“Many historians claim that no one did more to unify the country after the war than Lee” claims @kappaalphaorder. Which historians? I’ll wait...as a historian I can tell you he tried to unify white Americans in support of white supremacy. He didn’t try and unify all Americans. https://twitter.com/scottjaschik/status/1286260989239930881

I can think of a lot of people who tried to unify America more than Lee did after the war (and remember he had literally tried to split the nation in half during the war). @roblee4’s testimony before Congress the other day may help you understand this better. https://twitter.com/roblee4/status/1286044002379333641

And before you try to sue me for libel Kappa Alpha know that I am happy to bring the receipts to court and to the press to back up my statement that Lee was a white supremacist is factual https://www.chronicle.com/article/The-Campus-Confederate-Legacy/249144 (See thread for small selection of evidence) https://twitter.com/adamhdomby/status/1268977631854297091

Let’s look at his post war legacy shall we? We start with what Lee told Congress. First he avoided answering questions & denied efforts to keep wages low for black laborers (he may have been lying). He claimed to have no knowledge of topics he clearly had knowledge of repeatedly.

He was explicit about the potential of Black Americans.( H/t @roblee4) saying “I do not think that [the black man] is as capable of acquiring knowledge as the white man is.” So yeah, he was still a bit racist...

Now was for uniting the country let’s see how he answers “In the event of a war between the US and any foreign power...” how would former rebels respond? Would they stay loyal?

Lee responds “I cannot speak with any certainty on that point. I do not know how far they might be actuated by their feelings. I have nothing whatever to base an opinion upon. So far as I know, they contemplate nothing of the kind now. What may happen in the future I cannot say.”

Asked how he would react he refuses to rule out that he wouldn’t join another rebellion. Here is the testimony for you to read: https://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Robert_E_Lee_s_Testimony_before_Congress_February_17_1866

It’s pretty clear that Lee isn’t so much concerned with honest answers to Congress or uniting the nation as he is returning (wealthy) whites to power.

Speaking of social interactions with southern leaders (of which Lee considered himself) he makes it clear they didn’t want to even associate with “northern men.” It’s a fair bet that Lee didn’t want to either.

Lee was also clear that he wanted reunion on his terms (meaning returning power to white pro-Confederate southerners) arguing that was the only way to gain “the gradual restoration of the old feeling”

Lee also argued white southerner’s might rebel again and he makes clear that he thinks they would “If their feelings should remain embittered, & their affections alienated...I think it very probable they might do so, provided they thought it was to their interest.”

Lee was arguing to Congress that War might break out again if they don’t appease white southerners.

Lee also argued against enfranchising black Americans. Arguing it would cause “unfriendly feelings between the two races” by which he means among whites (cause why would Blacks be upset about gaining the ballot).

It’s pretty clear Lee would rather have less representation for Virginia than to have black Virginians vote.

On the topic of what to do with formerly enslaved people? Lee thought it would be better for Virginia “get rid of them.” Then Lee claims he was always a gradual emancipationist (not true) but it’s clear he doesn’t care about black people so much as about the impact on whites.

And we haven’t even gotten to his time as president of Washington College (future Washington and Lee)...