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blight_race_and_reunion [2025/04/17 16:38] – [Chapter 8] 199.111.138.146blight_race_and_reunion [2025/04/17 16:52] (current) – 199.111.138.106
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 In the wake of the Civil War, the “lost cause” narrative emerges as a way to counter the traditional narrative of the southern cause during the Civil War. This mythologized the Confederacy as having a righteous cause and only losing because they lacked the strength to win the war. This myth played on the white supremacist urges of America and demonized the African Americans. (Tanner Gillikin) In the wake of the Civil War, the “lost cause” narrative emerges as a way to counter the traditional narrative of the southern cause during the Civil War. This mythologized the Confederacy as having a righteous cause and only losing because they lacked the strength to win the war. This myth played on the white supremacist urges of America and demonized the African Americans. (Tanner Gillikin)
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 +Blight discusses how the south and post-war confederacy was so much more successful at honoring and romanticizing their leaders. Confederate generals were regarded with such honor despite their failures that even today their lasting effect can be seen in names of schools and roads. (Declan F)
  
 In this chapter, Blight discusses how some of the post war memory is handled by presidents, and how in the early 1900s, an emergence of Civil War commemoration is happening. His specific example is the Batle of Gettyburg, which I found particularly interesting as its one of the most famous battles of the war. (Caty) In this chapter, Blight discusses how some of the post war memory is handled by presidents, and how in the early 1900s, an emergence of Civil War commemoration is happening. His specific example is the Batle of Gettyburg, which I found particularly interesting as its one of the most famous battles of the war. (Caty)
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 Black chaplains were often the only Black commissioned officers in the Union Army, and even then they didn't hold much power. They could be leaders to a certain extent, but they couldn't really maintain order. This can be compared to a prior book we read that follows a chaplain in part, and talks about how chaplains could be either moral people who uplifted their fellow soldiers or corrupt frauds. (Ezra C.) Black chaplains were often the only Black commissioned officers in the Union Army, and even then they didn't hold much power. They could be leaders to a certain extent, but they couldn't really maintain order. This can be compared to a prior book we read that follows a chaplain in part, and talks about how chaplains could be either moral people who uplifted their fellow soldiers or corrupt frauds. (Ezra C.)
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 +In the 5 years following the Civil War, mob violence against African Americans was prevalent. White supremacist terrorist organizations used violence and fear to repress African Americans in their actions. (Tanner Gillikin)
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 ===== Chapter 6 ===== ===== Chapter 6 =====
 Writing about the Civil War became a lucrative industry after 1880, and the place of the veteran, both as public figure and as writer, underwent a flourishing rehabilitation. The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), which had lagged in membership during the 1870s due to economic depression, the political strife over Reconstruction, and a general desire to forget the war, reemerged dramatically late in the decade as part of a wave of fraternalism in the country at large. (Guy) Writing about the Civil War became a lucrative industry after 1880, and the place of the veteran, both as public figure and as writer, underwent a flourishing rehabilitation. The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), which had lagged in membership during the 1870s due to economic depression, the political strife over Reconstruction, and a general desire to forget the war, reemerged dramatically late in the decade as part of a wave of fraternalism in the country at large. (Guy)
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 The //Century//'s focus on promoting officers as authors unexpectedly made many more of the common soldiers want to be writers. This led to a "democratization" of memory, where anyone could, and many did, write about their memories and experiences. Even if most of this writing didn't make it into formal print, it shows the insistence of these common people to have their experiences remembered. (Ezra C.) The //Century//'s focus on promoting officers as authors unexpectedly made many more of the common soldiers want to be writers. This led to a "democratization" of memory, where anyone could, and many did, write about their memories and experiences. Even if most of this writing didn't make it into formal print, it shows the insistence of these common people to have their experiences remembered. (Ezra C.)
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 +During reconstruction (1880s and 1890s), writing and printing historical texts about the Civil War became popular. This business was helpful to Civil War veterans as it gave them a way to profit from their experiences. As the federal government lagged in providing aid to the former soldiers, publishing companies stepped up in their place. (Tanner Gillikin)
 ===== Chapter 7 ===== ===== Chapter 7 =====
  
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 In the south, post-confederacy, many former confederate leaders and people in positions of military power would become popular for their remembrance, often wrong, of the war. As discussed throughout the semester, the southern sense of pride and honor that came from fighting against external threats, continued after the war in the honoring of major controversial figures and their service. (Declan F.) In the south, post-confederacy, many former confederate leaders and people in positions of military power would become popular for their remembrance, often wrong, of the war. As discussed throughout the semester, the southern sense of pride and honor that came from fighting against external threats, continued after the war in the honoring of major controversial figures and their service. (Declan F.)
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 +The "Lost Cause" mentality in the south served as a means to reestablish southern "honor." Convincing not the entire country, but just those who had lost the war, that they had fought a fight that could never be won yet needed to be combatted brought back the idea that southern men were meant to serve and protect and should be honored for it. (Declan F)
 ===== Chapter 9 ===== ===== Chapter 9 =====
  
 ===== Chapter 10 ===== ===== Chapter 10 =====
  
blight_race_and_reunion.1744907929.txt.gz · Last modified: 2025/04/17 16:38 by 199.111.138.146