The Myth of the Lost Cause

this is a collection of very scholarly papers on the legacy of the Civil War.  Probably not to be read by die-hard southerners.

When the south lost and the confederacy died, the Norther/Union soldier when back to his life.  They understood the tragedy to the war, and thought in terms of one country the USA and looked forward

Unfortunately, after a major loss the south could not come to grips with the war and their loss, so the began a Myth of the 'Loss Cause'.  Few northern historians wrote about the war, preferring other subject, and Northerns knew what had happened.  

But southerns NEEDED to re write history to justify, the dead, the destruction of their slave social life, and their shattered economy.  Failing to blame the true villians of the war, Davis and Lee, they made Lee a hero, and glorified all things southern, even if made up.  That Myth has been repeated, and repeated for 150 years....becoming THE history of the civil War (though clearly incorrect).

These more scholarly writter examine in detail how the Myth of the Lost Cause was grown into accepted legend/history.

Not for the shaallow reader, but a good understanding of how myths  like 'the war was about states right' came to exist.  they were need to justify the ugly war to the losing people.