They waged war against the United States, attacking the seams of this very country's unity, which by even the Constitution's purposely narrow definition, is treason.
They were pardoned for their treason because they were traitors.
Laws and Constitution amendments were written and passed to exclude ex-Confederates from the democratic process, but they were rendered moot once everyone calmed down and realized it was better for the country to reunite as one nation.
These false narratives villifying and dividing the country long after the Civil War concluded are nonsense.
>In 1865, Robert E. Lee wrote to a former Confederate soldier concerning his signing the Oath of Allegiance, and I quote: "This war, being at an end, the Southern States having laid down their arms, and the questions at issue between them and the Northern States having been decided, I believe it to be the duty of everyone to unite in the restoration of the country and the reestablishment of peace and harmony."
-President Gerald Ford
>Whereas the authority of the Federal Government having been reestablished in all the States and Territories within the jurisdiction of the United States, it is believed that such prudential reservations and exceptions as at the dates of said several proclamations were deemed necessary and proper may now be wisely and justly relinquished, and that an universal amnesty and pardon for participation in said rebellion extended to all who have borne any part therein will tend to secure permanent peace, order, and prosperity throughout the land, and to renew and fully restore confidence and fraternal feeling among the whole people, and their respect for and attachment to the National Government, designed by its patriotic founders for the general good:
-President Andrew Johnson
The Civil War is over, it ended over a century and a half ago. I again, sincerely, ask you to screw off with that false narrative which serves only to divide and weaken the unity and solidarity of the country.
Can I ask you to do the same, or is that just something you pull out when you're upset about what other people say and not something you expect to have to do yourself?
It is decidedly not factual to call ex-Confederates traitors when they were pardoned, or do you not understand what a pardon is?[1]
Ex-Confederates were traitors, that much is true. Were they never pardoned or otherwise acquitted of treason in a court of law then that would still be true today. Of course, that is not what happened: President Andrew Johnson pardoned them all unconditionally, and in the case of General Robert E. Lee (whose pardon was not processed due to clerical errors) his pardon was made effective retroactive to the date of application by an act of Congress.
Ex-Confederates are all therefore excused of their crime of treason, and to still attack them further citing that crime is baseless and unwarranted. They are Americans, and the men who fought are all American heroes who ultimately wished for a united and healed nation.
Calling Civil War era Americans traitors today is ruthlessly divisive rhetoric that only serves to sow conflict in a time when the country really does not need that kind of incendiary bullshit. Everyone who spews this false narrative should be ashamed of themselves, they are throwing mud upon those who chose to pursue peace instead of generational animosity.
I was not born yesterday. I use this site frequently enough to recognize your username and the content you post. I see you as wholly unfit to be in a position to be lecturing others about "incendiary" "ruthlessly divisive rhetoric". The fact that a substantial fraction of your comments get flagged is not because you are speaking truth to a site that is unable to take it but because historically you have liked to post poorly substantiated flamebait on the regular. If you genuinely feel that the country deserves better, consider looking inward first.
