White Lies: How the South Lost the Civil War, Then Rewrote the History

"White Lies" is a crucial young adult nonfiction book that directly challenges the pervasive "Lost Cause" narrative surrounding the American Civil War. Author Ann Bausum meticulously dissects twenty common falsehoods, such as the myth of compassionate slavery or the idea that the war was solely about states' rights, rather than its central cause of slavery. It explores how these historical distortions, including the role of the Ku Klux Klan, were created and how they continue to impact contemporary textbooks, popular culture, and public policy. This book is designed for readers aged 12-18, encouraging critical thinking and a deeper, more accurate understanding of a pivotal period in American history and its ongoing legacy.

"Warning: this is not your average U.S. history book. When the Civil War ended, the Confederates may have laid down their arms, but they were far from accepting defeat. Instead, they distorted the facts about what had happened, creating an alternate version of history. This false narrative is known as the Lost Cause. Some lies of the Lost Cause: Slavery was a compassionate institution. The Civil War wasn't fought over slavery; it was all about states' rights. The Ku Klux Klan nobly protected White people during Reconstruction. These lies still influence textbooks, popular culture, public policy, and more -- often in hidden and surprising ways. This book will address twenty lies of the Lost Cause and set the record straight. Dive in to learn the true history of the Civil War and its complex, far-reaching aftermath. Are you ready to begin?" --