Thursday, June 7, 2018

The Cult of the Lost Cause

 

History is the propaganda of the victorious.
– Voltaire

According to an explanation of “The Lost Cause” from the web site of the Virginia Historical Society:
Former Confederates crafted a historical interpretation of the Civil War to reconcile the prewar society they admired and the devastation that accompanied southern defeat. The “Lost Cause” narrative was developed by former Confederates who claimed that states’ rights, not slavery, caused the war; that enslaved blacks remained faithful to their masters; and that the South was defeated only by overwhelming numerical and industrial strength. Confederate veteran and memorial associations promoted “Lost Cause” themes to help white southerners cope with the many changes during this era.
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2 comments:

  1. Dan PattersonJune 8, 2018 at 8:36 AM

    A cogent summary. It is assumed natural for the victor's version of events to become official and any counter argument to be heretical, but a reasoned approach using facts and logic often puts that theory aside. The war between the states is a shining example but there are other conflicts suffering the same pollution: Vietnam being a particularly pungent example.

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