This section delves into the history of monuments, with a specific focus on the historical context in which these structures were originally created. Since many of the monuments under scrutiny are deeply rooted in their historical significance, this segment aims to provide users with insights into the reasons behind the resurgence of this debate in recent years.
(Image Description: Monument of Confederate General, Robert E. Lee)
The Art Newspaper
It is no question that many of the statues that have been debated and removed in the United States have been monuments commemorating Confederate soldiers. The American Civil War was a series of battles fought from April 12, 1861, to May 26, 1865, between the North (Union) and the South (Confederacy). The conflict resulted from a divide between slavery and state's rights, as there were contested debates on whether newly acquired territories should be free or slave states. The South argued that individual states should have the right to impose regulations on slavery and believed that the federal government should not interfere with these decisions. When these demands were not met, eleven Southern States pulled out of the Union (The United States) and formed the Confederate States of America.
As a result of the American Civil War, approximately 620,000 soldiers died. However, it also led to the eventual freedom of 3.5 million slaves living in the United States. As a memorialization of these events, monuments were created to honor those who had fallen. Though other theories have emerged, with the biggest wave of Confederate memorials only emerging in the early 1900s, a period of high contention for black southern Americans, calling into question if there are deeper motivations to their creation.
These are just a few resources that dive deeper into the topic, particularly in the context of monuments.
The founding of America is notably a bloody one, with approximately 55 million (90%) of Indigenous Americans killed in the process of colonization by European settlers. Many nations were displaced from their homes and foreign diseases ravaged the native population. Figures like Christopher Columbus have been met with contempt in recent years as a result of his brutal and cruel treatment. Holidays such as Indigenous Peoples' Day, observed on the same day of Columbus Day, work to instead celebrate and honor Indigenous Americans.
In Columbus, Ohio, a statue of Christopher Columbus was removed from the front of city hall in July 2020. In 1812, the city had been named after the Columbus and is the largest city dedicated to the Explorer. After public dissent, the monument was removed and held in storage.
These resources not only focus on monuments, but the grander scale of supporting indigenous communities across the United States.
