Confederate Flag Research Paper

649 Words2 Pages

Controversy over the flying of the Confederate flag is rampant in today’s society. Specifically, whether the flags should be flown in public places such as schools, courthouses, and capitols. The Confederate flag has been flown over many state capitol buildings. Men across the southern half of the United States died simply for the ideas of that very flag. The flag memorializes the sons of the South who died during the Civil War. The men who lost their lives battling for the Confederacy were not simply fighting over slavery, they were engaging in battle for other very important factors such as trade, tariffs, and state rights. The Confederate flag should be allowed to be flown over public places such as schools, courthouses, and capitols because it captures the essence of American …show more content…

The removal of the flag supports the idea that citizens should forget the bloodiest battle on American soil. History is used to aid in the understanding of a complex nation. However, flying the flag as an emblem of white supremacy is undoubtedly wrong and inappropriate. Toleration should only be granted when the flag is flown for historical purposes. The flying of the Confederate flag reminds individuals that the soldiers’ lives then, just as soldiers’ lives from battles today, were not lost in vain. Remembrance and reverence to those who fought in one of the bloodiest wars in United States’ history are offered through Confederate monuments and namesakes. The removal of Confederate monuments and names of schools brings in a whitewashing of the American past. Citizens learn from the past, and if it is erased the lessons to be learned are lost along with it. Americans should constantly be

Show More
Related

  • Brown versus Board of Education and Raising the Confederate Flag

    1524 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...more overpowering and overwhelming than any general feeling of Southern pride. America has obtained a reputation to be an accepting and open minded country, welcoming all of any race, couture and religion. The Preamble states clearly that America will establish justice and insure domestic tranquility for all. Neither of these entities are accomplished in America as long as the Confederate flag remains raised. Our nation is furthermore divided by racism through a flag that is possibly being used as a degradation tool. This battle with racism has become far too large for American citizens and anything that is viewed as racist in such a manner as the Confederate flag is, should be censored from society, in only a helpful practice. A state flag should be capable of uniting its citizens, instead of dividing them. The Confederate flag should be lowered immediately.

    Read More

  • Flag-Burning is No Crime

    1153 Words  | 3 Pages

    Stripes and stars forever, right? Well, what exactly does that mean? The American Flag can be seen almost anywhere. From the high-school, to the ball park, and even in our homes, the American flag stands as a symbol of all that is good and true in America. When one thinks of the flag, they usually think of the blood that was shed for this country. It was shed so that we could have liberties, such as, freedom of speech and expression, which fall under the first amendment rights of the Constitution. However, when you think of a burning flag, what comes to mind? One might say it shows disrespect and hatred to a country that has given so much. In the case of Texas v. Johnson, Gregory Lee Johnson was accused of desecrating a sacred object, but, his actions were protected by the First Amendment. Although his actions may have been offensive, he did not utter fighting words. By burning the flag, Johnson did not infringe upon another's natural human rights. He was simply expressing his outrage towards the government, which is within the jurisdiction of the First Amendment.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Ambiguity Over The Confederate Flag

    906 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ambiguity Over the Confederate Flag by Frank X Walker tells the story of life in the South during slavery. The narrator, speaks in first person for one part of the poem, while the other half is spoken from an omniescent on-looker. Through both of these perspectives readers are given two separate accounts of what slavery was like during that time. By using the principles of New Criticism readers are able to fully understand the context of the poem. Furthermore, through this technique, readers draw conclusions in response to the text. From this analysis and through close reading it is clear that there is a major tension regarding how whites viewed slavery verses how African American’s viewed slavery.

    Read More

  • Essay On Confederate Soldiers

    1005 Words  | 3 Pages

    During winter months, basic huts were constructed from wood when it was available. During the civil war, most of the soldiers fought only 75 percent of the time. When they were not fighting, their day usually started at 5:00 in the morning during the summer and spring, and 6:00 in the morning during the fall and winter. Soldiers would be awakened by fifes and drums, then the first sergeant would take a roll call, and all the men sat down to eat breakfast. During the day, soldiers would be engaged in sometimes as many as five 2-hour long drill sessions on weaponry or maneuvers.

