Robert E. Lee abolitionist?

And the comment on the fair treatment of slaves is meant to mean that Lee might believe in that but within the context of believing that slavery isn't inherently unfair - the kind of guy who probably also treats his dogs well.

Minor nitpick: Most?



Theoretically.

Ok so we have theoretically, that's good that means we're getting somewhere. Ok, so Lee witnesses something that changes his attitudes twoards black people. It's going to have to be something pretty horrific to change the mind of a white southerner in the 1860s. Something along the lines of having a black man litterally ripped apart in front of him. Something where he is horrified, but everyone else shrugs it off, making him even more horrified. Who was the worst slaveholder in Virginia? That might be a good place to start.
 
Ok so we have theoretically, that's good that means we're getting somewhere. Ok, so Lee witnesses something that changes his attitudes twoards black people. It's going to have to be something pretty horrific to change the mind of a white southerner in the 1860s. Something along the lines of having a black man litterally ripped apart in front of him. Something where he is horrified, but everyone else shrugs it off, making him even more horrified. Who was the worst slaveholder in Virginia? That might be a good place to start.

Don't look at me for answering that bit, I'm afraid.
 
Don't look at me for answering that bit, I'm afraid.

Alright well its a start. You've certainly been very helpful. I'll probably just make one up. But there was also a part 2 to my question. If Lee does become an abolitionist, or as close as a Confederate can get to being one, would he be able to change the minds of other southerners considering who he is?
 
Alright well its a start. You've certainly been very helpful. I'll probably just make one up. But there was also a part 2 to my question. If Lee does become an abolitionist, or as close as a Confederate can get to being one, would he be able to change the minds of other southerners considering who he is?

Not likely. Lee becoming an abolitionist would be seen as Judas, not Jesus.
 
Take one long giant sigh to calm down...

Ok. Take another sigh...

Ok. One more sigh...

These are the things that upset me.

Me being cynical, or the Old South being that evil?

Note, I'm not saying EVERYONE would do this, but he'd get a lot of unpopularity from it, and his previous reputation wouldn't help much at all.
 
The old south being that evil. So there is no way that even Lee, who would be the south's equivalent of George Washington, would be able to change minds?

Not in his lifetime. The attitude that slavery is a good thing is just too well entrenched.

At the absolute best assuming everything possible goes right Lee sets an example that future generations look to.

You might see him encouraging other slave owners to treat their slaves fairly as an easier change, but that wouldn't coexist with Lee the Abolitionist unfortunately.
 
Not in his lifetime. The attitude that slavery is a good thing is just too well entrenched.

At the absolute best assuming everything possible goes right Lee sets an example that future generations look to.

You might see him encouraging other slave owners to treat their slaves fairly as an easier change, but that wouldn't coexist with Lee the Abolitionist unfortunately.

If he can at least lay the groundwork for future generations, I'd be willing to accept that. I'm not looking to make Lee the Confederacy's Martin Luther King Jr., I'm just looking for him to get the ball rolling and introduce measures that lead up to the gradual elimination of slavery.
 
If he can at least lay the groundwork for future generations, I'd be willing to accept that. I'm not looking to make Lee the Confederacy's Martin Luther King Jr., I'm just looking for him to get the ball rolling and introduce measures that lead up to the gradual elimination of slavery.

Easier said than done, and not just in the sense already covered specifically.

Slavery and insanity is just so deeply entrenched that I genuinely am not sure it would be possible with any possible POD after 1860 to break it without force.

At best, you see the force applied to hold outs. At worst, the diehards ARE the ones in charge of the CSA.

I don't want to kill this idea, but this would be like making a capitalist (in the sense China is at least) Soviet Union. Or a multicultural Third Reich.
 
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