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For those states, that basicly said they were seceeding specificly for slavery - they were speaking as any state would, to the needs of their individual big business in those states. Wealthy people had made substancial investments in many cases. Plantation owners had an investment at stake - some of which owned hundreds, if not thousands of acres.
The bulk of the white population could not afford to buy people. Didnt matter what state their regiment was from, Mother's were not sending their husbands and sons to fight so some rich guy could keep his slaves. Lets be sensible. Mountain folk are not known for having an abundance of slaves that they owned, but they still went and fought.
Most of them went and fought for the same reasons that every soldier in every war in the history of mankind has gone and fought - because their country (or in this case, their state) had declared war and they wanted to defend it, or simply because they were drafted and had no choice. Only about 5% of the German people belonged to the Nazi Party, but 20,000,000 Germans wore the uniform during World War II. Regardless off whether they believed in the Nazi cause, their country was at war, so they fought.
And in the case of the American Civil War, Confederate soldiers fought because their states were at war with the Union. And the reason their states were at war - the reason their states started the Civil War - was because of slavery, and their governments openly admitted it at the time that they seceded from the Union. Regardless of the personal motivations or beliefs of the individual soldiers (or the reasons the Southern states chose to go to war over slavery), the fact remains that the Confederacy started the Civil War to defend the institution of slavery - pure and simple.
Location: Subconscious Syncope, USA (Northeastern US)
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Originally Posted by Albert_The_Crocodile
Most of them went and fought for the same reasons that every soldier in every war in the history of mankind has gone and fought - because their country (or in this case, their state) had declared war and they wanted to defend it, or simply because they were drafted and had no choice. Only about 5% of the German people belonged to the Nazi Party, but 20,000,000 Germans wore the uniform during World War II. Regardless off whether they believed in the Nazi cause, their country was at war, so they fought.
And in the case of the American Civil War, Confederate soldiers fought because their states were at war with the Union. And the reason their states were at war - the reason their states started the Civil War - was because of slavery, and their governments openly admitted it at the time that they seceded from the Union. Regardless of the personal motivations or beliefs of the individual soldiers (or the reasons the Southern states chose to go to war over slavery), the fact remains that the Confederacy started the Civil War to defend the institution of slavery - pure and simple.
I dont know, I wasnt there, but it really doesnt make sense that the South started the War. The South was for the most part the states that were leaving the Union. The Union obviously wanted to stay a Union. It makes sense that a War would commence over that.
Even Black Scholars criticize Lincoln for not making Slavery an official part of the War until he made his Emmancipation Proclamation, which was 2 full years into the War. Two years into the war the North needed both a good moral cause to continue the massive bloody battle, and money from Europe.
Can you imagine any regiment of black soldiers not simply taking their guns running screaming and crying into the arms of any Yankee soldiers they saw? Once anyone is on a battlefield, and in a position of 'every man for himself', what compells them to stay? Wouldnt it just be a matter of crossing North of the Mason-Dixon line at an opportune moment and making a left turn to the West to seek Freedom? Why would the freedom-seeking North still keep and honor the Fugitive Slave Act?
By the following account, it would seem your theory is correct - except that a rebel attack happened in South Carolina on a Fort, and not DC proper. Which makes sense that it would be South Carolina, given its history with The Slave Trade in general.
"On April 10, 1861, knowing that resupplies were on their way from the North to the federal garrison at Fort Sumter in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina, provisional Confederate forces in the city demanded the fort’s surrender. The fort’s commander, Major Robert Anderson, refused. On April 12, the Confederates opened fire with cannon.
At 2:30 p.m. the following day, Major Anderson surrendered. On April 15, Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to put down the Southern rebellion, a move that prompted Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas and North Carolina to reverse themselves and vote in favor of session. (Most of the western section of Virginia rejected the session vote and broke away, ultimately forming a new, Union-loyal state, West Virginia."
Seems strangely interesting that states like Virginia (the birthplace of everything American - the original colony, with the first permanent English settlement, Jamestown, established in 1607) and North Carolina (the site of a failed Brittish Colony known as The Lost Colony which was founded prior to Jamestown) would wait for that to back out of the Union, if Slavery was such a pressing issue to them.
In the end we can debate Civil War politics, just as scholars do, until the cow's come home. How does that take away from the fact that black Americans fought and died for that flag? Why would anyone want to dishonor them and their families, and demean their contribution to American History by banning that flag - as well as attempting to erase their existance altogether?
Disclaimer: When I speak, I only represent myself.
Last edited by ConeyGirl52; 08-28-2014 at 06:05 AM..
I don't get it. Where is the conservative outrage comparing taking down the confed flag to genocide and how Obama singlehandedly caused the civil war?
They can only take it down at government buildings. My question is, "Were there really any government buildings flying the confederate flag or is this issue just for show?"
Location: Subconscious Syncope, USA (Northeastern US)
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Originally Posted by LauraC
They can only take it down at government buildings. My question is, "Were there really any government buildings flying the confederate flag or is this issue just for show?"
That's a good question - but does it matter? What matters is the law sets a precedent for the removal of other Civil War flags in other states. Its not just for show. There is certainly a political reason behind it, that could be much larger than the State of California in and of itself.
They can only take it down at government buildings. My question is, "Were there really any government buildings flying the confederate flag or is this issue just for show?"
There were confederate flag items being sold at the California State Fair, which is an event governed by the state. Doesn't anyone read the links?
Didnt matter what state their regiment was from, Mother's were not sending their husbands and sons to fight so some rich guy could keep his slaves.
Those in power sent those without power off to fight by appealing to their patriotism or whatever, that is how it always works. Those who engineer the war don't necessarily share the motivations of those who fight it, and that's by design.
Quote:
If you really what a mind-blower, Google Black Confederate Soldiers. There are plenty of images of them. What were they fighting for? An armed black slave in the South? How could it possibly be?
Images are one thing, numbers are another. It wasn't until 1865 that the CSA armed forces officially tried to integrate black soldiers into their ranks.
The Confederate flag is a symbol of southern heritage and states rights. If anyone is going to be offended by the rebel flag, then that is their problem, not mine.
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