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of The Confederate Racism

    1362 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Confederate flag is a famous symbol of the South’s side in the American Civil War. The controversy surrounding this flag has received a great bit of media attention considering how deeply affected and offended some people have become. Southerners consider themselves to be personally affected. A majority of supporters state that banning the Confederate flag strips them of their heritage, referring to the South’s part in the American Civil War. Persons who do not support the continued showing of the Confederate flag, such as non-Southerners, African Americans, and many others say that while the flag is a symbol of southern history, much of the history in the South includes racial segregations, lynchings, and slavery. As a matter of fact, the purpose of the Confederacy in the Civil War was to make sure slavery stayed an institution in America. The man who created the Confederate flag, William T. Thompson, stated this about the symbol of heritage: “As a people we are fighting to maintain the heavenly ordained supremacy of the white man over the inferior or colored race; a white flag would thus be emblematical of our cause” (Miessler par. 3). This alone clearly shows what the goal of the Confederacy

    Read More

  • Sports Team Names with Native American References

    1401 Words  | 3 Pages

    “The Confederate Flag: Controversy and Culture.” David Sarratt American Studies University of Virginia. Web. 22 Feb. 2014

    Read More

  • Confederate Controversy: Heritage or Hatred?

    700 Words  | 2 Pages

    When majorities of people see the Confederate flag they think it symbolizes racism, oppression, and even supremacy. The other portion of people say that the Confederate flag is a representation of heritage, history, and states’ rights. In my personal perspective no matter what faction you choose the flag was ascended at a particularly delicate time period. The period known as the ‘Civil War’, which was caused by two major divisions including States Rights’ and money.

    Read More

  • Essay On Confederate Statues

    658 Words  | 2 Pages

    I believe people should not be able to take down the Confederate statues.We shouldn't be able to take them down because, it’s apart of our country's history, people lost their lives fighting for what they believe and we don’t want to ignore the fact that our country has flaws and we need to own up to it.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On The Confederate Flag

    730 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Confederate flag was used symbolically during the Civil War. To southerner’s, the flag represented a source of southern pride as well as a way of remembering the fallen Confederates. As the Civil War proceeded, the meaning of the flag began to change. Currently, the flag is being used as a symbol for racism. Due to this change in meaning, controversy over the flag has been exponentially growing. Although many would argue the original meaning behind the flag and that it is a symbol of historical culture that should not be forgotten, the flag should be banned due to its representation of racism and the seceding of the states.

    Read More

  • Essay On Confederate Monuments

    651 Words  | 2 Pages

    The symbols of the Confederacy are not just about supremacy, but also, inextricably, about class. Confederate monuments and flag signify terrorism. They were raised deliberately to send a solid message to all who strolled in their shadows about who was still in control. The majority of African Americans whose descendants were enslaved. There have been many attempts to relocate monuments, remove flags, rename schools, and change the name of various holidays (“Confederate Remembrance 3”). Confederate monuments should be taken down immediately and placed in museums where citizens who support the monuments and the heritage of what happened a long time ago can view them

    Read More

  • Confederate Defeat: Battlefield Outcomes, not Low Morale

    937 Words  | 2 Pages

    Most of the narratives written about the Civil War in America state that the fall of the Confederacy was because of their low morale as well as internal divisions. However, The Confederate War by Gary Gallagher makes a counter argument, he gives evidence that the Confederate morale was fairly high throughout the war. Gallagher argues that the defeat came from the battlefield rather than the home front. He believes that Confederate civilians were mostly confident up until Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. Gallagher divides the book into four section, Popular Will, Nationalism, Military Strategy, and Defeat, to defend his argument. His thesis argues that, “Contrary to what much recent literature proclaims, defeat in the military sphere, rather than the dissolution behind the lines, brought the collapse of the Confederacy. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox convinced virtually all Confederates that their attempt at nation-making had failed” (11).

