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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2010
3:50 PM

CONTACT: Institute for Public Accuracy (IPA)

Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020; or David Zupan, (541) 484-9167

Slavery and the States' Rights Myth

WASHINGTON - December 20 - AP reports today: "Exactly 150 years after South Carolina became the first state to leave the United States, a group whose purpose is to preserve Confederate history is holding a dance in Charleston." This is creating much controversy and, says James Loewen, much disinformation about the causes of the Civil War:


JAMES LOEWEN
Loewen is author of the bestseller Lies My Teacher Told Me and the new book The Confederate and Neo-Confederate Reader (with Edward Sebesta). Loewen said today: "In 1860 and 1861, when the Southern states seceded, they said why, and it was all about slavery -- its protection and extension. They said nothing about states' rights. Why would they? The federal government was doing what they wanted, from recapturing fugitive slaves to low tariffs. On the contrary, South Carolina (and other states) inveighed AGAINST states' rights, attacking states that refused to return slaves, for example." See Loewen's webpage
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A nationwide consortium, the Institute for Public Accuracy (IPA) represents an unprecedented effort to bring other voices to the mass-media table often dominated by a few major think tanks. IPA works to broaden public discourse in mainstream media, while building communication with alternative media outlets and grassroots activists.

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