- October 18th, 2012, 9:00 am
#408140
There were many reasons for the Civil War. The problem is that historians want to have some three bulleted approach to history, or however many. The first cause to the war... The second cause... The third... on and on and you get the point.
I would say that Virginia's secession was over states rights, however once again the North never did anything until the army raided the Union arsenal at Harper's Ferry. But take a look at that from a Federal viewpoint, and that is an official violation of sovereignty.
The biggest issue is that you have neo-confederates, and some who don't fundamentally understand the principle of federalism. States, themselves, had no rights. Only the individuals of those states have rights. Slavery was not a big issue, as Lincoln had no intention of freeing slaves (and as a reminder Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware retained slavery until the passing the 13'th Amendment.
The North and South were primarily concerned about power. But yet when Lincoln became President, in my opinion, an irrational reaction occurred that prompted the South to secede. Now, I'm not going into discuss how the North treated the South because that is topic that can still be discussed and debated today. Why wouldn't you want to cut off food supply if your goal is to reach Richmond? It just makes common sense.
Anyways, I'm not sure what side I would have taken in this war had I been alive then. For what its worth my ancestors were Confederate sympathizers living in West Virginia. I see both sides, I just think some Southerners take it to an extreme.
I would say that Virginia's secession was over states rights, however once again the North never did anything until the army raided the Union arsenal at Harper's Ferry. But take a look at that from a Federal viewpoint, and that is an official violation of sovereignty.
The biggest issue is that you have neo-confederates, and some who don't fundamentally understand the principle of federalism. States, themselves, had no rights. Only the individuals of those states have rights. Slavery was not a big issue, as Lincoln had no intention of freeing slaves (and as a reminder Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware retained slavery until the passing the 13'th Amendment.
The North and South were primarily concerned about power. But yet when Lincoln became President, in my opinion, an irrational reaction occurred that prompted the South to secede. Now, I'm not going into discuss how the North treated the South because that is topic that can still be discussed and debated today. Why wouldn't you want to cut off food supply if your goal is to reach Richmond? It just makes common sense.
Anyways, I'm not sure what side I would have taken in this war had I been alive then. For what its worth my ancestors were Confederate sympathizers living in West Virginia. I see both sides, I just think some Southerners take it to an extreme.
- By Sly Fox