Anne Marshall's Lecture on Kentucky's Relationship with the Civil War

Anne Marshall's lecture on Kentucky's relationship with the Civil War was built on the foundation of an old adage that Kentucky "waited to secede" from the Union after the war. This phrase is predicated on Kentucky's Southern identity and the state's historical relationship with the institution of slavery. Marshall's discussion was quite informative, and shored up a few gray areas in my understanding of my home state's relationship with the Civil War.

Much of what Marshall discussed has been brought up in class, if only briefly. Marshall's discussion was very focused on the matter of Kentucky, and thus brought a more specified perspective.

Marshall discussed the implications of the divisive that was induced by the war on the state. While Kentucky was generally pro-Union, there were many instances of strong support for the Confederacy. She discussed the advent of irregular, guerrilla warfare. This is something we've talked about with the book on Champ Ferguson, Confederate Outlaw. 

While the state was divided up by strict political support, Marshall stressed the importance of Kentucky's connection with slavery. Though pro-Unionists supported the Union's cause of preserving the Union, they chose this sentiment on the idea that the federal government would protect slavery more efficiently than anyone else. They did not believe that Lincoln would abolish slavery. After the Emancipation Proclamation and federal intervention in the state, many Kentuckians felt betrayed by their perceived ally. This illuminated my understanding of the state during the war, and I realize just how deep the connection to slavery was for the state.

Marshall also discussed the state during the immediate post-war era. Marshall believes that Kentuckians were clearly connected to their slave-holding past, and their actions were indicative of this. Many Southern, Confederate monuments were erected, much more than pro-Union ones. And something in particular that struck my attention was the fact that Lincoln's childhood home in Kentucky was chosen to be commemorated by someone out-of-state. In the current struggle for Lincoln's state identity, it would seem that Kentuckians were unconcerned with which state to call the oft-revered president's home.

As mentioned before, much of this has been discussed in class, if only briefly. Marshall's lecture gave some missing links, and improved my understanding of the topic immensely. It was very enjoyable.