Introduction
The Civil War was the deadliest war in American History, killing 620,000 people (n.a., civilwar.org, n.d.). Some say the deaths in the Civil War were necessary, a noble sacrifice justified by the liberation of four million slaves (Horwitz, theatlantic.com, 2013). Others claim the Emancipation Proclamation was a final jab to undermine the Confederacy; that the war centered on states’ rights versus national legislation (Horwitz, theatlantic.com, 2013). Thousands of memorials and monuments stand throughout the eastern United States to commemorate the dead. The view on the primary purposed of the Civil War (emancipation versus states’ rights) influences ones evaluation of Civil War monuments.
It seems justified to honor Union soldiers, who fought for the freedom of all, regardless of skin color. But is it appropriate to similarly honor Confederate soldiers, who rebelled against the Federal government in defense of slavery. This paper examines whether existing Confederate monuments should remain standing or be removed focusing on two specific monuments for Mosby’s Rangers and Jefferson Davis.
¬Monument to Mosby’s Rangers
Known as the “Grey Ghost”, Confederate Colonel John Singleton Mosby was quite the character (Wheeler, thewashingtonpost.com, 2012). He wore a plumed hat and scarlet-lined cloak …show more content…
The Monument to Mosby’s Rangers could be considered controversial for several reasons. The first and most obvious is that Mosby and his men were Confederate soldiers, fighting for the right to secede from the Union and the right to own slaves. Second, the Rangers were raiders; they supplied themselves at the cost of others from frequent raids (Wheeler, thewashingtonpost.com, 2012). Third, when the war ended, Mosby avoided arrest and punishment, as Union General Ulysses S. Grant excused him for his actions (Wheeler, thewashingtonpost.com,
The Civil War was the deadliest war in American History, killing 620,000 people (n.a., civilwar.org, n.d.). Some say the deaths in the Civil War were necessary, a noble sacrifice justified by the liberation of four million slaves (Horwitz, theatlantic.com, 2013). Others claim the Emancipation Proclamation was a final jab to undermine the Confederacy; that the war centered on states’ rights versus national legislation (Horwitz, theatlantic.com, 2013). Thousands of memorials and monuments stand throughout the eastern United States to commemorate the dead. The view on the primary purposed of the Civil War (emancipation versus states’ rights) influences ones evaluation of Civil War monuments.
It seems justified to honor Union soldiers, who fought for the freedom of all, regardless of skin color. But is it appropriate to similarly honor Confederate soldiers, who rebelled against the Federal government in defense of slavery. This paper examines whether existing Confederate monuments should remain standing or be removed focusing on two specific monuments for Mosby’s Rangers and Jefferson Davis.
¬Monument to Mosby’s Rangers
Known as the “Grey Ghost”, Confederate Colonel John Singleton Mosby was quite the character (Wheeler, thewashingtonpost.com, 2012). He wore a plumed hat and scarlet-lined cloak …show more content…
The Monument to Mosby’s Rangers could be considered controversial for several reasons. The first and most obvious is that Mosby and his men were Confederate soldiers, fighting for the right to secede from the Union and the right to own slaves. Second, the Rangers were raiders; they supplied themselves at the cost of others from frequent raids (Wheeler, thewashingtonpost.com, 2012). Third, when the war ended, Mosby avoided arrest and punishment, as Union General Ulysses S. Grant excused him for his actions (Wheeler, thewashingtonpost.com,