    Read More

  • Confederate Statues Research Paper

    770 Words  | 2 Pages

    A comment misconception is that Confederate statues and memorials were erected right after the end of the Civil War to honor the fallen soldiers, and while some such statues do exist, the South was too ravaged by the effects of the war to put money forth for so many statues. The truth is that a vast majority of these statues and memorials were actually built during two distinctive time periods. The first was in the early 1900’s, and the second was during the 50’s and 60’s. So what is the connection between the two, and why build statues commemorating Generals that not only lost a war, but lost a war that ended some 60- 100 years before they were built? The dark truth behind these periods was the early 1900’s was during the rise of Jim Crow,

    Read More

  • Racism In The Confederate Flag

    1578 Words  | 4 Pages

    Even after that talk of the flag died down until now. Recent events have been bringing the Confederate flag back up into questioning. The main event that has recently taken place is the shooting that took place at a church in South Carolina. A white man went to a “black” church, he sat down with them the whole service. he sat in the back quietly and waited until the end. After the service ended he then fired his gun. Nine people died(Eversley). The same thing happened two years ago, except it was a little worse. A black man came into a “white” church. Just like the white man, he sat down, went through the service with the people and at the end fired and killed people. In that situation only four people died. After he killed the people at the church he kidnapped his wife and then killed her(Cowbell). There is not much difference between the two scenarios. The only story that made the news was The first story. An anonymous person quoted this after one of the shootings. “The only reason someone could walk into a church and shoot people praying is out of pure hate.”(Eversley) That quote says it all. It said nothing about race or color or anything. But only the first story made the news because it was a white boy in a black church. After the story was on the news is when everyone said he did it to start a race war.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Confederate Monuments

    365 Words  | 1 Pages

    Imagine standing in front of the defaced statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee only to hear two sides of people curse, hurt each other. This situation is too familiar for people who visit Charlottesville, VA, the formerly peaceful town. The controversy between Confederate memorials never ends. Many people argue that Confederate monuments should be taken down because they become the flashpoints of unrest and violence. As far as I am concerned, confederate memorials should remain as these memorials are the legacy of history; history is value-neutral and innocent.

    Read More

  • Analysis of Tony Horwitz's Book, Confederates in the Attic

    1878 Words  | 4 Pages

    The American Civil war is considered to be one of the most defining moments in American history. It is the war that shaped the social, political and economic structure with a broader prospect of unifying the states and hence leading to this ideal nation of unified states as it is today. In the book “Confederates in the Attic”, the author Tony Horwitz gives an account of his year long exploration through the places where the U.S. Civil War was fought. He took his childhood interest in the Civil War to a new level by traveling around the South in search of Civil War relics, battle fields, and most importantly stories. The title “Confederates in the Attic”: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War carries two meanings in Tony Horwitz’s thoughtful and entertaining exploration of the role of the American Civil War in the modern world of the South. The first meaning alludes to Horwitz’s personal interest in the war. As the grandson of a Russian Jew, Horwitz was raised in the North but early in his childhood developed a fascination with the South’s myth and history. He tells readers that as a child he wrote about the war and even constructed a mural of significant battles in the attic of his own home. The second meaning refers to regional memory, the importance or lack thereof yet attached to this momentous national event. As Horwitz visits the sites throughout the South, he encounters unreconstructed rebels who still hold to outdated beliefs. He also meets groups of “re-enactors,” devotees who attempt to relive the experience of the soldier’s life and death. One of his most disheartening and yet unsurprising realizations is that attitudes towards the war divide along racial lines. Too many whites wrap the memory in nostalgia, refusing...

    Read More

More about Confederate Flag Research Paper

Open Document