The Lost Cause narrative

The Lost Cause is a way some people have historically viewed the American Civil War, emphasizing the Confederacy’s motives as noble and justified. It portrays the Confederates’ effort to defend states' rights and Southern society as heroic, while downplaying or minimizing the role of slavery. This narrative emerged after the war to foster pride and unity among white Southerners, often through films, books, and memorials. Critics see it as a way to justify the Confederacy’s cause and perpetuate racial inequalities. Overall, it’s a reinterpretation of history that has influenced perceptions of the Civil War and its legacy.