I don't recall what I was taught in school about the Civil War because I have personally studied it so much as a hobbie since. Our curriculum probably did correspond closely to the lost cause, but I have an uncommon family history that gave me more insight to the truth of the war than what most people have available to them. I would estimate maybe 35 to 40% at most are true believers of that myth. Some might feign it around their families to prevent conflict, but I think most people have put the old theories behind them.

[@GiordanDiodato]

I blame Wilson

[@blackjackington]

Good article.

[@jameslollis2727]

Speaking of propaganda! The civil war was over taxes the north was forcing on the south. The slavery issue was used as a social issue to motivate the north to feel correct in starting the war.

[@Thomas-cs2rr]

There were slave holding states IN THE UNION! If it were about slavery that couldn't have worked. The belief that the Civil War was about slavery as the sole or main issue is a falsehood perpetuated by Northern academics to justify an illegal war by an outlaw President and to give the cause a sense of nobility.

[@VNdoug]

The Confederate Constitution explictly prohibited any state from abolishing slavery: Article I Section 9(4) "No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law denying or impairing the right of property in negro slaves shall be passed."

[@VNdoug]

Another article from the Confederate Constitution: Article IV Section 2(1) The citizens of each State shall be entitled to all the privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States; and shall have the right of transit and sojourn in any State of this Confederacy, with their slaves and other property; and the right of property in said slaves shall not be thereby impaired.

[@Thomas-cs2rr]

@@VNdoug The right to own slaves was protected, yes. That doesn't mean the war was primarily fought over slavery. The war was fought over the right to self govern. Slavery was the issue that was attached to by politicians to justify an illegal invasion and subsequent war. It really boiled down to staunch Federalism vs anti Federalism. It was still Hamilton v Jefferson. The Northern Federalists couldn't have their cash cow breaking away and taking their tax money with them. Thats the truth. Again, some Union States held slaves. You can't fight for a moral cause when you yourself practice what was supposedly immoral.

[@VNdoug]

@@Thomas-cs2rr The "right" was not protected, the protection of slavery was mandatory. The confederate states literally would have no choice whether to make slavery legal or illegal, because the confederates thought Federal Government should enforce slavery. In that very same paragraph I posted the confederates complain that the northern states are opposed to federal law on slavery and should NOT have rights that contradict federal law. The states call slavery their main cause for fighting in each and every declaration of secession, ALWAYS in the very first paragraph (with the exception of Texas, that put slavery as a main cause of secession... drumroll... in the second paragraph) Mississipi declaration, second sentence: "Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery-- the greatest material interest of the world." Georgia declaration, second sentence: "For the last ten years we have had numerous and serious causes of complaint against our non-slave-holding confederate States with reference to the subject of African slavery." South Carolina declaration, second sentence: "but in deference to the opinions and wishes of the other slaveholding States, she forbore at that time to exercise this right. Since that time, these encroachments have continued to increase, and further forbearance ceases to be a virtue." Texas declaration, middle of second paragraph: "[...] Texas was received as a commonwealth holding, maintaining and protecting the institution known as negro slavery-" Virginia declaration, first paragraph: "the powers granted under the said Constitution were derived from the people of the United States, and might be resumed whensoever the same should be perverted to their injury and oppression; and the Federal Government, having perverted said powers, not only to the injury of the people of Virginia, but to the oppression of the Southern Slaveholding States."

[@souldavidthompson4854]

Along with the Native American genocide, the original sin of slavery is a stomach-churning reality in our long and difficult history.

[@Dennis-nc3vw]

"Native American genocide" is a myth, unless you are using the ultra-liberal definition of genocide people throw around like confetti these days, which would make any conquering power guilty of genocide. 90% of North Americans were dead from disease by 1650. America committed atrocities against the Indians obviously, but nothing even 1% as horrible as the lie most of us grew up believing.

[@davidkillen2207]

The war wasn’t over slavery…

[@gablespark173]

You're right. It was about economics centered around slavery.

[@zenever0]

Confederate leaders thoroughly documented why they seceded. It was so overwhelmingly about slavery that they couldn't shut up about how much it was about slavery. The declarations of secession for five states, equivalent to the Declaration of Independence, uses the words "slave" and "slavery" 84 times.

[@jonnie106]

5:08 "One of the underrepresented stories of the American Civil War is the US Colored troops....people need to know that". 5:21 "We have completely removed black people from the narrative, when they were central to it." That is what the lost cause does, when it's believed and accepted that the war wasn't about slavery.

[@nmagain24]

ADOS

[@aleroxit]

Thank you. I guess I need to go to Richmond

[@nicholasdoolittle9888]

it's never been about black people or white people. It's been the rich, the poor, the ignorant, and the wise.

[@GiordanDiodato]

as the Cynical Historian says: "WILLLSSOOOOOOOOOONNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[@onomatopoeia162003]

Bet he would have said Pollkkkkkk about 'Manifiest Destiny' too.

[@jameslollis2727]

Google the Morrall Tariff if you want the truth!

[@3rdNCBobby]

The Tariff is Misunderstood by Southern supporters. The problem beginning in Jan-Feb-Mar-Apr of 1861, before the Tariff was to go into effect [April 1st, 1861], was that the 7 Confederate States had left the Union, and were not imposed the tariff. However, the high rates of Northern Impost duties sent Commerce South from England and France- beginning in Jan-Feb-Mar of 1861, escaping Impost duties from the North, and Collected in the South. SO - By March 4th, when Lincoln was Sworn In, the U.S. Treasury only had a portion of their Revenues needed to run the Government. Lincoln declared in his Inaugural, that he Was going to Collect those Impost Duties in Seceded States - a Declaration of War. Lincoln's policy of Coercion and Subjugation is at the Center of the Reason of the War, and not the Southern 'Endurance' of the Morrill Tariff not Imposed on the South, until their Ports were under Federal control.

[@Kill3rGr1zzly]

“How did we get to a point where a propaganda campaign became American history?” Woodrow Wilson. The answer is Woodrow Wilson.

[@stevepoitras2802]

Any time I hear someone call Lincoln a racist I immediately think Of Frederick Douglass' words at the unveiling of the Freedman's Monument on April 14, 1876. I think those around him, men like Douglass, though at times impatient with him recognized a great change in his thoughts and beliefs throughout his life. Even by today's standard's Henry Lewis Gates refers to him as a "recovering racist". So just blatantly calling him racist does a deep disservice to his memory and continues to perpetuate the "Lost Cause" narrative.

[@1979benmitchell]

Not to mention alot of those texts and remarks made by Lincoln were made as a politician trying to get elected. Lincoln never had any love for the institution of Slavery. While he would have stopped short of saying that the Black man was equal to the white, that is more a product of his day. He shouldn't ever be regarded on the same level as those lost cause Confederates.

[@hayesdabney]

Well done, Ms. Ellis.

[@americafirst4351]

"Was slavery the principal cause of that political dispute? Yeah, Yeah. There's no way to deny that." 1:32 "His main priority at the time was keeping the union together" 2:13

[@TheStapleGunKid]

Why did he need to keep the Union together? Because a pro slavery faction wanted to take over a portion of the country and turn it into a slave empire. That is why slavery was the cause of the war.

[@cliffordpearsonjr.9748]

These 'egghead' Pussies... Put phrases together like this to confuse dumbasses who watch it... and it works!!

[@duckbizniz663]

Lincoln was against slavery. Did you read the Lincoln vs Douglas debate for the Illinois Senate seat? Lincoln was an unknown until the national newspapers covered the Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1958. Most White Americans in 1860s did not want to end slavery. Do you think Lincoln would have gotten elected if he did not tell the American public what they wanted to hear? Lincoln and the Radical Republicans ended slavery and automatically gave anyone born in the United States citizenship.

[@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558]

"The pretense that the “abolition of slavery” was either a motive or justification for the war, is a fraud... And why did these men abolish slavery? Not from any love of liberty in general - not as an act of justice to the black man himself, but only “as a war measure,” ...in carrying on the war they had undertaken for maintaining and intensifying that political, commercial, and industrial slavery, to which they have subjected the great body of the people, both black and white. And yet these imposters now cry out that they have abolished the chattel slavery of the black man - although that was not the motive of the war - as if they thought they could thereby conceal, atone for, or justify that other slavery which they were fighting to perpetuate, and to render more rigorous and inexorable than it ever was before. ... "All these cries of having “abolished slavery,” of having “saved the country,” of having “preserved the union,” ... are all gross, shameless, transparent cheats - so transparent that they ought to deceive no one - when uttered as justifications for the war, or for the government that has succeeded the war..." -Massachusetts abolitionist Lysander Spooner

[@henrimatisse7481]

I was raised in AZ 1960, 70's and no way was the Civil War taught as anything except about slavery. In the History book we used it described what the slaveowner did to the slave in graphic detail. When I moved to the Carolinas I was surprised by the entrenched racism and the fond memories of white dominated history. Free labor you know.

[@tkjordan1376]

Who else had to watch Gone with the Wind in history class?

[@nadamasdisponible]

Very good

[@Thought-Juice]

I grew up in Texas in the 90s. Not once did we talk about slavery, they mentioned a Buffalo Soldier 1x in our studies (briefly).

[@amapparatistkwabena]

5:14 “At the end of the war there were more black men in blue uniforms than white men in grey uniform; people need to know this.” That we don’t know and teach this to every American student is by design. There is no way to explain this than to simply admit that America doesn’t want either black OR white people to know that African-Americans have played a pivotal role in keeping this Union together from the very beginning.

