Erecting & Dedicating Monuments
Monuments and their dedications are the most tangible evidence of the indoctrination of the public by the UDC and other memorial groups. The monuments are typically placed in very prominent locations such as town squares to be seen daily by the public as a reminder of the Lost Cause. The Daughters would involve influential members of society in the dedication ceremonies as they lobbied for their cause. Their fundraising abilities were staggering as they erected monument after monument throughout the Unites States.
The unveilings became very public events as the UDC grew drastically. The group became increasingly prominent as more women got involved. The UDC was desirable to many elite women as it elevated their social standing.Because of the clear efforts of indoctrination through monuments and other methods, the United Daughters of the Confederacy are still active today in many states.
The monument dedication shown above occurred in 2015 which emphasizes the indoctrination of the UDC as they have managed to remain active one-hundred and fifty years after the Civil War ended. The group in the video, including UDC, SCV, and CofC members, still observe Confederate Memorial Day and obviously still dress the part. However, their reasoning is that they feel they must honor their ancestors ultimate sacrifice of fighting in the Civil War. The Lost Cause aspects of their claims seem to have toned down however it is still present. These monument dedications are always a public event, conducted in large numbers. The dedications are also a way for the memorial groups to have their voices heard throughout the community. In this way, they are able to communicate their beliefs through a public gesture. The women often involved prominent men in their unveilings as to maintain their sub ordinance even in their public roles. President Woodrow Wilson even spoke at one such event. The male speakers and supporters stabilized their position as a prominent group in society. The video above shows the UDC's collaboration withe the Sons of Confederate Veterans in a similar manner.
