The Continuing Role of the Civil War

Flipping back through our posts this semester I have found myself most interested in DaNae's post on January 27th regarding the Civil War. In this post, DaNae claims that the Civil War was "a historical event that effected the South and contributed to the identity it has today." I agree that the Civil War is the event which gave Southerner's their pride and made the "image" of Southern Culture known to the world.

In her passage, Danae claims that the Confederacy was fighting to preserve slavery and the North was fighting to abolish it, however the was clearly goes beyond this single issue. The South was in the Civil War due to its inherent political, cultural, and economic differences than the North. Before the Civil War, the South was paid little attention to by the rest of the world and for most residents, it yielded a relatively poor and harsh life. However, when tensions rose with the Northern states and Southerners found their right being infringed, a huge sense of nationalism went through the South and suddenly a United, culturally rich Confederacy arose.

Even though the Confederacy lost the war, the strides which the war made in uniting the Southern people under a single "image" or ideal remained and persist today. As a result of the war the rest of the world looked at the South as its own region in the United State and gave it much of the respect and interest which a separate country would have had. In bitter defiance, the Southern people also harbored and nurtured their pride for their region and preserved many of the traditions which seem commonplace today.

In the modern age, the Civil War and its impact on the South is still clearly remembered and prevalent. Southern figures from the war are revered in the South and most Southern residents, even those of foreign cultures, buy into the Southern pride as if it has always been theirs. For example, I am from Virginia and yet within my first three months living in Georgia I participated in a Civil War re-enactment remembering and honoring those who fought in this event which brought about the South we know today. Our group project will more closely discuss the multiculturalism of the South and the new "Image" of the South which is emerging. (See the map for a link to Stone Mountain)
I've provided a link to a home-made video about the Fort McAllister which is the re-enactment which I participated in. Notice how most of the pictures shown revolve around the museum and the "showcase" nature which the war has taken on. From this video, especially with the music its been paired with, it seems like this families trip was more about excitement and being part of history rather than simply appreciating and remembering what happened.

Parker


Image from
http://www.theoccidentalobserver.net