Lost Cause of the Confederacy

Quick Facts: Who was Lost Cause of the Confederacy?

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Lost Cause of the Confederacy

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A pseudohistorical myth arguing the Confederacy fought for rights, not slavery.

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Origins & Early Life

The Lost Cause of the Confederacy, also known as the Lost Cause Myth or simply as the Lost Cause, is an American pseudohistorical and historical negationist myth that argues the mission, purpose, or goals of the Confederate States during the American Civil War were morally just, heroic, and not centered on maintaining slavery. First articulated in 1866, it has continued to influence racism, gender roles, and religious attitudes in the Southern United States into the 21st century. The Lost Cause reached the height of its popularity at the turn of the 20th century, when proponents memorialized Confederate veterans who were dying off. It reached another high-level of popularity again during the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, in reaction to growing public support for racial equality. Through actions such as building prominent Confederate monuments and writing history textbooks, Lost Cause organizations (including the United Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons of Confederate Veterans) sought to ensure that Southern whites would know what they called the "true" narrative of the Civil War and would continue to support white supremacist policies such as Jim Crow laws.

Career & Major Achievements

White supremacy is a central feature of the Lost Cause narrative. The term "Lost Cause" was sometimes applied by writers observing the Confederate war effort against the larger industrial might of the North. It appeared in the title of an 1866 book by the Virginian journalist Edward A. Pollard, The Lost Cause: A New Southern History of the War of the Confederates. According to Pollard, the term was inserted at the request of his publisher in New York City, who feared that Pollard's original title, History of the War, would not be catchy enough to sell books. The "Lost Cause" title sold well.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Pollard promoted many of the themes of the Lost Cause such as the claim that states' rights were the cause of the war and that Southerners were forced to defend themselves against Northern aggression. He dismissed the role of slavery in starting the war and understated the cruelty of American slavery, even promoting it as a way of improving the lives of Africans. Pollard's revisionist history continues to have an effect on how slavery and the Civil War are taught in the United States. For example, in 1866 Pollard wrote: We shall not enter upon the discussion of the moral question of slavery. But we may suggest a doubt here whether that odious term "slavery", which has been so long imposed, by the exaggeration of Northern writers, upon the judgement and sympathies of the world, is properly applied to that system of servitude in the South, which was really the mildest in the world; which did not rest on acts of debasement and disenfranchisement, but elevated the African, and was in the interest of human improvement; and which, by the law of the land, protected the negro in life and limb, and in many personal rights, and, by the practice of the system, bestowed upon him a sum of individual indulgences, which made him altogether the most striking type in the world of cheerfulness and contentment.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1866: 1866 Milestone — First articulated in 1866, it has continued to influence racism, gender roles, and religious attitudes in the Southern United States into the 21st century.

Notable Quotes by Lost Cause of the Confederacy

“We shall not enter upon the discussion of the moral question of slavery. But we may suggest a doubt here whether that odious term "slavery"... is properly applied to that system of servitude in the South, which was really the mildest in the world” (1866)

“The negro soldiers' servile instincts rendered them contented with their lot, and their patient toil blessed the land of their abode with unmeasured riches.” (1881)

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Lost Cause of the Confederacy

True or False: “Did Edward A. Pollard originally title his book about the war as 'The Lost Cause: A New Southern History of the War of the Confederates'?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Pollard's original title was reportedly 'History of the War'; the publisher suggested 'Lost Cause' because it sold better.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abraham Flexner — Historical peer (Born in 1866) (1866): Pioneering American educator known for reforming US and Canadian medical and higher education.
• Alfred Werner — Historical peer (Born in 1866) (1866): Pioneering Swiss chemist who established modern coordination chemistry.
• Lost Decades — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A prolonged period of economic stagnation in Japan following the collapse of its asset price bubble.
• Lotfi A. Zadeh — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Pioneering figure in Fuzzy Logic and Artificial Intelligence.
• Lothair I — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Carolingian Emperor who ruled Middle Francia and King of Italy until 855.
• Lothair III, Holy Roman Emperor — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Holy Roman Emperor who reigned from 1133 to 1137, noted for his Saxon lineage.

Frequently Asked Questions about Lost Cause of the Confederacy