The legacy of the Confederacy remains as divisive and incendiary an issue today as it was 150 years ago. Last week, the General Services Administration (GSA) dropped a huge bombshell of an announcement. On February 15, 2025, they surrendered, removing former restrictions citing ties to the Confederacy. This move has sparked renewed debates about the Confederacy’s historic legacy and its impact on politics today. One of the more influential voices in this discussion, Brian Westrate, makes the case that the Confederacy was all about states’ rights. Despite deep roots, this perspective is still very much up for debate.
The Confederacy, led by General Robert E. Lee, is often remembered for its strategic military prowess during the Civil War. Even today, most military historians rank Lee among the handful of greatest strategists in history. The Confederacy’s link to slavery has always been controversial. Its role in the Civil War is a contentious subject. Some people like to think of the Confederacy (and perhaps by extension the Civil War) as all about states’ rights. For some it has become a symbol for racism and white supremacy.
In addition, the role of former President Donald Trump as heir of Confederacy and white supremacy ideologies have only stoked these fires. In 2017, he infamously defended the “very fine people” on both sides of a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Confederate flag became tragically iconic during the January 6 Capitol insurrection. It further reared its head at the Wisconsin Stay-at-Home Order protest in April 2020, highlighting its continued relevance in contemporary political discourse.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 marked a pivotal moment in the fight against racism and segregation in the United States. Still, many applauded it as a huge breakthrough. To others, it was an example of the dangers of federal overreach. Barry Goldwater famously described it as “an unconstitutional usurpation of power by the federal government.” Despite such opposition, figures like Representative William Moore McCulloch—a conservative Republican whose ancestors opposed slavery—supported the Act, underscoring the complexities within political affiliations regarding civil rights.
Yet the Trump administration was crucified for removing bright lines that otherwise rid the ground of racial segregation in public spaces. This meant spaces such as restaurants, waiting rooms, and water fountains. As a result, plenty understandably viewed this decision as a huge breach in the ongoing effort to address racial inequities. It, too, stoked fears over the return of white supremacy to power.
Looking at the situation in a broader context, we see that the Confederacy is still a tremendously divisive issue within American society. While some politicians and activists seek to distance themselves from its legacy, others continue to engage with its historical narratives. The ongoing controversy about whether the Confederacy best symbolizes states’ rights or is better symbolized as racism still highlights the fractures in our country today.
“I well understand that the Confederacy was more about states’ rights than slavery.” – Brian Westrate
“Any open solicitations that contain any of the provisions or clauses listed above should be amended to remove the provisions and clauses.” – General Services Administration (memo)