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VA Governor Robert McDonnell: Slavery & Confederate History Month

by Karen Hatter | April 8, 2010 at 07:21 am

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Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell proclaimed April 2010 Confederate History Month, but failed to acknowledge slavery during the proceedings. Some of the Sons of Confederate Veterans want him to apologize.

The Governor's original proclamation described the War between the States, also know as the Civil War, without mentioning slavery. The majority of historians agree slavery, and the South's desire to continue slavery, to be the ultimate cause for secession resulting in the Civil War.

Coverage of Confederate History Month:

Governor McDonnell has since issued an apology for the omission. The original Confederate History Month has been amended to include the mention of slavery and Virginia's recognition that the system of chattel slavery was unjust.

Brandon Dorsey, of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, called McDonnell's move "an insult," and charged that the governor had undermined the purpose of the resolution," and damaged himself with his core supporters. But another member of the group disagreed, saying he supported the apology "one hundred percent."

McDonnell, believed to be a rising star within the Republican Party, delivered the Republican Party's response to President Obama's State of the Union address in January.