War is Over

 

War is Over

 

You would think this was cause for celebration. It wasn’t.

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The reason April 9, 1865, the day of General Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House, is not widely celebrated as the official "end" of the American Civil War is due to a combination of political, social, and logistical factors. And in fact, some people believe it never ended. Many of them are from the Southern states, but the sentiment isn't exclusive to that region. The perception that the war's unresolved issues persist can be found among people across the U.S.

In the South the legacy of the war looms especially large. The defeat of the Confederacy, the history of slavery, and the "Lost Cause" narrative, all play a significant roles in shaping regional identity.

The "Lost Cause" narrative is a post-Civil War ideology that romanticizes Confederacy’s cause and downplays the central role of slavery in the war. It portrays the Confederacy as fighting a noble, honorable battle against overwhelming odds, with Confederate leaders like Robert E. Lee being cast as heroic figures. The narrative suggests that the South was defeated not because of its defense of slavery, but due to the overwhelming industrial and manpower advantages of the North.

Adolf Hitler did not explicitly follow the "Lost Cause" narrative, but  elements of it share similarities with the way he and the Nazi regime romanticized certain aspects of German history. While the specifics of Hitler’s ideology differ from the "Lost Cause" narrative, both involved a selective and distorted interpretation of history to promote a sense of national victimhood, honor, and a rejection of the consequences of their respective defeats.

 Even the  date April 9,1865  is nominal.

The CSS Shenandoah was a Confederate warship that became infamous for continuing its raiding activities long after the official end of the American Civil War in 1865. Here's a detailed look at its story:

 

The CSS Shenandoah was a commerce raider, a type of warship designed to disrupt enemy trade and shipping lines, particularly by targeting merchant ships. Under the command of Captain James Iredell Waddell, the Shenandoah was sent on a mission to raid Union merchant vessels, aiming to disrupt the Union's economy by sinking and capturing ships. The ship embarked on its mission from the Confederate ports in the southern United States and sailed to international waters, including the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean. Because the Shenandoah was operating far from Confederate-controlled areas, news of the war’s end did not reach the ship immediately. It continued its mission as if the war were still ongoing. The Shenandoah continued to hunt Union ships, capturing and sinking them. It took advantage of the fact that the Union ships were unaware that hostilities had ceased. In fact, the Shenandoah captured or sank 38 Union vessels in total, many of them after the end of the war. The actions of the Shenandoah highlighted the persistence of the Confederacy, even after the official end of the Civil War. While most Confederate forces had disbanded, this ship's continued activity emphasized how some remnants of the Confederacy still resisted the Union's victory.

Other Confederate forces continued to resist, and the last Confederate general to surrender was Stand Watie, leader of the Cherokee Confederate forces, who surrendered on June 23, 1865. The end of the Civil War was further overshadowed by the  assassination of President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865, just days after Lee’s surrender. This event deeply affected the national mood, making it harder for the country to focus on celebrating the end of the war when they were mourning the loss of their president.

Today, many Southerners still grapple with the cultural and historical ramifications of the Civil War, especially with the ongoing debate over Confederate symbols, monuments, and issues of racial equality. For some, especially in more rural or isolated communities, the Civil War is not seen as something that ended with a formal surrender but as an ongoing narrative.

 

Meme:

It’s estimated that the number of full-size Confederate flags (typically 3x5 feet) sold annually in the U.S. ranges anywhere from 50,000 to 200,000 flags. People buying Confederate flags likely have a variety of motivations, including historical, cultural, or political reasons. For some, it may symbolize pride in their heritage or a connection to Southern identity, while others may use it as a form of protest or to express certain political views. The continued sales suggest that, despite the controversy surrounding the flag, it remains a potent symbol for a specific subset of people who value its historical significance or view it as a representation of personal or regional pride - even after 160 years.

 Meme:

The Confederate Stars and Bars flag was the first national flag of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War. Its design, with stars representing seceded states, was meant to signify the Confederacy's independence and unity. Initially, the Stars and Bars flag was often mistaken for the U.S. flag due to its similar design, which led to confusion on the battlefield. This prompted the Confederacy to adopt a second flag (the Stainless Banner) in 1863, which included a battle flag in the canton (upper left corner) instead of stars