Folklore Study: The Lost Cause of the Confederacy

Upon my recent trip to the Deep South, visiting New Orleans for the first time I was left with much reflection. There was of course the positive experience of a city rich with culture, jazz music, and Cajun cuisine. Then however there was the negative association considering this city was more-or-less established by slavery during the Southern Antebellum era that thrived off of cotton and sugar plantations. New Orleans later became a capital city of the Confederacy and a key battleground during the Civil War. 

So this leads me now to a recent curiosity pertaining to the Civil War. And that is in regards to the Southern Confederates ideology. I've always been quite fascinated how such extreme notions arise, such as that of Hitler's Nazi's. I by no means support their beliefs, only curious as to how they arrive to them. The Confederate South could easily be compared with the wickedness of the Nazi Germans. It is without question the South was in the wrong, and thankfully righteousness prevailed in the end. However I often believe it's good to understand both sides of an argument to acquire better wisdom. 

The Civil War was ultimately fought over slavery. The north felt it was an outdated, inhumane institution that should be abolished while the south considered it a vital means to their production and way of life. This American disagreement spanned over 50 years in the making, since the nation's birth in the 1790s. Many northern states such as Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Vermont abolished slavery as far back as the 1770s. However during the early 1800s the South was experiencing a golden age of agriculture much ado to their slave labor, working in the plantations. Wealthy southerners were able to influence the government for some time to essentially stay away from their culture. 

Many years after the Civil War, and into the age of Reconstruction a new perspective took shape in the South. It was a form of denial referred to as the Lost Cause of the Confederacy. It essentially glorified the period of the Antebellum South where men were chivalrous gentlemen, women were ladies, and slavery was for the betterment of the white and the black man. Thru this denial, the South was making the case that their struggle was not about slavery, yet rather about their way of life. To this day it has become the basis of modern day racism, where southern neo-nazis feel their heritage is at risk. Movies such as the Birth of a Nation, Gone with the Wind, Gettysburg, or Gods and Generals have glorified the lost Southern cause. I simply would like to highlight the key points of this ideology and some of it's influential material. 

Lost Cause Beliefs

There are quite a few tenets to this distorted ideology that I would like to summarize here. I would like to elaborate on each of their points from an unbiased historical analysis. While most of the points in this ideology are simply incorrect, I would like to provide some fact-checking with counter-arguments. I also will admit that some of their points might not be so far-fetched (such as the cruelty of Sherman's torch tactics and the carpetbaggers). However these minor points in their favor are still too insignificant to defend the utter wrong of slavery. So without further ado here are the beliefs of the Lost Cause ideology.

• 
  States should have the freedom to leave the Union just as they had the freedom to join the Union.
• Analysis: While I believe our country is quite unique from other nations when it comes to our separation of federal and state; the states are ultimately residents within the nation and therefore must adhere to the laws of the federal government. That is to say these states are essentially well defined territories that make up a sovereignty. Without the states there can be no country and therefore the federal laws will always trump the state laws. The United States of America is not a club of states where admission and withdrawal is optional.  
• The North waged this war not over slavery, but over economic aggression
• Analysis: There are some theories that believe the North had begun to fear the South's economic boom. These theorists feel the North's reasoning was not to free the slaves yet rather to regulate and eliminate their mass production thru slaves. Without slaves the South would not be as wealthy. The problem with this point is that Southern wealth was in no way bad for the nation. To attack the South's wealth would be no different than attacking the nation's wealth. Therefore this is a misconceived notion. 
• Slavery was a "positive good" for the Africans
• Analysis: This extremely racist notion ultimately pertained to southern white supremacy. They felt they were doing good by providing food and shelter to these Africans, thinking they were not capable to survive on their own in America. However this theory is simply incorrect when you consider the free African Americans living in the north for nearly 100 years to that point. While the southern slaves may have been uneducated it's very rare cases where they themselves would have preferred slavery over freedom. Certainly not the field slaves who were forced to work 18 hour days in the blistering sun (for minimal food and shelter). Definitely not a fair trade off at all. 
  
