The Great Civil War Ngram Showdown

Pat Young

Brev. Brig. Gen'l
Featured Book Reviewer
Joined
Jan 7, 2013
Location
Long Island, NY
Here is a match-up between the terms Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Of course the same two men could have been referred to as Thomas Jackson and Bobby Lee, but I figured these were the iconic terms for the generals. Interestingly, Stonewall was mentioned a lot more than Lee early on, but now Lee dominates:
ngram lee jackson.JPG
 
If we are describing historiography of the white resistance movement of the 1950s and 1960s, we should refer to the War Between the States.

If we want a politically neutered term, Civil War is ok.
 
hello pat I actually find it a bit interesting I would like to see things like when the idea of black Confederates was first kicked around. I would think that didn't happen until all the Confederate soldiers had passed on. If you have a chore please let me know thank you..
 
hello pat I actually find it a bit interesting I would like to see things like when the idea of black Confederates was first kicked around. I would think that didn't happen until all the Confederate soldiers had passed on. If you have a chore please let me know thank you..
That one I've done before. As you can see, it was almost never seen before the 1960s and only became a thing after the movie Glory.

ngram black confederates.JPG
 
Is "rebellion" a pejorative?
I suppose it could depend on whether you are the "rebeller" or the "rebellee."

Actually, I think preference for the term "Late Rebellion" reflects simply the preponderance of northern imprints in Google's "sample." I doubt very much the term was much used in southern accounts of the war. I expect it was felt to be perjorative by southern writers, and intended to be perjorative by most northern writers.
 
Back
Top