[@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558]

"keeping this Union together"? Do you keep your girlfriend together with you by beating her, too? As the Massachusetts abolitionist Lysander Spooner said, "Their pretenses that they have “Saved the Country,” and “Preserved our Glorious Union,” are frauds like all the rest of their pretenses. By them they mean simply that they have subjugated, and maintained their power over, an unwilling people. This they call “Saving the Country”; as if an enslaved and subjugated people - or as if any people kept in subjection by the sword (as it is intended that all of us shall be hereafter) - could be said to have any country. This, too, they call “Preserving our Glorious Union”; as if there could be said to be any Union, glorious or inglorious, that was not voluntary. Or as if there could be said to be any union between masters and slaves; between those who conquer, and those who are subjugated."

[@laurapascal4638]

Would you know the statistical source that is cited for this statement? I can't find the evidence for this and would like to have concrete evidence before sharing it with my students.

[@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558]

@@laurapascal4638 No surprise that teachers, instead of following the historical evidence, are searching for excuses to push their preconceived notions. Are you a public school teacher?

[@laurapascal4638]

@@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558 That's exactly what I'm trying to do, follow the historical evidence do that I can present historically grounded information to my students. This is the first time I hear this statement and I want to make sure I can back it up with a source. Do you have a source you can share? I've reached out to the American Civil War museum today and I'm waiting to hear back.

[@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558]

@@laurapascal4638 If you want to teach your students something that you saw in some sourceless claim in the comments section, you're not following evidence; you have an agenda and you're searching for a way to support your agenda.

[@s.d.2042]

I don’t think there is anything wrong with confederate museums as long as they’re historically accurate. But a monument dedicated to people who betrayed their own country so that they could own other humans, No.

[@DutchUnion]

It was not his obligation to obey his "country"

[@OilBaron100]

It’s unfortunate I can’t see those statues any more.

[@nickjoseph6094]

A lost cause video without mentioning Woodrow Wilson? SMH.

[@earthgerl]

The other thing is the interpretation of the linguistic difference. When they use terms like "he was a staunch defender of slavery" that does not mean he was into oppressing Black people. In the Southern language, it actually means he was a champion of their skills and abilities. This repeated misinterpretation of Southern English has created an enormous misrepresentation of the Confederacy and the Civil War. Prior to the Civil war, there was a sort of underlying belief that Black people could not be successful, so in the South, when you defend slavery it means that you took up for them, and you would promote their skills to the greater public. So when you read things that say that, keep the context in mind. The changing beliefs that Black people SHOULD be counted equally, and WERE worthy of educational opportunities and Civil Rights, were what fueled the development of Black Education in the South at that time. There were people like Horace King who demonstrated that that Black People could perform at a very high level and was then able to break through any existing stereotypes. Once you had enough people demonstrate that they were capable, and enough defenders of slavery - You had a Confederacy that had a solid case for demanding equal counts. Which was the protest that triggered the process of establishing emancipation and then the 14th amendment. It needed very complex legal maneuvering to enact equality. If you want to dumb it down to "abolishing slavery" you can, but it does not adequately explain everything that had to happen to find equality among the states. The 3/5ths compromise was enacted as part of the constitution, so it was not so easy to repeal, First they had to eliminate the Missouri Compromise (Dredd Scott Decision) eliminating geographic limitations on slave states. Then they eliminated the use of the term slavery, with the 13th amendment, so no one was considered a slave anymore. This kept anyone from being counted at the rate of 3/5s. THEN, because there were Native American populations who were neither freed nor enslaved, They had to enact the 14th amendment further generalizing a persons citizenship on the basis of birth or naturalization. Once they did that, ALL of the people in ALL of the states could be counted for apportionment, so that the House of Representatives could receive a fair count and adequate Representation from the apportionment. This is NOT directly related to the institution of slavery. In Virginia, prior to the Civil War - Black People were assumed to be enslaved unless they had freedom documentations from a previous sponsor. This does not mean that everyone was living enslaved. Many people were perhaps living in freedom without documentation. So the 13th amendment meant that you no longer needed documentation. It was more of an immigration amnesty for Black People. If you don't take the time to study what the Confederacy was and what the Civil War was about, and the history and evolution of Slavery prior to the Civil War. You will not understand what happed. It's not so easy just to say that slavery ended. That was not enough to end the war. They still needed an equal count, which would allow the south to rejoin the union. This is why its wrong to attack the Confederacy because their protest on the basis of equal representation is what lead to the emancipation. Lincoln didn't just all of a sudden have a change of heart, The Black People left the union because they were not being represented. You have to take the time to understand the whole thing. The Confederate Army, the Confederate Movement was not white supremacist at all, it was moving to overturn a an old census rule. The White Supremacy was instituted closer to 1900 during reconstruction when the segregation rules began to appear. The Confederate Movement was opposing the existing systemic White Supremacy that was generated by the 3/5ths Compromise, to seek Congressional Equality. In 1861, the Penn Center in South Carolina began the first education for black children, in 1870 the University of South Carolina graduated the first all Black class of College Graduates. In time, that school shifted to a white enrollment towards the end of the Reconstruction era and the onset of the "Jim Crow" Period, but during the Civil War Era, it was a time of advancement for Black People in the South, as they gained the right to be counted equally in the census and provided property, voting and educational rights to their communities. This was largely related to the Confederate Succession that caused Lincoln to have to take steps to qualify their constituents via a means other than 3/5ths, which is what lead to the emancipation. You need to correct this article and stop spreading hate. It does not discuss the reasons for succession and the unnecessary excessive violence from the North for something that could have been resolved diplomatically.

