Protecting Confederate Soldiers and Mothers: Pensions, Gender, and the Welfare State in the U.S. South, a Case Study from Florida

Southern states used their Confederate pension programs for several purposes. These state welfare programs served to bolster white supremacy, support Democratic party hegemony, and reinforce conservative gender roles. While male applicants for Confederate pensions were expected to demonstrate their continued loyalty to the "lost cause," female applicants were also examined for their sexual behavior. The Confederate welfare systems were thus heavily gendered. Although Southern whites embraced these welfare programs, they did not lead to Southern support for a federal welfare system.