Why did they fight?

[OpnCoronet]

I often wonder if the NE states involved in the Hartford convention thought they were wrong or traitors for considering secession. Though it didn't quite happen, I would suppose that some of them certainly believed in the right of secession without question.

It depends. Do You, want to be held accountable for your thoughts ?

 

[byron ed]

It would be easy to say that many southern men were fighting from a sense of patriotism. If we can say Northern soldiers were fighting mostly for the Union, i would say most southern men for fighting for their Union, which was the Confederacy.

Well, not most. Just as many, perhaps more, Southern men were motivated to free themselves and their families from slavery. This is not a historical aside. It represents the very real and consequential third major component of the Civil War having its practical and primary impact on the outcome.

"We watched dem white boys fight it out whiles we jes be crossin' ober t' the oter side of Jordan"

 

[jgoodguy]

It would be easy to say that many southern men were fighting from a sense of patriotism. If we can say Northern soldiers were fighting mostly for the Union, i would say most southern men for fighting for their Union, which was the Confederacy.

Good Point IMHO. Could say the whole bloody mess was a result of the human tendency to tribalism, too.

 

[BlueNGrey]

Good Point IMHO. Could say the whole bloody mess was a result of the human tendency to tribalism, too.

It's not like the civil war occured on a whim. The pot had been simmering for a long long time before it boiled over. (exploded) I like your term "bloody mess". That it was. A tragic and avoidable bloody mess. It is absolutely unfathomable that cooler heads did not prevail. One can only hope that such tribalism does not cause such a bloody mess in the future, not only between countrymen, but worldwide.

 

[jgoodguy]

It's not like the civil war occured on a whim. The pot had been simmering for a long long time before it boiled over. (exploded) I like your term "bloody mess". That it was. A tragic and avoidable bloody mess. It is absolutely unfathomable that cooler heads did not prevail. One can only hope that such tribalism does not cause such a bloody mess in the future, not only between countrymen, but worldwide.

I found Madness Rules the Hour: Charleston, 1860 and the Mania for War interesting. One of the leaders of the war faction after the war asked a member of the old political elite at the time why they did not stop the rage and the reply was that it could not be stopped.

P221

 

[Greywolf]

It is my understanding that many Southern men enlisted in order to NOT be conscripted. It was thought to be less than of an honor to be conscripted.
In Texas, Gideon Lincecum claimed everyone in his neighborhood had volunteered since "they hate the idea of being drafted." Elsewhere, North Carolina Colonel Zebulon Vance - soon to be elected the state's governor - believed that "Men liable to draft . . . had better come along at once and fill up their companies like white men, and not wait for the sheriff to bring them to me."
http://essentialcivilwarcurriculum.com/conscription.html

I can tell you this: I had a lot of ancestors that fought for the CSA, many of them volunteered. I also had some that i am confident were conscripted. Interestingly, i also have some that were of age that never saw the battlefield. More than just a couple. My thought is confederate conscription may not have been as thorough as some believe and i believe some men just that didn't volunteer just got lucky so to speak, i'm quite sure all these did not have exceptions, maybe a few did.

 

[cl73]

Hi, I am a newbie and need some info to counter the nay sayers. I believe the Civil War from the Southern political stand point was to preserve slavery and states rights. The hundreds of thousand Southern soldiers that fought for the South were to poor to have slaves or didn't want them so why did they fight for the South? I do have ideas but want to be sure before I spout off. Thanks

I'll have a go!

Why did they fight?
It depends on who 'they' is.
The way I see it is:

From a presidential and hierachy perspective the answer would be generic, politcal and economical. Preservation of the Confederacy, it's rights, economy and commerce and presevation of the Confederacy itself. Slavery was the main undertone, ultimately everything in financial terms came back to slavery. The wealth of the Confederacy meant that all the railroads, banks, construction, industry, in fact everything, when all combined was still not worth as much as the slave trade itself.

Ask a soldier (or frontline rank) the same question the answer would be different and more personal. Family members got shot at first bull run now seeking revenge, preserve my families cotton farm, my family joined up and I feel obliged to do the same, invasion of their country and fear of property being seized, hatred of the yankees what other reason do I need, need the stability of a wage, what the union stood for, conscription/peer pressure and the list goes on and on.

I think in all wars the participants will fight for various reasons, depending on their individual position within socitey at the time of the conflict, or if the circumstances dictate they have to participate. The preservation of the Confederate states and sheer wealth from slavery I think are the two key factors for the ACW, plain and simple.
Also consider the non American combatants, many Europeans. Their 'agenda' or reason to fight would be different and varied. I guess it is comparable with the English civil war, for and against royalty, the preservation of royal seal and sovereignty over government and parliament. Regardless of one's political opinion, you fight for your homestead or business, even if somebody didn't possess enslaved person(s) or believe in it.
My thoughts! All the best.