"The South Will Rise Again:" Confederates try to make a Comeback

Ever since the Civil War ended in 1865, southerners have tried to find their way back into national politics, and have largely succeeded. It was not until 1976 however that a president was elected from the deep south. Woodrow Wilson had been born in Virginia, but was in New Jersey when he ran for president, Eisenhower was born in Texas but ended up in Kansas, and Lyndon Johnson was from Texas, but had taken over the presidency after Kennedy's death and was an incumbent in 1964, so Jimmy Carter was the first since the post Civil War era to truly be elected on his own from the deep south. Some of the first campaign items showing Confederate flags on them started appearing in the 1940's and into the 1950's, with a popular "Southerners for Eisenhower" button that is pretty rare and often in the $250 range. Since then, almost every campaign produces buttons or other items with the phrase "Southerners" or a Confederate flag on them. The election of Jimmy Carter was a prideful moment for many southerners, and Carter even restored U.S. citizenship to many former Confederates, such as Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis. After Carter, the South was pouring out presidential candidates, with both of the Bush's, Clinton, Dole, and Gore. Some of the more prominent Congressman and Senators were from the south as well during this time, such as Newt Gingrich, Jesse Helms, Sam Ervin, and a few governors like George Wallace and John Connally. Most candidates though would not want to campaign at rallies with Confederate flags, and would probably run from such events. Button makers often try to appeal to special interests, and people proud of their Confederate heritage are no exception. The first southern duo to run for president were Arkansas native Bill Clinton and Tennessee resident Al Gore in the 1992 election, and their victory proved that maybe the south was back on the national stage. Even in the 2008 election, some southern states were highly important in the election, such as North Carolina, Virginia, and Florida. South Carolina also holds a primary early in the nominating process, so they play an important role in that case. It is also possible the Republican nominee in the 2012 election could be from the south, with Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry running for the chance to be president. Also in 2012, Charlotte North Carolina will host the Democratic National Convention, drawing a lot of attention to the local area and the state. Overall, items with Confederate flags or the southern appeal can be highly collectible, and people who are proud of where they live love to buy items like this. I have pictured many of my items that deal around the Southern or Confederate theme.