Five myths about why the South seceded (Barf Alert)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ ^ | Sunday, January 9, 2011 | James W. Loewen

[jrushing]

However, two ideological factors caused most Southern whites, including those who were not slave-owners, to defend slavery. First, Americans are wondrous optimists, looking to the upper class and expecting to join it someday. In 1860, many subsistence farmers aspired to become large slave-owners. So poor white Southerners supported slavery then, just as many low-income people support the extension of George W. Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy now.

[LS]

Thanks. There is considerable debate about how popular secession was, but whether one owned a slave or not (and very large numbers did, usually one or two), the institution of slavery was overwhelmingly popular (of course, except with slaves) and supported by almost all southern whites---rich, poor, whatever. It was first and foremost a social system of control, a sociology of superiority, and none of those who ever brayed bout "states rights" ever meant that term in any way other than "states rights to hold humans in bondage."

[LS]

BTW, this author wrote the ridiculously bad book, “Lies My Teacher Told Me,” of which his is the biggest.

[stainlessbanner]

JR Hummel is better if you want scholarly work on the subject. Other respected scholars on the subject and related WBTS topics: Gallagher, Foote, Adams, Freeman, Tilley, Dilorenzo, Robertson, Catton.

[x]

Deja-vu all over again. This article wasn't worth posting back in January, but was. It hasn't gotten any more worth posting or getting riled up about three or four months later.

Loewen's main points are common knowledge and generally agreed upon interpretations. The rest is his own personal agenda -- plugs for his book, obligatory Bush bashing. Neither the standard stuff or his own spin is that useful or interesting.

[x]

Other respected scholars on the subject and related WBTS topics: Gallagher, Foote, Adams, Freeman, Tilley, Dilorenzo, Robertson, Catton.

Some of these things are not like the others,
Some of these things just don't belong,
Can you tell which things are not like the others
By the time I finish my song?

[mac_truck]

Trying to pass off an old fraud like Dilorenzo as a respected scholar is risable.