UCLA

This study examines the three generations of Civil War reenactors: the veterans, the centennial reenactors, and the modern community. It argues that they are an excellent case study for examining the evolving memory of the Civil War, particularly when considered in the context of five interpretative traditions: the “Lost Cause,” the “Union Cause,” the “Reconciliationist Cause,” the “Emancipationist Cause,” and the “White Supremacist Cause.” At the same time, a careful analysis of the modern community illustrates the myriad ways in which contemporary individuals interact with and utilize the past.