Civil War question...

[shilala]

I understand that the Civil War started because a number of southern states decided to secede from the Union. I also understand that the abolition of slavery was not the deciding factor, as most people (including myself) were led to believe.
I believe there was mounting pressure concerning slavery, but what were the actual reasons for the south's wish to secede?

 

[HappyPuppy]

Don't let anybody bullshit you. The Civil War was all about $. Slavery was an issue that was brought up after it began.

 

[Jassi]

I don't agree with people who claim it wasn't about slavery. I think they are just trying to hide how passionate the south was to keep slavery going.

 

[shilala]

I can believe that slavery was a part of the issue, but only to the point that it would bork their economic model if they were to lose their slaves.
What I can't buy into was that it was a large part of the reason that they wanted to secede.
I can imagine only a very small percentage of southern residents even being involved in slavery, and I have to assume that just as many had morals enough to oppose it.
What were the real political and economic issues that led to the states wanting to secede from the Union?

 

Slavery was a big part of the secession, but not because of racism. The south simply couldn't survive without its peculiar institution, and decided to secede rather than have the entire economy of those eleven states collapse.

 

[shilala]

Originally posted by: jumpr
Slavery was a big part of the secession, but not because of racism. The south simply couldn't survive without its peculiar institution, and decided to secede rather than have the entire economy of those eleven states collapse.

I can imagine that. Industry was based in the north and the southern states supplied raw materials. There had to be pressure coming down on the southern states from the federal government.
I thought the Emancipation Proclamation was the first official statement concerning slavery. If the south was so moved, I'd think that the federal government had to have passed a certain number of laws that pissed them off severely.
You don't band 11 states into drawing up arms over a single issue, even if it's as tender economically as their slave labor.

 

[b0mbrman]

Actually, there were numerous causes. Aside from the obvious schism between the abolitionists and the anti-abolitionists, there were economic factors, both domestic and inter--

Slavery it is, sir!

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: b0mbrman
Actually, there were numerous causes. Aside from the obvious schism between the abolitionists and the anti-abolitionists, there were economic factors, both domestic and inter--

Slavery it is, sir!

I was waiting for someone to bring this in!

 

[NakaNaka]

Missouri Compromise + Dred Scott + South felt it was losing its representation because population of North grew quicker. (And those first two factors were obviously about slavery).

 

[episodic]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_o...ents_leading_to_the_American_Civil_War


Here it is in a nice tabular form

 

[shilala]

Thanks episodic.
What an unfvckingbelievable story. The more I understand the sadder it gets.
The south's whole economy revolved around slavery. I hadn't realized how extensive planting was in the south.
It's getting pretty apparent that the north was running it in the south's ass every chance they got. The north had the population, power, industry and representation and the south had shyt.
I never realized how long the political battle over slavery had gone on.
Bombrman really did hit the nail on the head.
I guess I never wanted to believe exactly how fvcked up this country was.

 

[elmer92413]

Originally posted by: shilala
I can believe that slavery was a part of the issue, but only to the point that it would bork their economic model if they were to lose their slaves.
What I can't buy into was that it was a large part of the reason that they wanted to secede.
I can imagine only a very small percentage of southern residents even being involved in slavery, and I have to assume that just as many had morals enough to oppose it.
What were the real political and economic issues that led to the states wanting to secede from the Union?

Actually everybody had a part in slavery...
It just varied from class to class...
...
But the big thing was that no matter who you were in the south you were always better than the slaves...
No matter how poor you were you knew that the slaves were lower than you...
This is why many of the poor whites sided with the rich...
...
..
.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: elmer92413

Originally posted by: shilala
I can believe that slavery was a part of the issue, but only to the point that it would bork their economic model if they were to lose their slaves.
What I can't buy into was that it was a large part of the reason that they wanted to secede.
I can imagine only a very small percentage of southern residents even being involved in slavery, and I have to assume that just as many had morals enough to oppose it.
What were the real political and economic issues that led to the states wanting to secede from the Union?

Actually everybody had a part in slavery...
It just varied from class to class...
...
But the big thing was that no matter who you were in the south you were always better than the slaves...
No matter how poor you were you knew that the slaves were lower than you...
This is why many of the poor whites sided with the rich...
...
..
.

Ever learn about the plight of the Irish?

 

[her209]

Wasn't it also about states rights?

