Sustainable Democracy

We all know the tale of how Abraham Lincoln set out to free the slaves in the South. Along with this goal was the much more practical one of keeping this nation united rather than dividing the economy and setting a precedent for division. However, all that is rather well documented, researched, and debated endlessly. So lets look at a rather more forgotten corner of Civil War history that I found on Wikipedia.

While we were fighting for lofty goals, some generals were not so high minded about all people. General Grant was not the most equal minded person when it came to Jewish communities. One notable example was General Order № 11.

General Order № 11 decreed as follows:

The Jews, as a class violating every regulation of trade established by the Treasury Department and also department orders, are hereby expelled from [the “Department of the Tennessee,” an administrative district of the Union Army of occupation composed of the portions of Kentucky and Tennessee west of the Tennessee River, and Union-controlled areas of northern Mississippi] within twenty-four hours from the receipt of this order.

Post commanders will see to it that all of this class of people be furnished passes and required to leave, and any one returning after such notification will be arrested and held in confinement until an opportunity occurs of sending them out as prisoners, unless furnished with permit from headquarters. No passes will be given these people to visit headquarters for the purpose of making personal application of trade permits.

From Wikipedia

Always remember. It is easy to gloss over the bad events when the overall goal is good. So make double sure to investigate the those events, they serve as great lessons. Or a nice factiod you can use at the next bar you visit.