Chapter 1: The Misconceptions of History

In discussions about the Civil War, many are surprised to learn how significantly the Confederate Constitution enshrined slavery as an institution.

“Could you repeat that?” my friend asked, a tone of disbelief coloring his voice.

“What do you mean?” I replied, confused.

“Please repeat what you just mentioned,” he insisted.

“Alright,” I said, rephrasing my earlier thoughts. My history minor rarely sees the light of day, so sharing insights on such questions is thrilling for me.

“The inquiry is, ‘What truly ignited the Civil War, and why do some assert it was about states’ rights when, in fact, it was slavery?’” I reiterated, then proceeded with my introduction.

The Confederate Constitution is a largely overlooked document that has been virtually ignored for 160 years. This is surprising, considering it once governed the lives of 9 million individuals. However, given its disturbing content regarding the perpetual enslavement of 3 million people and their descendants, it's understandable why it hasn't been widely discussed.

It was finalized just a week after Lincoln took office...

“What?!” my friend exclaimed, visibly shaken by my words.

I’m not particularly proud of my writing, but I was taken aback by his reaction.

“Is it that shocking?” I asked defensively. (Feel free to critique my writing, but prepare for my defensiveness.)

“No!” he yelled again. “You’re telling me that’s in their constitution? Slavery was explicitly included in their constitution? No way!”

“Yes, it was indeed written into their constitution. It guaranteed slavery indefinitely, limited states' rights regarding the institution, and prohibited the international slave trade to ensure they could breed their slaves indefinitely — including the plantation owners' biological children.”

My friend had collapsed onto the ground, making strange, high-pitched noises reminiscent of a distressed animal.

The Right to Know the Truth About Your Own History

Three hours later, he had processed most of his emotions but was still grappling with the realization that he had been misled about historical facts throughout his education. He was acutely aware of this deception.

Having attended schools across Hawaii, California, and Idaho, every teacher had taught him that states' rights were the primary cause of the Civil War, relegating slavery to a mere afterthought—something to rally around once the war had commenced. Not a single instructor had ever informed him that the Confederate Constitution was nearly identical to the original U.S. Constitution, except for critical differences, most notably its explicit codification of slavery as a central tenet.

The "Right" That States Wanted Was the Right to Own Other People

The undeniable reality is that the concept of "states' rights" was primarily promoted to protect and uphold slavery. A close examination of the Confederate Constitution reveals that the secessionist states were primarily focused on preserving their authority to maintain the brutal institution of slavery.

The Right to Plagiarize the U.S. Constitutional Recipe — With an Added Zing

The Confederate Constitution was drafted by the seven initial secessionist states: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas, with four others following soon after: Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The Confederacy largely adopted the U.S. Constitution, amending only a few phrases while retaining the core framework.

They saw no reason to reinvent the wheel; instead, they enhanced it by adding a singularly important ingredient: slavery. All the regulations and laws regarding slavery that the U.S. had developed over the years were incorporated and amplified in the CC.

Thus, while the U.S. Constitution was respectable, it was not entirely satisfactory. It was as if they had a chance to revisit the inception of the U.S. Constitution and resolve its shortcomings—explicitly protecting their “peculiar institution” without any ambiguity.

The Right to Own Negro Slaves of African Descent

Just days after Mrs. Lincoln began preparing the White House for renovations, the rebellious states had already put considerable thought into their new national framework, which was ratified on March 11, 1861. The Confederate Constitution made no effort to obscure its stance on slavery, explicitly using the terms "slave," "Negro," and "African."

In contrast to the U.S. Constitution, which used the euphemism "servitude" and included white indentured servants, the Confederate Constitution openly recognized and safeguarded African slavery.

The Right to Rest Easy for Newly-Minted Confederate Citizens

The Confederate Constitution reassured its citizens by addressing their foremost concerns, which revolved around slavery. For a typical Confederate citizen who was a slaveholder, the fear of losing their property due to a moral awakening among fellow citizens was prevalent.

The Right to Slavery Forever

This constitution enshrined slavery as a central theme in their foundational document. Article 1, Section 9(4) specified that no law could be enacted that would deny or impair the right of property in negro slaves, thus barring any state from outlawing slavery.

This is quite a contradiction for a collection of states’ rights advocates, don’t you think? A prohibition against any state’s autonomy regarding slavery?

The Right to Travel Freely with Your Property — Your Slaves

If you were a slaveholder traveling between Florida and Georgia with your slave, you had the right to do so without hindrance. Article 4, Section 2(1) states that citizens of each state are entitled to all privileges and immunities, including the right to transit with their property, including slaves.

The Right to Have Your Escaped Slaves Returned

If your slave attempted to escape, the CC had provisions to ensure their return, mirroring the Fugitive Slave Act already in place in the U.S. Article 4, Section 2(3) mandated that escaped slaves must be returned to their owners regardless of local laws.

The Opening to the Confederate Constitution, March 11, 1861, Yale Archives

The Right to Add New Territories for More Slaves

Concerned about running out of space for your slaves? The Confederacy was eager to assure you that any new territories would legally recognize slavery.

Article 4, Section 3(3) stated that any new territories would have to recognize and protect slavery.

The Right to a Monopoly on the Slave Trade

Tired of paying exorbitant prices for imported slaves? The CC forbade the international slave trade, ensuring that all slaves would be sourced domestically. Article 1, Section 9(1) stipulated that the importation of Africans was banned, requiring Congress to enact laws to prevent it.

The Right to Breed Your Own Slaves

The most disturbing aspect of the CC's ban on the international slave trade is its implication about the nature of slavery. The Confederacy envisioned a society that would generate new slaves through breeding. This constitution revealed a chilling reality: they planned an entire nation around the idea of creating slaves rather than purchasing them.

The Right to Know the Darker Truth

This plan was not entirely self-sufficient. Evidence suggests that many African Americans today possess European genetic ancestry, indicating that the creation of new slaves involved the sexual exploitation of enslaved individuals.

The Lie of States' Rights

Ironically, the notion of states' rights, which was revered in Southern rhetoric, was effectively negated in the Confederate Constitution. The rights of states to govern themselves were fine, except when it came to the issue of slavery.

The Right to Call It a Lie

This was the narrative we were taught in schools: that states' rights were the cause of the Civil War. This perspective has been perpetuated for decades, obscuring the truth. The real cause of the Civil War has been hiding in plain sight within the Confederate Constitution for over 160 years, waiting for recognition and understanding.

The truth is that the Civil War was fundamentally about slavery, and it was never about anything else.

The first video, "Everything You Were Taught About the Civil War is Wrong," challenges the common misconceptions about the conflict and highlights the truths often overlooked in educational curricula.

The second video, "What They Didn't Teach You About the Civil War," further explores the realities of the war and the institutionalized nature of slavery, providing a critical analysis of its implications.