I think the Civil War was a major turning point in the history of the United States. For the first time, the US was one united nation instead of a divided one. The Civil War was able to end slavery, shifted the power to the North and paved the way to protect not only African American rights but also introducing the Women’s rights movement. The Civil War ending left the nation with the task of bringing peace to the nation. Most of the Civil War monuments honored those who were Confederates or those who supported slavery including Confederate General, Robert E. Lee. These statues represent the South’s Lost Cause and to remember the Confederates who died. (Cook) The ideas the Confederacy had still affect America today. Especially recently with more and more shootings and the rise in police brutality, there have also been more white supremacy groups emerging. These modern supremacy groups have the same views as those before them that white people are superior to other races. The white supremacist groups can be compared to the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) Both groups target certain races, however, the KKK actually committed murders and whipped hundreds. While it hasn’t gotten to that point yet, I believe that if white supremacy continues, it can get to that point once again. In order to fix this, I believe people need to protest and get involved in educating people about whats going on in today’s society. History has taught us that just sitting and listening to the hatred around us won’t do anything. We need to stand up against the issues to make a change and spread more love in the world.
The legacy that will surround the Civil War is one of an oppressor, in this case, the South, being stopped from enslaving fellow men, it is the end of the legal practice of slavery in the United States. The monuments that were created post Civil War in the South were meant to represent power to white in the South, the spirit of the Confederate white man. Foner asks “Why are there no statues of Lt. Gen. James Longstreet, one of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s key lieutenants?” He comes to the conclusion that the creation of the statues was not of simply heritage and remembrance, but of white supremacy since Longstreet was an endorser of black suffrage.
The ideas about the lack of legitimacy of the Confederate States of America influenced the idea of race in favor of equality. Because of the lacking legitimacy for the Confederate States of America, the Southern States were perceived and still are seen as aggressors acting for self-interest. And because of the lack of legitimacy blacks were seen as the victims of the South’s actions which prompted guilt into hearts of many Union and Confederate citizens. We attempt to reconcile our past actions with presents actions in terms of equality and protections. Examples of this include the 13th and 14th Amendments, affirmative actions, and recently banning of Confederate Civil War memorabilia such as monuments and slowly the sale of the Confederate flag in some states.
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