Overview
This lecture examines how the "Lost Cause" narrative of the American Civil War was created, spread, and entrenched in Southern memory, primarily through the efforts of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC).
The Lost Cause Narrative
- The Lost Cause is a distorted version of Civil War history glorifying the Confederacy.
- It claims the Civil War was not caused by slavery, but by defending the Southern way of life.
- The narrative presents slavery as a benevolent institution and Confederate soldiers as heroic.
Early Promotion and Key Figures
- Southern historians like Edward Pollard and Jubal Early began shaping this narrative after the South's defeat.
- They aimed to vindicate the South and downplay slavery's role in the war.
Role of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC)
- Founded in 1894, the UDC aimed to preserve Confederate culture and memory.
- The UDC used social and political influence to spread the pro-Southern version of history.
- They led efforts to build Confederate monuments across the South, especially as veterans died off.
- By 1900, UDC membership reached 100,000, focusing mostly in former Confederate states.
Influence on Education and Textbooks
- The UDC prioritized shaping children's views of the war and the South.
- They created textbook review committees to ensure only Lost Cause-aligned textbooks were used in schools.
- The pamphlet "A Measuring Rod for Text-Books" guided the selection of acceptable materials.
- Books not favorable to the South were labeled "Unjust to the South" in libraries.
The Children of the Confederacy
- The UDC formed auxiliary groups for children to promote Lost Cause teachings.
- Children learned the "Confederate Catechism" and participated in Lost Cause rituals.
- Activities included song singing, essay writing, visits to veterans, and monument unveilings.
Long-term Impact
- UDC efforts ingrained the Lost Cause narrative in generations of Southerners, influencing segregationist attitudes.
- Their textbooks and monuments remained influential into the late 1970s.
- The UDC accomplished this despite lacking voting rights or political power.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Lost Cause — A revisionist narrative that romanticizes the Confederacy and denies slavery as the main cause of the Civil War.
- United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) — A women’s group dedicated to promoting and preserving Confederate memory.
- Confederate Catechism — A set of call-and-response statements used to indoctrinate Southern children with Lost Cause beliefs.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review examples of Lost Cause language in history textbooks.
- Read about the influence of monuments and memory on public perceptions of history.