Big differences between 18th and 19th century leaders mentioned. Jefferson and Washington were considered traitors to the British crown but because their side won, they got to write the history.  The Confederacy was a seditious move against the duly elected government of the United States, ie: it was treason. The BIG difference is that the victors write the history, therefore the Confederate generals were traitors (especially those like Grant who broke their sworn oath to the US Government).