Nevertheless the majority of Southerners held to the original philosophy, and there were many clashes in Congress between North and South over many issues. Slavery did not become a hot point of controversy until several decades had passed. Jefferson Davis' Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government and Alexander Stephens' History of the War Between the States will give you a graduate-level course in American history. They are both clearly written. Judging by the ignorant statements made in the Confederate-flag flap, many people have huge gaps in their knowledge.
American history is too important to be learned from Hollywood and cheap political demagogues.
No people should allow political sleaze to rewrite their country's history. Published in The Orlando Sentinel on January 25, 2000.