NationStates

What do you believe the cause of the civil war?
Be nice. I agree with option C.

Slavery.

Protection of slavery wasn't as much of a bargaining chip as it used to be in keeping the Union together, for a variety of economic and political reasons. Hence the South deciding to go it alone.

Slavery was a dying institution. Not to mention the fact that Lincoln was trying to pass the 13th amendment. No not "that" 13th amendment, the original one. You know, the one that bared the Federal government from forcing a state to make slavery illegal. Yes, Lincoln really did try to get that amendment passed, but it failed because "Oh my" the southern states seceded. Why would the southern states secede over slavery if an amendment protecting slavery was being passed? It had more to do with "Let us govern ourselves you tyrant" than anything else.

When Confederate POW's were asked by Union soldiers why they were fighting, their reply was "Because you were here."

US: Slavery is bad, mmkay?
CS: NO! WE LIKE OUR SLAVEZ!
US: Release them.
*CS ragequits union*
*CS blows up small US fort*
*US zerg rushes CS*

The war was because Lincoln was elected and the South didn't like that, so rather than tough it up and live in a democratic society they decided they should get special treatment and not have to play by the rules they didn't like. The North thought that was as stupid as it sounds and so the South left like the cowards they were, and still are. The war was over the South acting like a bunch of little kids and wanting to destroy democracy. Slavery was a factor, but not the cause.

Ensiferum wrote:The war was because Lincoln was elected and the South didn't like that, so rather than tough it up and live in a democratic society they decided they should get special treatment and not have to play by the rules they didn't like. The North thought that was as stupid as it sounds and so the South left like the cowards they were, and still are. The war was over the South acting like a bunch of little kids and wanting to destroy democracy. Slavery was a factor, but not the cause.

Even though the U.S. is a Republic, and the founding fathers abhorred Democracy.

Now guys history major so I obviously know everything. But no seriously it was at first a war to bring the separatist back into the union.

The Civil War was a complex situation actually, and slavery was only part of a web of interconnecting issues.

1.) Economic disparity between the north and south
2.) Differences in economic goals
3.) Slavery vs Abolition
4.) Federal rights vs States Rights

Greenvul wrote:

Ensiferum wrote:The war was because Lincoln was elected and the South didn't like that, so rather than tough it up and live in a democratic society they decided they should get special treatment and not have to play by the rules they didn't like. The North thought that was as stupid as it sounds and so the South left like the cowards they were, and still are. The war was over the South acting like a bunch of little kids and wanting to destroy democracy. Slavery was a factor, but not the cause.

Even though the U.S. is a Republic, and the founding fathers abhorred Democracy.

Representative Democracy is a mix, Republics have never worked and never will work and neither will Democracies. Thus the mixture.

Zweite Alaje wrote:The Civil War was a complex situation actually, and slavery was only part of a web of interconnecting issues.

1.) Economic disparity between the north and south
2.) Differences in economic goals
3.) Slavery vs Abolition
4.) Federal rights vs States Rights

Pretty much how I understand it.

Ensiferum wrote:The war was because Lincoln was elected and the South didn't like that, so rather than tough it up and live in a democratic society they decided they should get special treatment and not have to play by the rules they didn't like. The North thought that was as stupid as it sounds and so the South left like the cowards they were, and still are. The war was over the South acting like a bunch of little kids and wanting to destroy democracy. Slavery was a factor, but not the cause.

We Southerners are NOT cowards!!!

We love this nation has much as anyone else. The Southerners at the time of the Civil War were doing what the felt was right to protect their local interests.

The Northern States butting into the Southern States. The South was on track to due away w/ slavery, but when the North started yelling at them to do it faster, it turned off a lot of people. Also, States Rights

Greenvul wrote:Slavery was a dying institution. Not to mention the fact that Lincoln was trying to pass the 13th amendment. No not "that" 13th amendment, the original one. You know, the one that bared the Federal government from forcing a state to make slavery illegal. Yes, Lincoln really did try to get that amendment passed, but it failed because "Oh my" the southern states seceded. Why would the southern states secede over slavery if an amendment protecting slavery was being passed? It had more to do with "Let us govern ourselves you tyrant" than anything else.

