Laying the cornerstone, 1830-1860 -- The Cornerstone Speech, 1861-1865 -- The origins of a dishonest intellectual tradition, 1865-1883 -- Emancipationists strike back, 1865-1883 -- Different things to different people, 1883-1911 -- Civil War semicentennial, 1911-1915 -- Old times there are not forgotten, 1915-1965 -- Heritage and hate, 1990-2019.
Summary:
"This book traces the curious history of the Cornerstone Speech. Alexander H. Stephens's defense of the new Confederacy, delivered on March 21, 1861, the Cornerstone Speech was an uninhibited overture to a new nation founded on white supremacy and slavery, and an instant sensation. While the speech is widely cited, no full-length treatment of the work and its legacy exists - and it is poorly understood. Hébert examines how Stephens initially considered it, then how, with the help of others, he reinterpreted it to shore up major tenets of Lost Cause ideology after the Confederacy was defeated on the battlefield. The book also shows how this reactionary interpretation would inform Neo-Confederate ideas that abide to the present day in American culture"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.