• The South valued chivalry and honor
  
• Analysis: I do believe that southern etiquette has a unique charming appeal to it, where it is encouraged to be a good Christian, a gentlemen, or a lady. But this is mostly the case for the wealthy aristocrats and certainty not for the common folk. And even so, there is nothing chivalrous about hanging or raping another human and considering them as your property.
• Southern Generals such as Robert E. Lee or Stonewall Jackson were honorable men
• Analysis: There can be no question that the Confederacy had the better generals in the war. This is especially the case for Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson well renowned for their tactics and also the discipline of their armies. Robert E. Lee famously refused the offer to lead the federal army against his home state of Virginia. From the onset he accepted the more challenging option by leading a rebellion and that in itself is an honorable decision. But despite their admirable traits these generals still had their tactical shortcomings, and even more-so they were still fighting for an unjust cause.  
  
• Northern General Ulysses S. Grant, Philip Sheridan, and William Sherman were inhumane
• Analysis: The South felt that in contrast to their honorable leaders, the northern leaders were overly cruel and brutal. Gen Grant is often portrayed as an alcoholic by the Lost Cause. This case might have some merit in regards to Philip Sheridan's burning of the Shenandoah Valley or Sherman's march to the sea. Both of these Union generals used some inhumane scorched-earth tactics which not only targeted enemy soldiers, but also the civilian land. I believe this to be a negative fault of the Union, perhaps going too far to bring an end to something. This was certainly the case in WW2 where the US decided to drop a nuke bomb in order to bring a swift end to the conflict. 
  
• The Confederacy lost the war due to a lack of resources 
• Analysis: I actually think this one is very true. The South had the better generals and the morale on their side, but they did not have the logistical structure of the federal army. The Union army had far more resources and systematic supply lines then the South did. The Confederacy consisted of rag-tag rebels while the north had well trained soldiers with superior weapons and supplies.  
• During the Reconstruction the North had begun to take advantage of the South
• Analysis: Following the end of the Civil War and the dismantling of the Confederacy there was much reconstruction required in the south. Not only in regards to the ruined cities, roads, railways, and fields but more so it's social, economic, and political structure. This brought on the Southern derogatory terms of carpetbaggers and scalawags to describe northern businessmen or sympathizers who were seeking fortune in a chaotic state. There can be no denying this case, and I believe it favors the north. Reconstruction (or cultural-economic-realignment) was a necessary means by the North to avoid any further civil conflicts.  

Lost Cause Media

This notion of the Confederate Lost Cause emerged almost immediately after the ceasefire of the Civil War. Quite naturally the defeated leaders, generals, elected officials, and other prominent figures came up with excuses to defend their honor. Former Confederate president Jefferson Davis published his own political manifesto in 1881 titled the Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government which essentially outlined the Confederate's ideology and their Lost Cause. No person was as influential to the Lost Cause ideals then the author Thomas Dixon who wrote a controversial trilogy pertaining to the Reconstruction. 

Organizations such as the United Sons and Daughters of the Confederacy were in the 1890s to honor this lost cause that they died for. While other more extreme organizations such as Nathan Bedford Forest's Ku Klux Klan encouraged violence as a means of revenge. Throughout much of the Reconstruction Era (late 1800s to early 1900s) many other writers, artists, sculptors, and even filmmakers made many contributions to commemorate the southern lost cause. However by the 1960s this ideology was squashed even more with the Civil Rights Movement. To this day there are still many racist organizations who defend this mythical creed, but thankfully the Antebellum South has mostly transformed into a modern New South. 

• Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government (1881)
• This political manifesto written by the former Confederate President Jefferson Davis essentially outlined the history of the Confederacy. It was written as an attempt to defend his Southern beliefs and the principles they fought for. In this book he outlined the common tenants of their defeat which made up most of the Lost Cause Ideology. The book was received with mixed criticism however still a popular seller in the South. 
• The Leopards Spots: A Romance of the White Man's Burden (1902)
• In the first part of his Reconstruction Trilogy the author Thomas Dixon is making the case that despite their freedom the African American race cannot change their inferior qualities. He also criticizes northern carpetbaggers and glorifies the Ku Klux Klan as heroes defending the wicked. It is a very racist book yet popular among the Southern Lost Cause. 
• The Clansman: A Historical Romance of the Ku Klux Klan (1905)
• In the second part of his Reconstruction Trilogy Dixon dives deeper into the wicked KKK. He once again makes them out to be heroes fighting against criminal freed slaves. This was the most popular of his books that was later adapted into an even more popular film, The Birth of a Nation. The book is once again very racist and inaccurate about the qualities of the KKK members and the freed slaves. 
• The Traitor: A Story of the Fall of the Invisible Empire (1907)
• 
  The third part of Dixon's Reconstruction Trilogy once again pertains to the KKK and brings an end to their organization. He makes the case that they have completed their goal  against black power, however the book ends with the formation of a second Klan. It's clear that Dixon's motives were to glorify the first Klan that lasted from 1865-1872 and encourage the formation of a second Klan that eventually did happen in 1915. 
• The Birth of a Nation (1915)
• One of the most famous and successful films of it's time, director DW Griffith adapted Dixon's novel of the Clansman to the big screen. Despite it's very racial theme, the film was groundbreaking in many techniques such as a musical score, close-ups, fade-outs, and epic large scale battles. It was the first film ever to be presented in the White House viewed by President Woodrow Wilson. Despite it's cinematic achievements for it's time it is to this day considered one of the most racist films of all time. 
• Gone with the Wind (1936)
  
• This novel written by Margaret Mitchell is yet another prime example of the Lost Cause sentiment. While the romantic story and it's characters are actually quite enthralling the underlying themes are laced with southern resentment. Mitchell depicts slaves as happy with their condition, the Union Army as ruthless invaders notably during Sherman's March, and the corruption of the northern carpetbaggers during the Reconstruction Age. Once again it is a very well written book but no doubt is a favorite for Lost Cause Idealists. 
• Gone with the Wind (1939)
• The film adaptation of Mitchell's novel directed by Victor Fleming was equally as significant as the book. The film was a sweeping epic for it's time and to this day is considered one of the greatest films ever made. It stars the beautiful Vivian Leigh in the title role of Scarlett O'hara alongside the dashing Clark Cable. It went on to receive 13 Academy Awards nominations and won 10 including best picture and best lead actress. The film is an iconic Hollywood movie and after inflation is still the highest grossing film of all time. 
• Song of the South (1946)
• 
  This controversial animated/live film by Disney essentially glorifies the Southern Antebellum period. It displays freed African Americans such as the lead character Uncle Remus as dimwitted and still subservient to their white neighbors. It is one of the only Disney films not to be released on home video or their streaming platform. 
• Gettysburg (1994)
  
• This epic Civil War film attempts to portray an unbiased dramatic account of the Battle of Gettysburg. It does this by telling stories from both sides yet in my opinion there is more time, depth, and quality focused on the Confederacy's perspective. The character of Robert E. Lee is portrayed honorably by Martin Sheen, while his right hand man Gen Longstreet is portrayed by Tom Berenger. The film demonstrates the doubt Gen Longstreet had in Gen Lee's tactical plan. Many Lost Cause believers, feel Gen Longstreet was to blame for the significant loss at Gettysburg that turned the tide against the Confederate Army. 
• Gods and Generals (2003)
• This film once again glorifies the Confederate generals of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Both men are portrayed as honorable men, not focusing on their ideals but more so their chivalrous character and tactical fortitude. The film is a classic example of a misconstrued interpretation held by the Lost Cause in that these Southern states were fighting for their freedom instead of for slavery.