When Confederate POW's were asked by Union soldiers why they were fighting, their reply was "Because you were here."

Corwin Amendment, was what it was called.

And Lincoln was very accommodating in terms of slavery, to boot. "I should be exceedingly glad to know that there would never be another slave State admitted into the Union; but I must add, that if slavery shall be kept out of the Territories during the territorial existence of any one given Territory, and then the people shall, having a fair chance and a clear field, when they come to adopt the Constitution, do such an extraordinary thing as to adopt a Slave Constitution, uninfluenced by the actual presence of the institution among them, I see no alternative, if we own the country, but to admit them into the Union." Not exactly the words of a firebrand abolitionist, and he offered plenty of outs for the South during the Civil War as well.

(Not to suggest the South was particularly noble in what it was doing, but I think the issue would have been better resolved by the North washing its hands of participation with slavery and a slave/abolitionist insurgency in the South. Not through conducting one of the bloodiest wars of its time that simply replaced slavery with peonage.)

Greenvul wrote:

Ensiferum wrote:The war was because Lincoln was elected and the South didn't like that, so rather than tough it up and live in a democratic society they decided they should get special treatment and not have to play by the rules they didn't like. The North thought that was as stupid as it sounds and so the South left like the cowards they were, and still are. The war was over the South acting like a bunch of little kids and wanting to destroy democracy. Slavery was a factor, but not the cause.

Even though the U.S. is a Republic, and the founding fathers abhorred Democracy.

It is a DEMOCRATIC Republic and the FF's did not 'abhor democracy'.

With Greenvul and Zwiete on this. Sure, slavery was one issue, but there were many others, such as social, economic, and political differences, not to mention Federal V States rights and what-not.

PrussianEmpire wrote:The Northern States butting into the Southern States. The South was on track to due away w/ slavery, but when the North started yelling at them to do it faster, it turned off a lot of people. Also, States Rights

Getting rid of slavery faster is good.

Slavery

Zweite Alaje wrote:

Ensiferum wrote:The war was because Lincoln was elected and the South didn't like that, so rather than tough it up and live in a democratic society they decided they should get special treatment and not have to play by the rules they didn't like. The North thought that was as stupid as it sounds and so the South left like the cowards they were, and still are. The war was over the South acting like a bunch of little kids and wanting to destroy democracy. Slavery was a factor, but not the cause.

We Southerners are NOT cowards!!!

We love this nation has much as anyone else. The Southerners at the time of the Civil War were doing what the felt was right to protect their local interests.

Thus why instead of playing by the rules you ragequit and kill your countrymen. And continue to do so. Seems legit. Sure do love your country. Cowards, the whole lot of them South of the Mason-Dixon.

Zweite Alaje wrote:4.) Federal rights vs States Rights

Interestingly enough, the South had a solid grip on the Federal judiciary and tried to ensure Federal support of slavery, while many Northern states tried to exercise their states' rights by nullifying or undermining the Fugitive Slave Act.

PrussianEmpire wrote:The Northern States butting into the Southern States. The South was on track to due away w/ slavery, but when the North started yelling at them to do it faster, it turned off a lot of people. Also, States Rights

What is this bullshit?

Genivaria wrote:

PrussianEmpire wrote:The Northern States butting into the Southern States. The South was on track to due away w/ slavery, but when the North started yelling at them to do it faster, it turned off a lot of people. Also, States Rights

What is this bullshit?

Revisionist history.

While regional and cultural differences certainly made a difference, it was interwoven with the issue of slavery.

Desperate Measures wrote:

Genivaria wrote:What is this bullshit?

Revisionist history.

Just what I learned in school.

PrussianEmpire wrote:

Desperate Measures wrote:Revisionist history.

Just what I learned in school.

Oh dear god. Where Tennessee? Alabama? Or did Texas introduce new bullshit after I graduated?