 

[DaWhim]

Originally posted by: her209
Wasn't it also about states rights?

and preserve of the union

 

[shilala]

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: elmer92413

Originally posted by: shilala
I can believe that slavery was a part of the issue, but only to the point that it would bork their economic model if they were to lose their slaves.
What I can't buy into was that it was a large part of the reason that they wanted to secede.
I can imagine only a very small percentage of southern residents even being involved in slavery, and I have to assume that just as many had morals enough to oppose it.
What were the real political and economic issues that led to the states wanting to secede from the Union?

Actually everybody had a part in slavery...
It just varied from class to class...
...
But the big thing was that no matter who you were in the south you were always better than the slaves...
No matter how poor you were you knew that the slaves were lower than you...
This is why many of the poor whites sided with the rich...
...
..
.

Ever learn about the plight of the Irish?

In Ireland or the states?

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: her209
Wasn't it also about states rights?

Yes, the right for states to have slaves.

 

[elmer92413]

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: elmer92413

Originally posted by: shilala
I can believe that slavery was a part of the issue, but only to the point that it would bork their economic model if they were to lose their slaves.
What I can't buy into was that it was a large part of the reason that they wanted to secede.
I can imagine only a very small percentage of southern residents even being involved in slavery, and I have to assume that just as many had morals enough to oppose it.
What were the real political and economic issues that led to the states wanting to secede from the Union?

Actually everybody had a part in slavery...
It just varied from class to class...
...
But the big thing was that no matter who you were in the south you were always better than the slaves...
No matter how poor you were you knew that the slaves were lower than you...
This is why many of the poor whites sided with the rich...
...
..
.

Ever learn about the plight of the Irish?

What about it...???
...
..
.

 

[Dragnov]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
Don't let anybody bullshit you. The Civil War was all about $. Slavery was an issue that was brought up after it began.

Don't let anybody bullshit you. The Civil War was about SLAVERY. Slavery was THE breaking issue that pushed the South into succession, as they couldn't accept the election of Abe Lincoln. Yes, they would suffer economically. Yes, they felt their way of life was being lost. Yes, they felt their rights were being taken away. But you know what all of those have in common, SLAVERY!

 

[PELarson]

Originally posted by: shilala
I understand that the Civil War started because a number of southern states decided to secede from the Union. I also understand that the abolition of slavery was not the deciding factor, as most people (including myself) were led to believe.
I believe there was mounting pressure concerning slavery, but what were the actual reasons for the south's wish to secede?

Essentially it was about the farming Southern states losing power and influence to the growing industrialized Northern states. Southern politicans could not handle Northern politicians no longer aquiesing to their every demand.

 

[shilala]

Originally posted by: PELarson

Originally posted by: shilala
I understand that the Civil War started because a number of southern states decided to secede from the Union. I also understand that the abolition of slavery was not the deciding factor, as most people (including myself) were led to believe.
I believe there was mounting pressure concerning slavery, but what were the actual reasons for the south's wish to secede?

Essentially it was about the farming Southern states losing power and influence to the growing industrialized Northern states. Southern politicans could not handle Northern politicians no longer aquiesing to their every demand.

It appears that the south managed some major aquiesage along the way, actually.
Just 6 years before the war, the Kansas Act passed and repealed the long standing Missouri compromise that didn't allow slavery north of 36 degrees 30 minutes.
It appears the last straw was that Lincoln was elected. He won the election because the democratic party split.
I started this thread after watching "Gods and Generals". The "why?" question haunted me throughout the movie. I've been reading since episodic gave me the link above.
Turns out that the truth is stranger than fiction. The US was one fvcked up place. It's no wonder why the vestages of slavery last to today.

 

[TechnoKid]

Text1
Fifth grade level comprehension

 

[shilala]

Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Text1
Fifth grade level comprehension

This was more or less my primary question answered in that link...

But was it only about slavery? No. It was also about the constitutional argument over whether or not a state had a right to leave the Union, and--of primary concern to most southern soldiers--the continuation of antebellum southern culture.

Now the my newest question...
WTF is antebellum southern culture?

 

[MacBaine]

The slaves were freed after the war started, solely to disrupt the southern economy. Lincoln said himself that he couldn't care less whether the slaves were freed or not, as long as the north won the war.

 

[FleshLight]

Originally posted by: MacBaine
The slaves were freed after the war started, solely to disrupt the southern economy. Lincoln said himself that he couldn't care less whether the slaves were freed or not, as long as the north won the war.

They were free in the technical sense, but they still were treated like sh!t by both sides alike. They were kicked off the plantations and had nowhere to go. Many slaves returned to their former owners to work for peanuts. Even after the Emancipation Proclaimation, some slave owners still held onto their slaves.

And read up on the Reconstructions. Life sucked for the south after Lincoln got pwned.