Truth Social
2023-10-01 02:41:29 UTC
Gen. Robert E. Lee owned slaves
By ARIJETA LAJKA
Published 5:16 PM EDT, June 12, 2020
CLAIM: Gen. Robert E. Lee, who led the Confederate States Army in the
Civil War, opposed both secession and slavery. He did not own slaves.
APS ASSESSMENT: False. According to historians, not only did Lee own
slaves, but he also fought in court to keep working slaves from his
father-in-laws estate. Claims casting Lee as an anti-slavery figure are
tied to a false narrative known as the Lost Cause, which says the
Confederate experience in the Civil War was not about slavery, but states
rights.
THE FACTS: As protests following the death of George Floyd lead to a
reexamination of historical injustice, theres been a campaign calling for
monuments celebrating the Confederacy to be taken down. False posts
emerged on Facebook claiming that Lee opposed both slavery and
secession. The false post was shared tens of thousands of times.
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John Reeves, a historian and author of the book, The Lost Indictment of
Robert E. Lee: The Forgotten Case Against an American Icon, said the
claim about Lee is false.
Between owning a handful of slaves from his own family and then managing
his father-in-laws 200 slaves, Lee was very, very involved with slavery
during his life up until the end of 1862, he said.
Reeves explained that Lee worked the slaves for about five years in order
to pay off legacies associated with his father-in-laws estate. He was
utilizing the slave labor in order to pay the legacies, Reeves explained.
Lee wanted to work the slaves beyond the five-year limit stated in his
father-in-laws will. Lee fought in court to keep the slaves working
because he didnt know if he would be able to pay off his legacies.
Wesley Norris was born a slave on the plantation that Lee managed after
his father-in-law died. Norris testified during the court fight that Lee
beat him when he tried to run away. Every one of the facts in Wesley
Norris account has been shown to be true, Reeves noted.
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The Lost Cause ideology imagines Lee as a gifted military general who
wasnt fighting for slavery but was fighting for states rights.
Defenders of Lee point to a portion of a letter he wrote to his wife where
he refers to slavery as a moral & political evil. But it is taken out of
context. In the rest of the letter, Lee underscores that the subjugation
of the slaves needs to go on longer and only God can free them.
If you judge him by his actions, he separated families through sale, he
beat slaves who ran away, said Ariela Gross, professor of law and history
at University of Southern California. Gross focuses on race and slavery in
the United States. He was completely engaged in the work of slave holding
and supporting slavery.
___
This is part of The Associated Press ongoing effort to fact-check
misinformation that is shared widely online, including work with Facebook
to identify and reduce the circulation of false stories on the platform.
Heres more information on Facebooks fact-checking program:
https://www.facebook.com/help/1952307158131536
By ARIJETA LAJKA
Published 5:16 PM EDT, June 12, 2020
CLAIM: Gen. Robert E. Lee, who led the Confederate States Army in the
Civil War, opposed both secession and slavery. He did not own slaves.
APS ASSESSMENT: False. According to historians, not only did Lee own
slaves, but he also fought in court to keep working slaves from his
father-in-laws estate. Claims casting Lee as an anti-slavery figure are
tied to a false narrative known as the Lost Cause, which says the
Confederate experience in the Civil War was not about slavery, but states
rights.
THE FACTS: As protests following the death of George Floyd lead to a
reexamination of historical injustice, theres been a campaign calling for
monuments celebrating the Confederacy to be taken down. False posts
emerged on Facebook claiming that Lee opposed both slavery and
secession. The false post was shared tens of thousands of times.
Other news
Chicago White Sox's Luis Robert Jr. (88) celebrates in the dugout after
hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning of a baseball game against
the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, July 16, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John
Bazemore)
White Sox stop Braves series win streak at 11
Linn Grant of Sweden poses with the winner's trophy after the final round
of the Dana Open golf tournament at Highland Meadows Golf Club, Sunday,
July 16, 2023, in Sylvania, Ohio. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Linn Grant wins first LPGA title at Dana Open, beating Allisen Corpuz by 3
shots
A member of Atlanta Braves training staff checks on pitcher Kolby Allard
(49) in the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox
Sunday, July 16, 2023, in Atlanta. Allard left the game. (AP Photo/John
Bazemore)
Braves lefty Kolby Allard exits game with shoulder tightness, leaving
possible void in rotation
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty throws during the first
inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Sunday, July
16, 2023, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Flaherty wins 4th straight start and Cardinals beat Nationals 8-4
Advertisement
Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died after a white Minneapolis police
officer pressed his knee against his neck for several minutes as he
struggled to breathe.
John Reeves, a historian and author of the book, The Lost Indictment of
Robert E. Lee: The Forgotten Case Against an American Icon, said the
claim about Lee is false.
Between owning a handful of slaves from his own family and then managing
his father-in-laws 200 slaves, Lee was very, very involved with slavery
during his life up until the end of 1862, he said.
Reeves explained that Lee worked the slaves for about five years in order
to pay off legacies associated with his father-in-laws estate. He was
utilizing the slave labor in order to pay the legacies, Reeves explained.
Lee wanted to work the slaves beyond the five-year limit stated in his
father-in-laws will. Lee fought in court to keep the slaves working
because he didnt know if he would be able to pay off his legacies.
Wesley Norris was born a slave on the plantation that Lee managed after
his father-in-law died. Norris testified during the court fight that Lee
beat him when he tried to run away. Every one of the facts in Wesley
Norris account has been shown to be true, Reeves noted.
Advertisement
The Lost Cause ideology imagines Lee as a gifted military general who
wasnt fighting for slavery but was fighting for states rights.
Defenders of Lee point to a portion of a letter he wrote to his wife where
he refers to slavery as a moral & political evil. But it is taken out of
context. In the rest of the letter, Lee underscores that the subjugation
of the slaves needs to go on longer and only God can free them.
If you judge him by his actions, he separated families through sale, he
beat slaves who ran away, said Ariela Gross, professor of law and history
at University of Southern California. Gross focuses on race and slavery in
the United States. He was completely engaged in the work of slave holding
and supporting slavery.
___
This is part of The Associated Press ongoing effort to fact-check
misinformation that is shared widely online, including work with Facebook
to identify and reduce the circulation of false stories on the platform.
Heres more information on Facebooks fact-checking program:
https://www.facebook.com/help/1952307158131536