JeffBrooks
2nd Lieutenant
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2009
- Location
- Hutto, TX
As is well known, Robert E. Lee generally stayed out of politics after the war. Aside from his testimony to Congress (in favor of education for blacks, but against allowing blacks to vote) and his signing of a letter in support of Horatio Seymour's candidacy, he kept his thoughts to himself. His request for a pardon was seen by some as a symbolic act of reconciliation, persuading many Southerners to accept defeat and again embrace the United States. His quiet and dignified acceptance of the result of the war led him to be seen as a symbol of reconciliation and also contributed to his iconic status in the years since the war, during which Southerners raised him to the level of a demigod.
However, what if Lee had chosen to adopt a stronger and more public feeling in favor of Reconstruction. In other words, what if Lee had followed the course of James Longstreet and openly supported Republican policies? How would Southerners have reacted? Would they have turned against Lee in the same manner that the turned against Longstreet, or would Lee's status as the great Confederate hero have been sufficient to persuade more white Southerners to follow his lead?
I do not think that this scenario would have been especially likely, but I am curious as to how members of the board think Southerners would have responded had Lee done this.
However, what if Lee had chosen to adopt a stronger and more public feeling in favor of Reconstruction. In other words, what if Lee had followed the course of James Longstreet and openly supported Republican policies? How would Southerners have reacted? Would they have turned against Lee in the same manner that the turned against Longstreet, or would Lee's status as the great Confederate hero have been sufficient to persuade more white Southerners to follow his lead?
I do not think that this scenario would have been especially likely, but I am curious as to how members of the board think Southerners would have responded had Lee done this.