The Failure of Our Fathers: Family, Gender, and Power in Confederate Alabama

The Failure of Our Fathers: Family, Gender, and Power in Confederate Alabama explores the evolving position of non-elite white families in Alabama during the Civil War, using gender and family as a lens to examine the "common whites" who identified with the Confederate cause. Ott argues that family provided the conceptual framework for why common whites supported a war to protect slavery, but as the war ravaged communities, devotion to the Confederacy declined. Domestic values rooted in gendered concepts redefined Alabama's social structure and increased class distinctions after the war.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 17 January 2023
Publisher: The University of Alabama Press

The Failure of Our Fathers: Family, Gender, and Power in Confederate Alabama delves into a comprehensive examination of non-elite white families in Alabama, spanning from the state's inception to the conclusion of the Civil War. Through a rich tapestry of personal and public documents, Victoria E. Ott explores the shifting fortunes of these families as they navigated the tumultuous era. By employing the lens of gender and family, Ott uncovers the complex dynamics of the "common whites," a group that included yeomanry and poor whites who aligned themselves with the Confederate cause.

Ott's analysis reveals how these Alabamians fit into the paternalistic social order of the antebellum era, gradually embracing and supporting the Confederate mission to secede from the Union and establish an independent slaveholding state. However, as the realities of war unfolded and the Confederacy faced mounting challenges, the families of Alabama's common whites were compelled to seek new avenues to power as a distinct socioeconomic class.

In her compelling argument, Ott posits that family served as the fundamental framework for understanding the unwavering support of common whites for a war aimed at preserving slavery, even though they had minimal or no direct investment in the institution. The decision to go to war, for them, was a means of safeguarding their families from external threats that posed a risk to their way of life. Despite their class differences, common whites viewed the Confederacy as a larger family, with the state acting as paternal figures who promised to protect and provide for their loyal dependents throughout the conflict.

However, as the war ravaged numerous Alabama communities, the prioritization of devotion to the Confederacy began to wane. Families faced prolonged separations, the looming threat of death, and the very real possibility of starvation. The hardships endured by these families underscored the human cost of the conflict and challenged the romanticized notions of sacrifice and loyalty to the Confederate cause.

The Failure of Our Fathers: Family, Gender, and Power in Confederate Alabama offers a profound exploration of the complex interplay between family, gender, and power during a pivotal period in Alabama's history. Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, Ott sheds light on the experiences of non-elite white families and provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of the Civil War era. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in Southern history, gender studies, and the intersection of power and society.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780817321475