Civil War History - Secession and PoliticsWas it Slavery, or was it States Rights? Perhaps it was the election of Lincoln? What were the real reasons for Southern Secession and what were the political issues in this time of war? Find your answers here in the Secession and Politics Disussion.
my reply to Neil... brought to mind this older thread; some new blood here who might wish to contribute a thought or six.
Neil; this may be where we part ways. I tend to agree w/ Larry that the majority of men who did the fighting and dieing for the CS were not fighting for slavery... Large numbers were conscripts who had no choice about being there others joined because their friends did. Desertion carried a death penalty... stay w/ your comrades or vote w/ your feet. By 64 there was no real difference either way the CS wasn't paying the men and doing a lackluster job of supplyingfeeding them. The majority of those on the sharp end had little direct truck w/ slavery.
There was such an enormous economical disparity between the men who did the fighting and the men who sent them. IIRC of the top 20 wealthiest men in the South before the war 18 were still on that list in 1870. It was a political power play with slavery the root that pushed aside all others and strangled the tree. It was pushed by a small number of the wealthy. The rode to power on the blood of men far better than they and then lacked the courage of their convictions is more the tragedy.
Of coarse that only adds to my amazement on how eagerly some defend the South's involvement in that peculiar institution. A pity those men were so ill served by their political leadership and agin by some of their descendents.
If that's a bit scatterbrained... this flu has adled my brain a touch.
__________________ Shane Christen
American Legion Post 352
SUVCW Camp Abernethy# 48
Lifetime NRA member
3rd MN VI
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Eccl 1:18
Well, Shane, when I saw that link, I expected it to go to this more recent one which is meant for both the CS and US soldiers. Cause there are conflicting opionions on "What They Fought For" on both sides of the front lines. (ie. the notion that Union soldiers only fought for Union and not for the plight of the slaves in the South, etc.)
But if one want's to restrict the discussion to what the rebs fought for and nevermind what the yanks fought for, I guess this is as a good a place as any.
__________________ -
"It was a very peculiar time." - Franklin D. Cossitt
Ancestors in USA Army: 6th IA Inf, 11th IL Cav, 1st AL Cav; 122nd NY Inf; 6th MI Cav; 35th MA Inf; 100th IL Inf; 1st CO Inf/Cav; 22nd IN Inf
I tend to agree w/ Larry that the majority of men who did the fighting and dieing for the CS were not fighting for slavery...
"Although Southern men did not fight for slavery alone, the defense of the peculiar institution, and the racial control they believed it assured, united rebels in their support of the Confederacy and thewar effort." - How was slavery issue connected with motives of Confederate soldiers can be found in work of C.E.Woodward - "Marching Masters: Slavery, Race, and the Confederate Army, 1861-1865".
Interesting post and thanks for the reference of the book. I will read it.
Sincerely,
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
One of my ancestors with four young sons at home in southwest Virginia simply chose to change sides in April 1864, leaving the 48th VA for the 3rd NC US in which he served the remainder of the war, but in a company with his brother and much closer to his family.
I have read about Southern-Union regiments, but this is interesting. Why did Your ancestor change sides? In April 1864 it was not so obvious that the war was lost for the South. Do You know maybe his reasons? Did he fight against his previous comrades later?
__________________ Nico, Maréchal d'Empire
Last edited by Nico_Davout; 03-14-2007 at 08:31 PM.
Thanks to both Nico and Sam! Nico's link would have taken in excess of 3 hours to download, but Nico's link prompted Sam to find another that downloaded in 6.5 minutes. Will spend some time tonight reading it.
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
I get the impression that he prays to the Computer God, sacrifices a chicken and sprinkles it's blood on the CPU, hoping against hope for a quicker download!
At least, that's what I do.
Sincerely,
Unionblue
PS And what's wrong with a telegraph?
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
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In April 1864 it was not so obvious that the war was lost for the South. Do You know maybe his reasons? Did he fight against his previous comrades later?
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