Southerners and the American Civil War

[DanTana]

Here's a small video from the TV series The Civil War, where Shelby Foote is talking about a conversation he had with Nathan Bedford Forrest's granddaughter. Thought you might find it interesting. Fits this topic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klUHEMAbf8M

[yqtszhj]

Its not so much an issue of bitterness over the war. The war was 150 years ago.

The thought process then, and now, runs along these lines: The high population concentration and industrialized north (northeast, original colonies and states, etc) control the south through economic and political means.

I do not appreciate a northern populace, relocating to my locale, and having the unmitigated gall to tell me how to run my life:
a. How can you not have vehicle inspections? Everybody needs that. We'll get them reinstated.
b. How can you just go in an buy a gun? That's crazy! We'll get that fixed.
c. How can you fish in your backyard without a license? Who do you think you are, anyway? We'll put an end to that.
d. Your bicycle doesn't have a registration. What? Not needed? That will be corrected.

The list is endless. They come down for the nice things we have to offer, and remake it all in the image of what they left behind. That is lunacy.

And... then there's the "Well I'm from New York, and things are better there!" (So... WTF? Why did you leave?)

The Yankee does not, and never will, appreciate the finer things of the South. To him, they must be eliminated, and the South made part of "the collective".

Sorry folks.

Darn, that is very well said.

[yqtszhj]

I understand some of the bitterness. I lived in Decatur Al. for a couple of years. They were not pro confederacy in the war, but the union army burned the town and when they left there were only a half a dozen buildings standing. People don't forget that kind of thing. You add in northerners making fun of their speech and ways of like and you get resentment. If the north was a fit place to live and large numbers of southerners moved in and made fun of the locals do you think they would like it?

You lived in the real south there, and everything you wrote was well said. I lived a few miles east of there for about 5 years. I knew some nice people in Decatur.

[nmkahrshooter]

They just need to get over it.

[AJBert]

Just one example that may explain any "resentment", though it has nothing to with the Civil War:

A few years back, the federal gov't determined that ALL states should raise the legal drinking age to 21, though this was not up to the feds as this was determined by each individual state, as in states' rights. To get the states to fall in line the fed gov't stated that highway funding would be withheld for any states that did not raise the drinking age. Most states fell inline rather quickly with a few hold outs. Once the funding was stopped most fell inline rather quickly. Louisiana was the last state to raise the age after a year or so.

Yep, northern aggression yet again. Does this sound familiar for anything that may have happened before or since???

[RRP]

Just one example that may explain any "resentment", though it has nothing to with the Civil War:

A few years back, the federal gov't determined that ALL states should raise the legal drinking age to 21, though this was not up to the feds as this was determined by each individual state, as in states' rights. To get the states to fall in line the fed gov't stated that highway funding would be withheld for any states that did not raise the drinking age. Most states fell inline rather quickly with a few hold outs. Once the funding was stopped most fell inline rather quickly. Louisiana was the last state to raise the age after a year or so.

Yep, northern aggression yet again. Does this sound familiar for anything that may have happened before or since???

Oh yes, I remember it well. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act.

As I recall, New York aggressively opposed the bill, while Alabama not only embraced it, they passed a more stringent law.

And the president who rammed this down our throats, Ronald Reagan.

[Tuco]

What I'm reading here is that the animosity isn't really because of the Union victory in the Civil War, but more so because of continued federal legislation that the South is subjected to. And that the "Civil War" is more a symbol of the North telling the South how to live their lives.

Not really a question but more an observation - DC is in the northern section of the country, so any federal mandate could be seen as northern dominance.

Would it make a difference if the US Capitol were in Atlanta?

[marshal kane]

IMO, many Southerners would be happy if it were Richmond, VA.

[Bawanna]

Only because there would be a lot less stupid legislation if it were in Richmond.

And your right, that's what the civil war was all about. The south not liking the north telling them what to do and how to do it.

Sadly nothing has changed much.

Even here in Washington you can see the same thing between the West side of the mountains and the East side of the mountains.

The West loaded with liberal tree hugging cross dressing freaks, lets have 3 bathrooms so you can use the one you feel like today.

And the East still the land of common sense and right is right.

Sadly the West is high density population and the East is no, so when it comes to elections, the whacko's usually prevail.

[Barth]

Currently in AZ.
But I'll retire in FL

[Tuco]

OK, then the question is, would it make a difference if the Capitol were in Richmond VA?

[CPTKILLER]

I'm a Native Texan and a Southerner. We know the real history although it has been rewritten to be politically correct. There is a single lesson missed especially by those not from the South from any group. In the era prior to and during the Civil War, few Southerners were slave owners and probably could have cared less. However the lesson then and perhaps in my generation, they were incredibly loyal to their state unlike most (not all) Northerners who were loyal only to the dollar. Therein lies the difference, take notes y'all!

[yqtszhj]

IMO, many Southerners would be happy if it were Richmond, VA.

Not really because VA is mostly liberal due to DC encroachment. Best thing would be to go back to states rights for most things.

Now think about this. There are states that have legalized marijuana and the feds are tolerating it. Now what if some states said they would allow full auto firearms and supressors with no special registration? How would that go over?

Now since marriage can be between 2 men now, why cant I marry 3 women (not that I would want to) since marriage is no longer one man and one woman?

How did I get off on this? I guess it just shows how messed up the feds make things.

[ripley16]

IMO, many Southerners would be happy if it were Richmond, VA.

Many Virginians aren't real happy with Richmond right now, given the Clintonista Governor we have. Our Attorney General is left Bernie! Thank goodness for term limits.

[greg_r]

I'm a Native Texan and a Southerner. We know the real history although it has been rewritten to be politically correct. There is a single lesson missed especially by those not from the South from any group. In the era prior to and during the Civil War, few Southerners were slave owners and probably could have cared less. However the lesson then and perhaps in my generation, they were incredibly loyal to their state unlike most (not all) Northerners who were loyal only to the dollar. Therein lies the difference, take notes y'all!

I was going to stay out of this one but this ^^^^^ sums it up nicely. The real reason was states rights and the dollar.

Just a question, if slavery was the reason, why did Abraham Lincoln only free the slaves in those states that were in rebellion against the union and not in those states that the Union controlled. In other words, slavery where he could have done something about it, he left intact.

Both Lee and Grant were slave owners, inheriting slaves from their wives side of the family. Lee freed his slaves upon the death of his father in law in 1862. Grant kept his until 1865 when Missouri outlawed slavery. It is said the old saying "good help is hard to find" originated from Grant when he was asked why he did not free his slaves sooner.

My family was not slave owners, but we have the distinction of having an ancestor who it is recognized to be the last soldier to die under General Lee's Command. Sgt Ivy Ritchie, of the 14th North Carolina, the unit was called the Stanly Marksman, was killed by canister shot at Appomattox during the charge of Cox's Brigade on the morning of Lee's surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia.