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The Cult of the "Lost Cause"
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. |