[@tskmaster3837]

Wait a minute. 1:56 "...99% of Americans were racists including Abraham Lincoln." As long as you quote what he said publicly pandering to said racists and not privately.

[@thehickoryhutch5947]

Abraham Lincoln, a racist.... He wouldn't even be racist by today's standards. People can pull a random quote from obscurity, take it out of context and claim it ruins a man's reputation. I have seen people try and say that Lincoln wasn't that great because he either was too radical or wasn't radical enough. If Lincoln was a racist, why did he even try to free the slaves? If Lincoln was a racist, why did he advocate for black citizenship? If Lincoln is a racist, why did he allow blacks to serve?

[@elfhighmage8240]

Why can't these Confederates, in the current form of the Republicans, get over it?

[@Yallquietendown]

Confederates were old school democrat and the Republican Party ought not even be legal in the south ! That’s why we like Trump in the south because he’s like a 1980s/1990s democrat !

[@WaynerTheGamer]

Ga definitely has some hott woc, seen them on tv shows & music stuff

[@halbleavy9900]

LOL! The wife of Confederate President Jefferson Davis looks a lot like a light skinned Black woman. Her name is Varina Howell-Davis.

[@shiynenn]

Wasn't it president Johnson who succeeded Lincoln that pardoned the Confederates including Jefferson Davis ?

[@patrickcleburneuczjsxpmp9558]

Davis was never convicted of anything in the first place. As Chief Justice Chase said in 1867, “If you bring these [Confederate] leaders to trial it will condemn the North, for by the Constitution secession is not rebellion. Lincoln wanted Davis to escape, and he was right. His capture was a mistake. His trial will be a greater one.”

[@suzannedamadio2718]

How do you explain that the majority of soldiers on both sides were the sons of the poor who didn't own slaves?

[@deepashtray5605]

Wars have always been fought by the sons of the poor.

[@gilmorehappy7141]

Christy Coleman is amazing and I wish One day I can meet her. She was one of my favorite narrators of GRANT. I am so interested in educating myself on this. Because The Education system never taught me about this.

[@WaynerTheGamer]

Sunny knows whats up, omg 😂 abe legit hated confederates because of his love for poc. And was madly in love in with woc, they were non slaves treated like equals and family even when it was legal. They worked together so they could buy family from bad guys. Confederation hated him for it such, booth = death. You haven't read her journals? The gf Its very romantic, treated him better then his stage wife for public. He didn't like confederates at all, sometimes he often fought them even. Abe liked to wrestle, huge advantage on ppl too. Rarely lost, won most of them. They grew & smoked weed too, main crop for cash at 1 point even. They were free, not slaves. Servant part is a yes and no but of free will because they were grateful to live there & someone who cared alot in a era of crappy ppl. More likely visitors assumed such, sametime tabs/easedropping an such for the spy group for the founding fathers. The ones anti-slavery at heart, plus like most men = sex stuff & i don't mean in a bad way. Curiousity of non biased smart men, them white southerns are pulling a fast one over ya. Alot of disinformation on abes party platform as well from what i've seen too.

[@athenamorales7321]

I would love to see the black soldiers stories on both sides especially the black soldier that fought for both the north and the south. Was told in an equal amount as the white soldiers of the civil war.

[@rangergxi]

@Damia Savon A few mixed race people from New Orleans did. However, they were also slave-owners...

[@FMR------------------psst]

good piece ! and a godly beauty!

[@shepardsmith3235]

This is what I have heard. That late in the war, the South en masse realized that the war was about establishing a new country, different from the North. Different in all ways, with Slavery just one aspect of this. For example it was Oligarchical and Agrarian, and Christian but not Catholic. But it was too late the war was lost by that time. So chime in but please no flames, This is just what I have heard.

[@yesfredfredburger8008]

I was really hoping to learn more about HOW the Lost Cause started to be taught. I should've expected less from this publication. My bad