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Liberty and Devolution - a Confederate Resurgence
by Paul and Patrick Pressler

Many Britons are probably unaware that a Confederate revival is underfoot in the American South these days. The revival has been underway since the early 90's and it hasn't abated.  Actually, its kind of hard to put a finger on exactly how it got started.  It could be a natural process of an oppressed people, after decades of occupation by a foreign, conquering power, returning to their roots and to their identity.  It probably helped that by the 1980's the Yankees considered the South for the most part gone and forgotten, no longer a culturally distinctive region.  The Yankees must have reckoned that their series of draconian "civil rights" legislation, undemocratically and unconstitutionally administered to the South in the 1950's, 60's and 70's was the final "coup de grace" to the beleagured South. But actually this Yankee mindset gave Southerners a little breathing room.  Even though the so-called "civil rights movement" had suppressed the South in public arenas, Southerners delved even deeper to discover their history, roots and heritage in more private venues.

One of the most popular of these venues was the reenactment of the "War for Southern Independence".  The 1980's saw an explosion of the popularity of these events. In these events, particular battles are recreated, with the participants dressing and behaving as "authentically" as possible as the actual soldiers of the 19th century.  Small and large reenactments were taking place every weekend all over the South, and even parts of the North.  For Southerners, the reenactments were excellent ways to learn about their heritage, about the Confederate soldier, Confederate regiments and their nation, the Confederate States of America.  In the 80's and into the 90's the reenactments helped develop a sense of Confederate identity and patriotism, one might even call nationalism.  As Confederate patriotism grew so prospered a wonderful array ofsuperb pro-Confederate art, books, even films to help feed this new fledgeling Confederate patriotism, starved from the famine of a century of Yankee occupation.  Up to present day many authors, artists, poets and writers have made good names of themselves based on their pro-Confederate work.  A few "Confederate friendly" movies have even slipped under Yankee radar and made it to the silver screen, such as, "The Class of '61" and the Turner productions - "Gettysburg", "The Hunley" and "Gods and Generals".

A Confederate identity was reborn in the early 90's, which probably hadn't existed since the twilight of Confederate independence in 1865.  This time Southerners were flocking to the Confederate banner, not so much out of protest against US governmental action like integration, but out of a deeper understanding of history and heritage.  This time Southerners understood the Confederate flag in its true nature -  that it stood for their once independent nation, the Confederate States of America.  Many Southerners who were ardent reenactors became political activists, intent to preserve Confederate/Southern heritage.  And the actions of the enemies of the South only served to stoke the flames.  The "1991 NAACP Confederate Flag Resolution"  was the "Call to Arms" to Confederates.  This resolution by the "National Association for the Advancement of Colored People" was a declaration to make one of their chief objectives the removal of all Confederate symbols from all public places, an act tantamount to culture cleansing of the South.  This was no empty threat, as the NAACP enjoyed the strong backing of powerful entities for decades, including the US court system, the US government and the media.  Very shortly thereafter, Southerners began to see their state flags, monuments and symbols under attack all across the South.  But Southerners were more prepared than the enemy had probably reckoned.  Southerners quickly formed up various political action groups and committees, such as "Heritage Preservation Association", "Southern Heritage Political Action Committee" (SHPAC), "League of the South" and  "Southern Legal Resource Center", to name a few.  Southerners were joining these and other groups in high volumes.  In 1994, the "Sons of Confederate Veterans" were receiving 300 to 500 new members each month.  Attempts at culture cleansing were challenged at every step, particularly at the ballot box.  Candidates who indicated they would stand for Confederate heritage would receive positive endorsements from these various Confederate organisations.  Confederate patriots also campaigned to oust from office politicians unfriendly to Confederate heritage.   Up to the present day both the enemies of Confederate heritage as well as Confederate patriots can book a long tally of both wins and loses.  And the battle goes on.  Some Confederate victories are to be noted: The last two ex-Governors of Georgia can attribute their failures to be reelected due to their attempts to change the Georgia flag.  The current Georgia Governor faces defeat in the upcoming reelection because of his failure to fulfill his campaign promise to give the Georgia people a vote on their flag.  In Mississippi, where a statewide flag referendum was held, the people voted 66% to keep their in 1896 adopted, Confederate themed flag over a new, politically correct design.  And for the most part, Confederate monuments still decorate the town squares of many cities, towns and hamlets across the South today.

Several of the Confederate organisations, originally formed to promote Confederate heritage and combat culture cleansing, have evolved over the years into groups espousing Confederate Independence.  Yes, the fight to defend Confederate heritage goes on, but more and more Confederate patriots are seeing their future best secured by getting back to their own separate nation.  And Confederates believe their postion is legally justified.  Secession was legally based on the original US Constitution and the secessions of the various Southern states in the years 1860 and 1861 are still valid and in effect today.  The 1861 formation of the Confederate States of America is also in effect today, though the function of state is curtailed by US occupation.  However, many groups are politically active and are working for a revived CSA, such as the "Southern Party", the "Southern Independence Party" and the "League of the South".  The "Southern Independence Party" espouses that the Confederate government currently exists, needing only the restaffing of its vacant seats of government!  The "League of the South" of Georgia recently fielded their party chairman to run for Governor of Georgia.  In the Republican primary last July he received a respectable 12 %, this all the while receiving the back hand of hospitality from the Republican party!

The Southern Cause is on the move!  And we've "Only Just Begun to Fight".  The internet has helped us a great deal.  There are many pro-Confederate websites on the net fighting for the Cause.  There's better Confederate reading now than ever.  I recommend to Britains magazines such as "Southern Mercury", "Southern Partisan" or "Confederate Veteran" and several great authors such as Michael Grissom ("Southern by the Grace of God", "Will the South Survive?"), Frank Conner ("The South Under Siege, 1830-2000"), Ronald and Donald Kennedy ("The South Was Right", "Was Jefferson Davis Right?"), Thomas DiLorenzo ("The Real Lincoln", "Lincoln Unmasked") and Clyde Wilson ("Defending Dixie").  This author believes that the ultimate enemy of Britain and the CSA is the same:  globalism, and hopes that he has illuminated the British reader to the Confederate struggle we are engaged in so that we together (the Confederate Grey and the British Red) will close ranks a little tighter to bring a smashing blow against this, our common foe!

Useful links

The Southern Legal Resource Center
Southern Mercury
The Sons of Confederate Veterans
Museum of Confederate History
League of the South