Robert E Lee Thesis

Perhaps the single worst flaw in American history is the civil war, brought on by slavery. Although slavery ended more than 150 years ago we are still fighting over the meanings behind Confederate monuments. Mortimer K Adler said, “You must be able to say ‘I understand,’ before you can say ‘I agree,’ or ‘disagree,’ or ‘I suspend your judgment.’” A lack of understanding is America’s biggest plight. Our lack of understanding opposing views is what divides us, much like the debate over the Confederate statues in Virginia. Our refusal to listen to one another regardless if we agree is what hinders us from progress. Historic statues like the statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville, Virginia should not be removed from public
Lee for participating on the Confederate side of the civil war we should first acknowledge all of the facts. General Robert E. Lee freed his inherited slaves in 1862, three years before the civil war ended, while the North did not free slaves until December of 1865. General Lee has also expressed in a letter to his wife, “in this enlightened age, there are few I believe, but what will acknowledge, that slavery as an institution, is a moral & political evil in any Country.” General Lee also encouraged reconciliation and recognition of African Americans writing to a Confederate veteran, “I believe it to be the duty of everyone to unite in the restoration of the country and the reestablishment of peace and harmony.” The Emancipation Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves of only the Confederate or Rebel states, as a military move. During the civil war Lincoln threatened the Rebel States to surrender and join the union or the slaves of any opposing state would be freed. We know that neither Abraham Lincoln or Robert E. Lee had the best interest of African Americans in mind or that neither one of them originally wanted to free African Americans. Robert E. Lee changed his view of slaves exactly as Abraham Lincoln